Raphael, Sagapolutele Collect ACC Weekly Honors

Kendrick Raphael and Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele collected ACC Player of the Week honors, announced by the conference Monday morning following the California football team’s 38-35 upset victory over No. 21 SMU in the Golden Bears’ regular-season finale.

For the fourth time this season, Sagapolutele has been named ACC Rookie of the Week. He has also been named ACC Quarterback of the week for the second time in 2025.

Against the Mustangs, Sagapolutele finished 31-for-40 for 330 yards passing with four touchdown throws and no interceptions or sacks. Both his yards passing and touchdown passes were career highs. He has thrown for 3,117 yards in his debut season to rank sixth on Cal’s all-time single-season list. Sagapolutele has begun his collegiate career with 12 consecutive games of 200 yards or more passing. His 259.8 yards per game average and his total passing yards both rank third in the ACC this season while his 288 completions and 453 passing attempts lead the conference.

Raphael was named ACC Running Back of the Week, his first time earning a weekly conference recognition this season. 

Raphael posted a career-high 33 rushes for 111 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter against SMU to help the Bears clinch their second straight win against a ranked opponent this season, the first time they have done so since 2016 when they knocked off No. 11 Texas and No. 18 Utah at California Memorial Stadium on Sept. 17 and Oct. 1, respectively. It was Raphael’s 12th rushing touchdown of the season to move him into a tie for ninth place on Cal’s all-time single season list. Raphael leads the ACC in carries with 215 this season while his total rushing touchdowns rank third in the conference.