Virginia Tech football: Cal could be without starting quarterback vs. Hokies

Virginia Tech's football team, the Hokies, are preparing for their upcoming game against the California Golden Bears. The Hokies recently suffered a loss to the Pitt Panthers, which was their first defeat under coach James Franklin. This setback has motivated the Hokies to rebound with a trip to California, where they will face Cal.

California currently holds a 2-3 record, with a 1-1 standing in ACC play. However, their starting quarterback, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, may not play in Saturday's game. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound sophomore sustained a head injury during last week's loss to UNLV and is under concussion protocol. This could significantly impact the Golden Bears' offensive strategy.

Sagapolutele has been a standout performer this season, completing 65% of his passes for 1,180 yards, tallying eight touchdowns, and throwing five interceptions. He has been a reliable leader for the Golden Bears, having started as a true freshman last season and completed 64% of his passes for 3,454 yards, 19 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

Virginia Tech and California have a history of memorable games. Just a year ago, the Hokies hosted Cal in a double-overtime thriller, winning 42-34. Virginia Tech's quarterback, Jackson Brousseau, stepped in for the injured Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele during that game and performed admirably.

On Monday, Coach Franklin praised both Cal's starting quarterbacks. The ACC will release its first availability report for Week 6 on Wednesday, but the Hokies are still uncertain about Sagapolutele's availability until the end of the week. Regardless of who takes the field, California will have a new playcaller this Saturday. Head coach Tosh Lupoi relieved offensive coordinator Jordan Somerville of playcalling duties during last week's game and handed the responsibilities over to pass game coordinator Pat McCann. Updates on the latest developments ahead of Saturday's game will be provided.