The University of California, Berkeley plays college football as members of the Pacific Ten Conference. The school was a founding member of the league, and they play their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. Their main rival is Stanford.

On December 6, 2008, the Golden Bears accepted a bid to represent the Pac-10 in the 2008 Emerald Bowl.The Sports Network: Cal Routs... Huskies Then Accepts Bid to Emerald Bowl They defeated the Miami Hurricanes, 24-17, in the bowl on December 27, 2008.ESPN.com: Miami (FL) Hurricanes vs. California Golden Bears Box Score Just days after the bowl game win, the school gave Head Coach Jeff Tedford a two-year contract extension.ESPN.com: California Golden Bears, Jeff Tedford Agree on Extension

The Golden Bears have been involved in two of the most infamous plays in NCAA Football|college football history. In the 1929 Rose Bowl against Georgia Tech, a fumble was created and picked up by Roy Riegels, who proceeded to run the wrong way. The other was their 1982 match-up with rival Stanford, where they scored the winning touchdown on a kickoff return featuring multiple laterals. It is simply known in sports annals as The Play.

Great players in school history include Steve Bartkowski, Chuck Muncie, Tony Gonzalez, Wesley Walker, Ron Rivera, Ed White, Andre Carter, Deltha O'Neal, Marshawn Lynch and Todd Steussie.

• Lorenzo Alexander (defensive tackle)
• J.J. Arrington (running back)
• Nnamdi Asomugha (cornerback)
• Tully Banta-Cain (linebacker)
• David Binn (long snapper)
• Desmond Bishop (linebacker)
• Kyle Boller (quarterback)
• Andre Carter (defensive end)
• Scott Fujita (linebacker)
• Matt Giordano (safety)
• Tony Gonzalez (tight end)
• Nick Harris (punter)
• Lavelle Hawkins (wide receiver)
• Dante Hughes (cornerback)
• DeSean Jackson (wide receiver)
• Louis-Philippe Ladouceur (long snapper)
• Ryan Longwell (kicker)
• Marshawn Lynch (running back)
• Brandon Mebane (defensive tackle)
• Jeremy Newberry (center)
• Ryan O'Callaghan (offensive tackle)
• Deltha O'Neal (cornerback)
• Marvin Philip (center)
• Mickey Pimentel (linebacker)
• Aaron Rodgers (quarterback)
• Craig Stevens (tight end)
• Byron Storer (fullback)
• Langston Walker (offensive tackle)
• John Welbourn (offensive tackle)