Sagapolutele Confirms Commitment To Cal Football

BERKELEY - California quarterback and freshman All-American candidate Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele announced Tuesday that he will stay at Cal and will be with the Golden Bears moving forward.

“After spending time with my family, a lot of prayer and many discussions, I have come to realize that Cal is the best place for me,” said Sagapolutele.

“I am grateful to be surrounded by so many supportive people who can help me achieve the goals that I have on and off the football field. I am excited to finish this season with a group of guys who have put in so much work and effort and I look forward to the 2026 season.”

“I believe in Cal and what this football program is capable of. I am confident that if you want to change your life, on and off the field you should #ComeToCal.”

Sagapolutele has begun his collegiate career with 12 consecutive games of 200 yards or more passing and is the only Power 4 and second FBS player to ever record at least 12 straight games of 200 yards or more passing to begin a collegiate career. Houston's David Piland began his career with 14 straight games of 200 or more yards passing spanning the 2010 and 2012 seasons (did not play in 2011).

“We are very excited about having Jaron return,” Rivera said. “Jaron is not only a great quarterback with a bright future, but he is also a leader, he’s respected in the locker room and he exemplifies everything about what it means to be a California Golden Bear.” 

In his first season behind center, Sagapolutele has garnered national attention. This season, he was named the ACC Rookie of the Week four times, the ACC’s Quarterback of the Week twice, Davey O’Brien’s National Quarterback of the Week twice and a Manning Award Star of the Week twice.

After the Bears’ season-opening victory over Oregon State, Sagapolutele was named the ACC’s Rookie of the Week and to Pro Football Focus’ National Team of the Week and ACC Team of the Week. He was also named the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Week.

In week three, after Cal’s win over Minnesota, he was named the ACC’s Rookie of the Week for the second time.

Following Cal’s upset victory over No. 15 Louisville on Nov. 8, he was named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Great 8 and later the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Of The Week. Additionally, he was named a Manning Award Star Of The Week and later was named the Manning Award Quarterback Of The Week. He was named the ACC’s Quarterback of the Week for the first time and Rookie of the Week for the third time.

In the Bears’ second upset victory of the year against No. 21 SMU last Saturday, Sagapolutele finished the game 31-for-40 for 330 yards passing with four touchdown throws and no interceptions. Both his yards passing and touchdown passes were career highs. 

Following his performance against the Mustangs, he was named to the Davey O'Brien Great 8 but was later named the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week along with his second Manning Award Star of the Week honor. He became the first freshman to win the honor multiple times and joined Georgia's Gunnar Stockton as the only other player this season to win the award twice. Sagapolutele was selected as both the ACC's Rookie and Quarterback of the Week and earned a Manning Award Star of the Week.

On the season, Sagapolutele has completed 288-of-453 passes for 3,117 yards along with 17 touchdown throws. Sagapolutele leads the ACC and is fifth nationally in completions, while he is third in the ACC and 15th nationally in passing yards. His 3,117 yards in his first season ranks sixth on Cal's all-time single-season list.