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.

Sagapolutele, a five-star recruit from Hawaii, will join Jared Goff as the only Bears true freshman quarterbacks to start a season-opening game.

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.