CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

2023 Cal Poly

3–⁠8 (1–⁠7 Big Sky).

Schedule and results

Cal Poly in 2023, game by game: won vs. San Diego 27–10; lost at San José State 3–59; won vs. Lincoln (CA) 41–20; lost at Portland State 21–59; lost vs. UC Davis 13–31; lost vs. Idaho 14–42; lost at Montana State 19–59; won vs. Northern Colorado 24–17; lost at Eastern Washington 13–48; lost at Sacramento State 30–41; lost vs. Weber State 21–48+21−56Won 27–10 vs. San Diego+17San DiegoLost 3–59 at San José State-56San José StateWon 41–20 vs. Lincoln (CA)+21Lincoln (CA)Lost 21–59 at Portland State-38Portland StateLost 13–31 vs. UC Davis-18UC DavisLost 14–42 vs. Idaho-28IdahoLost 19–59 at Montana State-40Montana StateWon 24–17 vs. Northern Colorado+7Northern Colora…Lost 13–48 at Eastern Washington-35Eastern Washing…Lost 30–41 at Sacramento State-11Sacramento StateLost 21–48 vs. Weber State-27Weber State
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 2vsSan DiegoW 27–⁠1039%
Sep 9atSan José StateL 3–⁠5917%
Sep 16vsLincoln (CA)W 41–⁠2079%
Sep 23atPortland StateL 21–⁠5936%
Sep 30vsUC DavisL 13–⁠3133%
Oct 7vsIdahoL 14–⁠4223%
Oct 14atMontana StateL 19–⁠598%
Oct 21vsNorthern ColoradoW 24–⁠1763%
Nov 4atEastern WashingtonL 13–⁠4826%
Nov 11atSacramento StateL 30–⁠4112%
Nov 18vsWeber StateL 21–⁠4828%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Lost to Weber State 48–⁠21; unranked in the final AP poll; 11th in the Big Sky.

In program history: The tied 43rd-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 56 on file).

Record
3–⁠8
Conference
1–⁠7 11th in Big Sky
AP final
Unranked
Points
226–⁠434
Coach
—
Elo
1135 −51 this season
SP+ rating
—
SRS
−37.8 No. 103 of 128 in FCS
Recruiting class
No. 139
Offensive coordinator
Sheldon Cross
Defensive coordinators
Will Plemons and Cody Von Appen
Offense
Spread
Defense
Multiple

Leaders

Passing yardsSam Huard QB1,775 yds
Passing touchdownsSam Huard QB11 TD
Rushing yardsMark Biggins RB214 yds
Rushing touchdownsMark Biggins RB2 TD
Receiving yardsGiancarlo Woods WR398 yds
Receiving touchdownsMichael Briscoe WR3 TD
TacklesEthan Calvert LB12 tkl
SacksAntonio Vakameilalo DL1 sacks
InterceptionsDonovan Saunders DB2 INT

Top recruits in the 2023 class

Edward Schultz WR★★★No. 1315
Chris Snyder Jr. ATH★★★No. 1374
Delano Franklin WR★★★No. 1664
Dieter Barr QB★★★No. 1710
Robin Boyd CB★★★No. 2179

247Sports composite rankings via CollegeFootballData.com; national rank in the class.

The 2023 class by position

SignedStarsRating
Quarterbacks13.00.840
Running backs22.50.795
Receivers33.00.832
Offensive line23.00.810
Defensive line22.50.800
Linebackers13.00.800
Defensive backs22.50.800
Athletes and specialists42.80.818
Whole class172.80.813

High-school signees by position group, with their average stars and 247Sports composite rating (out of 1), via CollegeFootballData.com. Athletes are signees with no set position.

Transfers in 4

The 2023 portal
Sam Huard QB★★★from Washington
Ethan Calvert LB★★★★from Utah
Carlton Brown III TE★★★from Nevada
Reed Shumpert WR★★from Washington State

Transfers out 3

Josh Cuevas TE★★★★to Washington
Ryan Rivera TE★★to Louisiana Tech
Jay’Vion Cole CBto San José State

2023 Big Sky standings

Conference page
TeamConf.OverallAP final
Montana7–⁠113–⁠2
Idaho6–⁠29–⁠4
Montana State6–⁠28–⁠4
UC Davis5–⁠37–⁠4
Northern Arizona5–⁠35–⁠6
Sacramento State4–⁠48–⁠5
Weber State4–⁠46–⁠5
Portland State4–⁠45–⁠6
Eastern Washington3–⁠54–⁠7
Idaho State3–⁠53–⁠8
Cal Poly1–⁠73–⁠8
Northern Colorado0–⁠80–⁠11

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.