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A Green and Gold
Game Day
The sights, sounds and celebrations that consumed campus during Cal Poly Football’s first win of the season.
By Robyn Kontra Tanner // Photos by Joe Johnston and courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics //
Video by Dylan Head
A sunset dazzles the crowd as Cal Poly Football took on Idaho on Friday, September 28.
On August 28, Cal Poly Football kicked off the 2026 season in thrilling fashion with a come-from-behind victory against the University of Idaho in front of a record-setting crowd.
The event, broadcast live on ESPN, brought the San Luis Obispo campus together for long-standing traditions with fresh energy as the team looks to establish a culture of winning. It was the first home game since the John Madden Football Center officially opened in June.
Expectations of everyone watching ran high.
“I hope this season is the start of something great,” said Head Coach Tim Skipper in a pre-season interview. “I hope it sets the tempo — that’s what I hope we get out of this. I hope people see a whole bunch of guys that are putting full effort into the games, straining, and fighting, and doing everything possible to win.”
Scenes from game day at Cal Poly on August 28.
The pregame party started early in the afternoon, with tailgating and BBQs through the heart of campus. Cal Poly Athletics, Associated Students, Inc., and Campus Dining hosted a student tailgate on Chase Lawn, where Mustangs made signs, played games and took photos with Musty. Mustang Band, the dance team and Cal Poly Football players and coaches made the traditional stampede down Mustang Way to Spanos Stadium, hyping up spectators along the way.
“The goal is to create an atmosphere where everybody feels ownership in our success,” said Athletic Director Carter Henderson before the season started. “For students, we want our games to be some of the most exciting and memorable experiences of their college years. For the local community, we want Spanos Stadium to be a gathering place where families, businesses and supporters can celebrate what this community is all about.”
First photo: Students enjoy tailgating on Chase Lawn before the game. Second photo: Mustangs pose for a photo in the stands.
On the field, the team established a new home game tradition: players walked arm-in-arm across the entire length of the turf to the Madden Center and into the locker room to prepare for competition. After on-field warmups, the team and coaches paid their respects at The Rock: a monument from the Toledo, Ohio, airfield where 16 Mustang football players, the student manager, a member of the Mustang Booster Club, and four others died in a tragic plane crash on October 29, 1960.
Then the stage was set for the team’s debut. Cal Poly’s new live mascot, Chase II, dashed across the field just before the team emerged from the Madden Center — clad in classic green and gold uniforms — for the first game of the season led by Coach Skipper. Mustang Band played, and a crowd of 11,186 fans — the largest ever recorded in Spanos — packed the stadium.
“Mustang football is one of the most visible and impactful programs in our department,” said Henderson. “There are many times when our football program provides the first impression of our university.”
First photo: Players walk the field from end to end in a new pre-game tradition. Second photo: Coach Skipper runs warmups in Spanos Stadium. Third photo: The Mustangs emerge from the Madden Center for the first game of the season.
Though the Mustangs lost the coin toss, they grasped the momentum from the first play. Running back Jaden Green made a 46-yard kickoff return that electrified the crowd and set the tone for Cal Poly’s offense.
Quarterback Anthony Grigsby Jr. came out strong, throwing three touchdown passes in the first half to tight end Alek Marshall, running back Misa Paiau and wide receiver Fidel Pitts. Cal Poly held a 21-10 lead by the end of the second quarter.
At halftime, Cal Poly Football retired the No. 74 jersey of alumnus, coach and broadcaster John Madden (Physical Education ’59; M.A. Education ’61). At midfield, members of the Madden family gathered with Henderson, associate athletic director Jackson Stava, and Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong to accept a framed jersey and celebrate Madden’s legacy.
First photo: Tight end Alek Marshall catches Cal Poly’s first touchdown of the game. Second photo: Members of the Madden family stand at center field as John Madden’s jersey number is retired.
When the second half began, the Idaho Vandals offense surged back. The Mustangs still led 24-16 with 11-and-a-half minutes to play, but a pair of touchdowns from Idaho brought the score to 31-24. Grigsby helped Cal Poly tie the matchup with a 15-yard rushing touchdown.
Cal Poly fell behind, 34-31, after an Idaho field goal with 63 seconds remaining. As Cal Poly started its final drive on its own 23-yard line, Grigsby completed a 41-yard pass to wide receiver Tayvion McCoy before another completion brought the Mustangs to the 36-yard line. On fourth-and-eight, Grigsby found McCoy from 34 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
In total, Grigsby threw for 319 yards, finishing 26-for-35 during the 38-34 victory. McCoy finished with 10 catches for 170 yards in his Cal Poly debut. Students rushed the field to celebrate the victory with the team, fans and family members.
“I think when the football team wins, it helps everybody,” said Coach Skipper. “It helps campus, it helps with enrollment, it gets more attractive for new students who want to come here. The community’s buzzing a little bit more. To me, when the football season is going well, everything thrives off of it.”
First photo: Running back Jaden Green evades tackle by Idaho defenders. Second photo: Wide receiver Tayvion McCoy jumps to catch the game-winning touchdown. Third photo: Quarterback Anthony Grigsby, Jr. turns to a cheering crowd after scoring a touch down.
Keep up with the Mustangs and watch live streams across different sports throughout the season at gopoly.com.
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