Weekly Mustang Roundup: Aug. 25-31
8/25/2026 5:00:00 PM | Football, General
Cal Poly Athletics
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This Week in Mustang Athletics
- First-year head coach Tim Skipper makes his sideline debut, the Cal Poly football program inaugurates the new John Madden Football Center, and the Mustang Athletics Department retires John Madden’s No. 74 jersey as Cal Poly opens both the 2026 season and its Big Sky Conference schedule by hosting Idaho on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7:05 p.m. as part of a nationally televised ESPN slate.
- Coming off one of the most historic seasons in program history, the Big West and NCAA Los Angeles Regional champion Cal Poly volleyball squad hits the floor Aug. 28-30, kicking off the 2026 season at a non-conference tournament hosted by reigning national champion Texas A&M.
- Both men's and women's soccer host Week of Welcome matches at Mustang Memorial Field this week with the season's first doubleheader on Thursday, Aug. 27: the women take on San Diego at 4 p.m., followed by the men versus San Jose State at 7 p.m.
- Men's soccer remains in San Luis Obispo heading into the weekend as the Mustangs host San Diego State on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m.
- Women's soccer heads on the road following the back-to-back at Spanos Stadium, traveling to Tempe for a matchup against Arizona State, also at 7 p.m. on Sunday evening.
#RIDEHIGH MOMENTS
WEEKLY SNEAK PEEK
- Bringing 25 years of coaching experience to the Central Coast, Tim Skipper was hired as the 19th head coach in Cal Poly football history on Dec. 3, 2025. Skipper arrived at Cal Poly after serving as UCLA’s interim head coach to close the 2025 season, claiming victories against Penn State, Michigan State and Maryland after beginning last fall as the Bruins’ special assistant to the head coach.
- The Mustangs seek their first victory against Idaho at the FCS level with Cal Poly having dropped five previous matchups since transitioning to Division I ahead of the 1994 season. The Vandals won the last matchup at home on Oct. 19, 2024, 34-29.
- With the John Madden Football Center making its gameday debut Friday, the Cal Poly Athletics Department will retire the No. 74 jersey of Pro Football Hall of Fame legend and Cal Poly alum John Madden during a halftime ceremony.
- Get live game updates by downloading the Cal Poly Athletics app HERE or follow Mustang Football on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok! All other links can be found HERE!
- Following one of the most memorable seasons in program history, the reigning Big West and NCAA Los Angeles Regional champion Cal Poly volleyball team returns to the court ready for a non-conference tournament to open the 2026 campaign.
- The Mustangs kick off play on Aug. 28 at 3:30 p.m. (PT) in College Station, Texas, facing Grand Canyon in a neutral-site matchup.
- They’ll then square off against tourney host and reigning NCAA champ Texas A&M in a marquee showdown on Aug. 29 at 5 p.m. (PT) before closing the opening weekend on Aug. 30 with a noon (PT) contest against Arkansas State, the defending Sun Belt Conference champion.
- Only the matches against Texas A&M will be streamed HERE on ESPN+ and SECN+.
- The Big West office announced last week that the Mustangs topped the Preseason Coaches’ Poll with 121 total points, securing 11 of 12 first-place votes. Individually, Kendall Beshear, Emma Fredrick, and Chloe Leluge earned spots on the Big West Preseason Coaches’ Team.
- Following consecutive 2-2 draws at Denver (Aug. 20) and UC Davis (Aug. 23) to open the season, Cal Poly plays five of its next seven matches at home, beginning Thursday, Aug. 27 versus San Jose State and continuing Sunday, Aug. 30 against San Diego State.
- Both matches at Mustang Memorial Field kick off at 7 p.m. on ESPN+ with live stats available HERE.
- The Mustangs have featured four different goal scorers during their opening two matches with junior forward Roman Anast and senior midfielder Parker Mascott scoring their first Division I goals during the 2-2 Sunday draw at UC Davis.
- Cal Poly (2-1-0) will look to keep things rolling when they host San Diego (1-1-1) at 4 p.m. Thursday at Spanos Stadium as part of a doubleheader with men’s soccer, who plays San Jose State at 7 p.m.
- Thursday is ALS Awareness Night and tickets can be found HERE. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats are available HERE.
- On Sunday against San Jose State, Cal Poly rolled to a dominant 3-0 victory over the Spartans thanks to a first-half brace from junior Miah Thomas, a transfer from Cal State Bakersfield, and an early second half goal from junior Sam Liaty, her first as a Mustang.
- Sophomores Kenzie Herzing and Kammy MacLennan, and freshman Madison Lujan all registered their first collegiate points in the match, assisting on goals. Senior Annika Smith, reigning Big West Offensive Player of the Year, earned an assist in the match for her first point.
- Cal Poly’s first road match of the season Sunday at 7 p.m. at Arizona State, can be seen live on ESPN+ and live stats are available HERE.
- Sunday’s matchup with the Sun Devils (2-0-1) will be just the second meeting all-time between the programs with the first occurring on Nov. 14, 2003, when the two sides squared off in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament at Santa Clara. ASU won the match 3-1.
- Following this week’s action, Cal Poly travels to Cal next Thursday, Sept. 3 for a 4 p.m. match.
Sunday, August 23
Thursday, August 13
Wednesday, August 05
Thursday, June 18
