{
  "id": 15374438,
  "title": "Wake Forest clobbers Cal, which opens game with QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele on bench",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/wake-forest-clobbers-cal-which-opens-game-with-qb-jaron-keawe",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-18T07:25:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wake-forest-clobbers-cal-opens-072529888.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cal suffered a devastating 41-7 defeat at the hands of No. 21 Wake Forest, a game that commenced with quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele absent from the starting lineup. The freshman, who had been sidelined due to a concussion earlier in the week, made his first appearance in the third quarter, throwing for 110 yards and a touchdown. Despite possessing a solid preparation plan going into the match, Cal was outmaneuvered and outcoached by their opponents, who capitalized on their strategic execution.\n\nCal's quarterback situation remains in turmoil following the benching decision. Coach Tosh Lupoi expressed regret over his choice, emphasizing that it will be a competition between quarterbacks for the starting position. Sagapolutele's struggles this season, coupled with his lack of playtime, have sparked speculation about his potential departure from the team due to NIL and brand deals pursued by other programs. However, Cal's focus is currently on coping with the immediate challenges posed by the abrupt change in quarterback leadership ahead of their next game against SMU.",
  "summary": "The Cal Bears opened the game with Jackson Brousseau rather than Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele at quarterback, one of several noteworthy turns in a 41-7 loss to Wake Forest in Berkeley on Saturday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}