California beats Louisville 29–26 and takes the College Football Belt
The 3rd reign for the program; it ends Louisville’s 22-day reign of 2 defenses.
California took the lineal College Football Belt on November 8, 2025, beating Louisville 29–26 on the road in week 11. It is reign 330 in the belt’s history, which starts with Rutgers over Princeton in 1869, and the 3rd for California.
Louisville had held it since October 17, 2025: 22 days and 2 defenses.
California last held the belt in 1993, 11,718 days before this one; that reign lasted 35 days with 4 defenses.
The reign lasted 14 days and 0 defenses, ending November 22, 2025 against Stanford.
The game
California claimed the College Football Belt in a thrilling back-and-forth contest at Louisville, prevailing 26-29 in a game that featured five overtimes. The Bears' offense proved more efficient throughout, with quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele leading multiple scoring drives and connecting with receivers like Jacob De Jesus and Quincy Adams on deep balls. Louisville kept pace with field…