USA TODAY writer views Cal's quarterback as a Heisman dark horse
UCLA's defense will begin 2026 by trying to slow down Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Saturday night.
UCLA writer Marcus D. Smith believes UCLA quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele could be a Heisman dark horse for the upcoming season. Sagapolutele, a sophomore, has already made history at Cal, starting all 13 games as a true freshman, a feat not seen since Jared Goff in 2013. The Golden Bears bolstered their offense with transfers Dorian Thomas and wide receivers Cooper Perry, Adam Mohammed, Ian Strong, and Chase Hendricks.
In the ACC last year, Sagapolutele led Cal to a 4-4 record, including impressive wins against Louisville and SMU. Despite not having a Heisman winner in the program's history, Smith sees potential in the left-handed signal-caller, who completed 64.2% of his passes as a freshman, throwing for 3,454 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions.
The Bears' coaching staff has remained stable, with head coach Tosh Lupoi returning and offensive coordinator Jordan Somerville joining from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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