www.thestar.com - RSS Results of type article
· collected 2026-08-19 · by Josh Dubow The Associated Press
The University of California's football program is heading into a new season with high hopes under coach Tosh Lupoi, thanks in part to the return of quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who threw for 3,454 yards and 18 touchdowns last year. The team has made significant roster upgrades, including adding several transfers such as Adam Mohammed from Washington and Ian Strong from Rutgers, which should support Sagapolutele's play in the pro-style offense. However, the defense is a major concern, having to replace five key defenders, including two star linebackers who left as transfers. The Golden Bears have their toughest games scheduled for September against UCLA, Clemson, and an unspecified opponent.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The University of California Golden Bears football team is looking forward to the upcoming season under new coach Tosh Lupoi, who has been upgrading the roster. Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, a freshman last year, has decided to return for his sophomore season, giving the team high hopes for improvement. In 2025, Cal went 7-6 in coach Justin Wilcox's final season, their first winning season since 2019, and are hoping to do even better this year with Sagapolutele back on board. The team has a relatively easy nonconference schedule, which should allow them to rack up wins. Sagapolutele threw for 3,454 yards and 18 touchdowns in his freshman season, showing great potential that he believes will increase with more experience. The team is also expecting benefits from the investments made by second-year general manager Ron Rivera, who has increased spending on football.
Written for “Cal Football Recruiting” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 1350 · logged 2026-08-21
The excitement around the Cal program is at its highest level in years with new coach Tosh Lupoi upgrading the roster and QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele back for a second season.
asserted
Lupoi → upgrade → season
The Golden Bears have won more than seven games just once in the past 10 seasons and haven’t had a winning record in conference play since 2009.
asserted
Bears → win → 2009
But the school has made a bigger investment in football under second-year general manager Ron Rivera and the hope is it will soon pay dividends with the play on the field.
asserted
it → make → field
Cal went 7-6 last season in coach Justin Wilcox’s final season for its first winning season since 2019 and have the pieces to do even better this year after Sagapolutele decided to remain following the coaching change.
asserted
Sagapolutele → go → change
The Bears have a manageable nonconference schedule and don’t have to play ACC favorite Miami in the regular season, giving them a chance to stack up wins.
asserted
Bears → have → wins
Strengths include the QB
Sagapolutele made a major impact right from the start last season as a freshman.
asserted
Sagapolutele → include → freshman
He threw for 3,454 yards and 18 touchdowns and flashed the potential to be even better with more experience.
asserted
He → throw → experience
Sagapolutele believes he will fit well in the pro-style offense utilized by coordinator Jordan Somerville, who was in assistant on Tampa Bay in the NFL last season.
asserted
who → believe → NFL
Lupoi also did a good job upgrading the receiver room around Sagapolutele in the transfer portal, which should help him produce even more this season.
asserted
him → do → more
Washington transfer RB Adam Mohammed provides a good threat for the running game.
asserted
Mohammed → provide → game
Weaknesses include defense
asserted
Weaknesses → include → defense
The Bears have to replace five defenders who were picked for either the All-ACC team last season or were honorable mention.
asserted
who → have → team
That puts a lot of pressure on first-year coordinator Michael Hutchings to piece together a unit quickly that can compete in the conference.
asserted
that → put → conference
The biggest losses are at linebacker with stars Cade Uluave and Luke Ferrelli both leaving as transfers.
asserted
Uluave → leave → transfers
The secondary, which frequently produced NFL players under Wilcox, also must be rebuilt this season.
asserted
which → produce → Wilcox
