It isn’t quite the COVID year of 2020 when the Dubsism College Football Heavyweight belt changed hands 8 times, but California’s capturing their 4^th championship marks the 5^th time it has happened in 2025.

The Golden Bears have a bye this coming week, they aren’t likely to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship game, and the same win which brought them the belt also made them bowl-eligible. But before the Golden Bears get to the post-season, they have two ACC dates in the way.

• 22-Nov 2025: @ Stanford
• 29-Nov 2025: Southern Methodist

Even though its a rivalry game, Cal should be a solid favorite against the 3-win Stanford. But Southern Methodist is safely into the bowl season; likely headed for a New Year’s Eve-ish bowl against another “power” conference squad. That begs the question, will the belt still be in the ACC comes the opening weekend of 2026?

Only time will tell…

4^th Championship

• 1624 : 2025 8-Nov: California 29 , Louisville 26 (OT)

3^rd Championship

• 1208 : 1993 2-Oct : California 42 , Oregon 41 (lost #1209 1993 9-Oct : Washington 24 , California 23)
• 1207 : 1993 25-Sep : California 46 , San Jose State 13
• 1206 : 1993 11-Sep : California 45 , San Diego State 25
• 1205 : 1993 4-Sep : California 27 , UCLA 25

2^nd Championship

• 1176 : 1990 20-Oct : California 38 , UCLA 31 (lost #1178
• 1175 : 1990 13-Oct : California 31 , Arizona State 24
• 1174 : 1990 6-Oct : California 35 , San Jose State 34
• 1173 : 1990 29-Sep : California 30 , Arizona 25

1^st Championship

• 538 : 1929 16-Nov : California 7 , Washington 7 (lost #539 1929 23-Nov: Stanford 21 , California 6)
• 537 : 1929 9-Nov : California 53 , Montana 18
• 536 : 1929 2-Nov : California 15 , Southern California 7

In Case You Didn’t Know

Here at Dubsism, we have our own way of determining who is the #1 team in college football. Eschewing polls, debates, and the general silliness of a subjective means, we decided to go with “you’re the best until somebody beats you.” To do that, we went back to the very first college football game in 1869. Since there were only two teams, it was easy to decide the winner of that game was the best. We just took it from there.

In other words, we determine a champion just like boxing does. We know who was the original #1; tracing the path of the championship was a simple as following the winner. Even today, it remains an exercise in watching #1’s game, and crowning a new champ if they lose.

As is the tradition, here’s the full scroll of all 1,624 college football championship matches going all the way back to that very first game in 1869. Scroll down, click Page 2, and get ready for the biggest mega-scroll of your life…