Cal Names Freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Starting QB Over Ohio State Transfer

The University of California Golden Bears have named true freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele as their starting quarterback for the 2025 season opener against Oregon State. Sagapolutele, a highly ranked recruit from Hawaii, won the starting job over Ohio State transfer Devin Brown, who had received a lucrative NIL deal to join Cal but will now serve as the backup. After initially committing to Cal, briefly flipping to Oregon, and then transferring back, Sagapolutele impressed coaches with his accuracy, calm demeanor, and rapid learning under offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin. Head coach Justin Wilcox acknowledged that Sagapolutele, like former Cal star Jared Goff, has the poise and competitiveness needed to succeed despite his lack of experience. Although Cal finished 6-7 last season under Wilcox and is not favored to win the ACC, the team has a relatively favorable schedule this year. Sagapolutele’s journey and performance have generated significant excitement and optimism among coaches and fans as he prepares for his college debut.