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Pat McCann Takes Over as Cal's Offensive Play-Caller

California head coach Tosh Lupoi made an unexpected but strategic mid-game shift Saturday, handing offensive play-calling duties to Pat McCann after halftime against UNLV. The move paid off as the Bears rallied for 24 second-half points—including a 53-yard touchdown by walk-on Carson Perry-Smith—to score their most in a half this season, despite starting backup quarterback Jackson Brousseau after starter Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele suffered a concussion.

McCann, who previously served as Fresno State’s offensive coordinator under Jeff Tedford (a former Cal coach), will call plays for Saturday’s Virginia Tech game, though Lupoi’s flexibility suggests this could evolve further. The Bears’ offensive approach under McCann leaned heavily into spread concepts resembling those used by quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich at Washington State and Hawaii, leaving Virginia Tech’s James Franklin uncertain about Cal’s next steps.

Lupoi praised McCann’s adaptability, noting the Bears executed an unpracticed play for Perry-Smith’s touchdown, while Franklin admitted confusion over whether McCann or offensive coordinator Jordan Sommerville was truly in charge.

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