What Is 1938 California Golden Bears football

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1938 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the 1938 college football season, finishing with a 3–4–1 record under head coach Stub Allison and playing in the Pacific Coast Conference.

Key Facts

The 1938 California Golden Bears finished the season with a 3–4–1 overall record
Head coach Stub Allison led the team during its 1938 campaign
The team played its home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley
California competed in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) in 1938
The Golden Bears scored 81 points while allowing 99 points over eight games

Overview

The 1938 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley during the 1938 college football season. Competing in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), the team was led by head coach Stub Allison, who was in his fourth year at the helm. The Golden Bears played their home games at California Memorial Stadium, a venue that had opened just over a decade earlier and remained central to the program's identity.

That season, California struggled to find consistent success, finishing with a 3–4–1 overall record and a 2–3–1 mark in conference play. Despite flashes of offensive potential, the team’s defense allowed more points than it scored, contributing to a losing record. The 1938 season was part of a transitional era for the program, as it sought to rebuild competitiveness after earlier national prominence in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Record: The Golden Bears finished the 1938 season with a 3–4–1 overall record, reflecting inconsistent performance across eight games.
Conference: California competed in the Pacific Coast Conference, finishing with a 2–3–1 record against PCC opponents.
Head Coach: Stub Allison, in his fourth season, led the team with a focus on rebuilding the program’s competitiveness.
Scoring: The team scored 81 total points while surrendering 99, indicating defensive struggles throughout the season.
Home Field: All home games were played at California Memorial Stadium, located on the Berkeley campus, which had a capacity of over 72,000 at the time.

Season Performance

The 1938 campaign featured a mix of close contests and lopsided outcomes, highlighting both offensive flashes and defensive vulnerabilities. California opened the season with a win but failed to string together consecutive victories, ultimately missing a bowl game. The team’s schedule included regional rivals and emerging powerhouses, offering a challenging slate for a rebuilding squad.

Season Opener: California defeated Santa Clara 13–0 in the first game, showing early defensive strength.
Key Loss: A 13–7 defeat to Stanford in the Big Game sealed a disappointing end to the season.
Offensive Standout: The team’s highest-scoring game was a 27–13 win over Oregon State, where they tallied three touchdowns.
Defensive Struggles: The Golden Bears allowed 20 or more points in three games, including a 27–0 loss to Washington.
Tie Game: A 7–7 deadlock with Oregon marked one of two games that ended without a decisive winner.
Rivalry Game: The annual matchup against Stanford, known as the Big Game, was a 13–7 loss played in front of a large crowd at California Memorial Stadium.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1938 season is best understood in context with nearby years to evaluate performance trends. The table below compares key statistics across five seasons surrounding 1938.

Year	Overall Record	PCC Record	Points For	Points Against
1936	1–7–1	1–4–1	61	117
1937	4–5–1	3–3–1	105	99
1938	3–4–1	2–3–1	81	99
1939	4–5–1	3–4–1	114	109
1940	3–4–1	3–4–1	104	105

The data shows that 1938 was a modest improvement over 1936 but slightly worse than 1937 in terms of wins. While scoring dipped compared to previous years, the defense improved slightly from 1936 but remained inconsistent. The Golden Bears hovered around .500 in conference play, indicating a program in transition rather than dominance.

Why It Matters

The 1938 season reflects a pivotal phase in California football history, bridging earlier national prominence and future resurgence. Though not a standout year, it contributed to the long-term development of the program under Stub Allison’s leadership.

Program Legacy: The 1938 season is part of California’s broader football narrative, which includes national titles in the 1920s.
Coaching Impact: Stub Allison’s tenure shaped recruiting and strategy during a challenging era for West Coast football.
Stadium Significance: Playing at Memorial Stadium reinforced the team’s identity and connection to Berkeley’s campus culture.
Rivalry Continuity: The annual Big Game against Stanford continued, maintaining one of college football’s oldest rivalries.
Historical Context: The season occurred during the Great Depression, affecting attendance and athletic funding nationally.
Foundation for Growth: Despite a losing record, the 1938 team helped lay groundwork for future improvements in the 1940s.

While not remembered as a championship year, the 1938 California Golden Bears season remains a documented chapter in the evolution of a storied college football program, illustrating resilience and continuity during a transformative period.