The parallels between 2016 and 2019 are striking.
In 2016, Sonny Dykes had lost many games as Cal’s head coach, but over time he was winning more frequently, and when he lost it was mostly to teams that Cal was expected to lose to. But when he lost to Oregon State, 47-44, it was the first time since 2013 that he lost to a truly bad team (OSU would finish 4-8) in a game Cal was significant favorites in. Worse, Dykes’ biggest failure was exposed in the most glaring way, as Ryan Nall gashed another bad defense at will.