The 1971 California Golden Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Berkeley in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their eighth year under head coach Ray Willsey, the Golden Bears compiled a 6–5 record (4–3 against Pac-8 opponents), finished in a tie for third place in the Pac-8, and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 262 to 186.