American college football season
The 2021 Cal Poly Mustangs football team represented California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo as member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season . Led by second-year head coach Beau Baldwin , the Mustangs compiled an overall record of 2–9 with a mark of 1–7 in conference play, tying for 11th place in the Big Sky. Cal poly played home games at Mustang Stadium in San Luis Obispo, California .
On July 26, 2021, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Mustangs were predicted to finish twelfth in the Big Sky by the coaches and last in the media.[ 1]
Coaches poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Weber State
(7)
2
Montana
(3)
3
Eastern Washington
(2)
4
Montana State
(1)
5
Sacramento State
(1)
6
UC Davis
7
Northern Arizona
8
Idaho
9
Idaho State
10
Portland State
11
Southern Utah
12
Cal Poly
13
Northern Colorado
Media poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Weber State
(14)
2
Montana
(4)
3
Eastern Washington
(3)
4
Montana State
(3)
5
Sacramento State
6
UC Davis
7
Northern Arizona
8
Idaho
9
Idaho State
10
Portland State
11
Southern Utah
12
Northern Colorado
13
Cal Poly
Preseason All–Big Sky team[ edit ]
The Mustangs did not have any players selected to the preseason all-Big Sky team.[ 2]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 4 2:05 p.m. at San Diego * W 28–172,966
September 11 7:05 p.m. at Fresno State * CW59 L 10–6330,119
September 18 5:05 p.m. South Dakota * ESPN+ L 14–4811,075
September 25 12:00 p.m. at No. 4 Montana ESPN+ L 7–3925,600
October 2 5:05 p.m. No. 19 Weber State Alex G. Spanos Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA ESPN+ L 7–387,089
October 9 1:00 p.m. at No. 10 Montana State RTNW L 7–4519,847
October 23 5:05 p.m. No. 10 UC Davis ESPN+ L 13–249,573
October 30 2:05 p.m. at Portland State ESPN+ L 21–423,245
November 6 6:00 p.m. at No. 16 Sacramento State ESPN+ L 9–417,287
November 13 5:05 p.m. Idaho State Alex G. Spanos Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA ESPN+ W 32–295,651
November 20 5:05 p.m. Northern Arizona Alex G. Spanos Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA ESPN+ L 21–456,371
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Pacific time
[ 3] [ 4]
1
2
3
4
Total
Mustangs
7
7
0
14
28
Toreros
7
0
3
7
17
1
2
3
4
Total
Mustangs
0
10
0
0
10
Bulldogs
7
28
21
7
63
1
2
3
4
Total
Coyotes
21
20
0
7
48
Mustangs
7
0
0
7
14
1
2
3
4
Total
Mustangs
0
0
0
7
7
No. 4 Grizzlies
15
3
21
0
39
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 19 Wildcats
7
21
10
0
38
Mustangs
7
0
0
0
7
At No. 10 Montana State [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Mustangs
0
0
7
0
7
No. 10 Bobcats
7
28
7
3
45
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 10 Aggies
0
10
14
0
24
Mustangs
0
7
6
0
13
1
2
3
4
Total
Mustangs
6
0
8
7
21
Vikings
14
0
7
21
42
At No. 16 Sacramento State [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Mustangs
0
9
0
0
9
No. 16 Hornets
14
10
10
7
41
1
2
3
4
Total
Bengals
7
7
0
15
29
Mustangs
7
7
12
6
32
1
2
3
4
Total
Lumberjacks
7
31
7
0
45
Mustangs
7
7
0
7
21
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold