Sagapolutele joins Jared Goff as the only true freshman quarterbacks to start a season opener at Cal. Goff did it in 2013 on his way to becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. Goff threw for 450 yards and two TDs in his debut, losing 44-30 to Northwestern. The Bears went 1-11 in Goff's first season.

Cal has named freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele its starting quarterback ahead of the program's season-opener against Oregon State, the school announced on Monday. Sagapolutele, the former No. 65 overall recruit in the 2025 recruiting cycle by 247Sports, won the starting job over Ohio State transfer Devin Brown.

Naming Sagapolutele was a surprise. Devin Brown had been seen as the likely starter. Sagapolutele will be the second Cal true freshman to start at quarterback in the season opener.