$1.8 Million QB Named Freshman Quarterback in College Football

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, a sophomore quarterback at California, aims to rise as a standout player in the 2026 college football season. After initially committing to Oregon as a top 10 quarterback recruit in the 2025 class, Sagapolutele transferred to California for more immediate playing time. He started all 13 games for the Golden Bears in 2025, passing for 3,454 yards, 18 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, and led the team to a 7-6 record and a Hawaii Bowl appearance.

Despite a coaching change from Justin Wilcox to Tosh Lupoi, Sagapolutele remains with California heading into the new season. The team has brought in Jordan Somerville from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to serve as offensive coordinator under Lupoi. Sagapolutele's 2025 performance was highlighted as one of the best among true freshman quarterbacks by Antonio Morales of The Athletic.

California's 2026 schedule includes a notable non-con