California Cruises Past Texas Southern 35-3 Behind Raphael, Sagapolutele

The California Golden Bears defeated the Texas Southern Tigers 35-3, led by junior transfer running back Kendrick Raphael who ran for a career-high 131 yards and a touchdown. Freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele contributed 259 passing yards, one touchdown pass, one interception, and a rushing touchdown, helping Cal extend its perfect record against Football Championship Subdivision teams. The Bears took a modest 11-0 lead into halftime and broke the game open with a 14-point third quarter, primarily through strong rushing performances. Despite the win, Cal lost linebacker Cade Uluave to a targeting ejection late in the game, sidelining him for part of their next matchup. Texas Southern managed only 194 yards of offense and scored their sole points on a 39-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, as Cal's defense dominated by limiting the Tigers' third-down conversions and keeping them from scoring a touchdown. The victory marked the Bears' first game without allowing a touchdown since 2021 and highlighted areas for defensive improvement as noted by coach Justin Wilcox.