Mateen Bhaghani isn’t holding anything back. The senior kicker, a UCLA Bruin now, told reporters at Media Day that the season opener against Cal is “significant for me, a little bit extra, you know? Yeah, a little personal.” That’s the kind of raw honesty you just don’t hear often from athletes, especially when coaches always preach treating every game the same. But for Bhaghani and a whole squad of his teammates, this Week 1 matchup against their former team in Berkeley is anything but just another game.
They’re Going Back Home, And They Want It All
Jaivian Thomas, UCLA’s senior running back and a Bay Area native, has had this game circled on his calendar since the schedule dropped. You know the feeling, man, when you’ve got that one date marked? Thomas definitely does. He said, “Once we found out we [were] playing Cal, I marked that. I get to go back home, and that’s where I started my journey. It’s a lot of love for the people that I know there at Cal, but it’s something that I’m really looking forward to.” This isn’t just about a game for him; it’s a full circle moment.
And Thomas and Bhaghani aren’t alone. UCLA’s roster boasts five Cal transfers, the most from any school they’ll play all season. Wide receiver Mikey Matthews, who played for the Golden Bears in 2024, gets it too. He knows Memorial Stadium is gonna be absolutely rocking. “It’s a full circle moment, just being able to go back, playing at Memorial Stadium,” Matthews explained. “I know it’s going to be a loud environment. So I’m very excited. That’s all I can say.” It sounds like these guys are ready to soak it all in and then drop a hammer on their old stomping grounds.
Old Scores And Friendly Trash Talk
The history here runs deep. Thomas, Bhaghani, and senior linebacker Ryan McCulloch were all on Cal’s roster back in 2023 when these two teams last clashed. Cal took that game 33-7 at the Rose Bowl, a real gut punch for the Bruins, and the only one of those three to even register stats was Bhaghani, hitting four field goals and three extra points. You think that’s forgotten? Nah, man. Thomas is still jawing with his old teammates. “I still got some guys that came in with me my freshman year at Cal up there, some guys that transferred in over time,” he said. “I was talking mess to one of my friends up there yesterday. It’s just friendly trash talk and stuff like that, but man, I’m excited.”
It’s not just the players either. Even linebackers coach Vic So’oto was coaching in Berkeley from 2022 to 2025. Head Coach Bob Chesney knows that’s a huge asset for his team. “He knows a lot of the players on that team,” Chesney said of So’oto. “[He] feels confident about even the ones that are now on the team from somewhere else that he’s recruited and has a good understanding of.” That kind of insider info could be a game-changer.
This Week 1 battle isn’t just a rivalry game, it’s a statement. Both teams are looking to flip the script on their recent struggles, and both have new head coaches in Chesney for UCLA and Tosh Lupoi for Cal. Plus, you’ve got hyped, returning quarterbacks in Nico Iamaleava for UCLA and Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele for Cal. This season opener on September 1, 2026, isn’t just a game; it’s a chance for UCLA’s transfers to write a whole new chapter, and you know they’re bringing that “little personal” energy with them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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