BERKELEY, Calif. -- This began as a season of immense promise for Sonny Dykes' Golden Bears.
Some low-key preseason Heisman buzz surrounded junior quarterback Jared Goff. The targets he'd be throwing to boldly declared they were the best receivers in the nation. A 1,000-yard running back in Daniel Lasco also returned. The defense, which was the nation's worst against the pass in 2014, discussed their marked improvement entering 2015.
Combine all of that with California's upward win trajectory -- the Bears won only one game in 2013, Dykes' first year on the job, and five last season -- and there was reason to believe that 2015 could see a breakthrough.