California quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele exited the Golden Bears’ game against the UNLV Rebels just before the end of the first half after taking a hit that caused a collision to his head.
Sagapolutele was evaluated on the sideline after being taken down by UNLV linebacker Elias Rudolph just after getting a pass off. The Cal sophomore quarterback hit his head on the turf as he was wrestled to the ground.
He attempted to go back to the huddle for the next play, but teammate Ian Strong, a transfer wide receiver, waved in the medical staff, who provided immediate attention to Sagapolutele.
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Sagapolutele had completed 19-of-27 passes for 195 yards with a touchdown and a pick. Jackson Brousseau ended the first half in his place. Cal trailed the Rebels, 24-7, at the time of the injury.
Coach Lupoi gives JKS injury update for Cal QB
Sagapolutele was seen on the sideline at the start of the second half with his helmet off. A sign that the Golden Bears’ play caller would end his day.
It would take a few plays but Sagapolutele looked ready to get back into the fire, especially as he stood on the sidelines in the second half.
That’s because he was. Cal head coach Tosh Lupoi told reporters that his sophomore quarterback was medically cleared to return to the game. But instead, Lupoi wasn’t taking any chances. He made a judgement call to keep Sagapolutele out for the remainder of the contest.
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“Jaron, when we came out, was medically cleared. I personally was not comfortable with the way he came off the field. (He was) literally wobbling,” Lupoi said told reporters postgame. “He was medically cleared to go in. I made that decision to start out with Jackson and not jeopardize Jaron’s health.”
“Instead of just throwing him back out there into the fold, I was not going to jeopardize him,” Lupoi added. “Much more important than any game is his health, his life, his career. So sure enough as he went out there we had a drive then he was re-checked throughout after that and I think there was enough symptoms there to just, for me, no matter what I’m not going to jeopardize that young man. So, I made that decision, not going to put anybody in harm’s way.”
Lupoi hasn’t ruled him out for the next game but assured that Sagapolutele would be re-evaluated for the next week against Virginia Tech.
“We’ll reassess everything, health wise, and see where we’re at going into this next week. If Jaron’s ready to rock, then awesome,” Lupoi said. “But if he has any symptoms, just like any one of our players, we’ll reassess there and make sure we’re not going to put anyone in harms way.”
Cal lose star defensive back Kingston Lopa
Cal saw its starting quarterback go down with an injury, but he wasn’t the only star on the Golden Bears’ football team to have gone out injured.
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Star defensive back and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Kingston Lopa left the game against UNLV early with an upper body injury. He was evaluated on the sideline after walking off the field on his own merit.
He did not return to the game as he was seen on the sideline in street clothes in the second half. Lopa leads the nation with five interceptions in the 2026 season.
Earlier in the game Cal lost defensive back Cam Sidney who was ejected due to targeting.
How did Cal finish without their rising quarterback?
Brousseau got his feel for the game and delivered a short pass to Carson Perry-Smith, who took the ball the length of the field for a 53-yard touchdown with 4:40 left in the third quarter. It was his first collegiate touchdown in his career.
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The Golden Bears converted a two-point conversion to cut the lead down, 24-15.
A turn of momentum happened for Cal. On the ensuing kickoff, UNLV returner Peyton Zachary fumbled and it was recovered by Cal freshman Niles Davis.
The Golden Bears offense turned it into three points, connecting on a 38-yard field goal from Towns McGough. Cal trailed 24-18, making it a one-possession game with 3:36 left in the third quarter.
Cal took a lead after their fourth-string running back Ashten Emory found the end zone on a seven-yard rush after a critical pass interference penalty backed UNLV at their own goal. Emory has 48 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts.
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Cal led 25-24 with 11:38 left in the game.
Cal lost another defensive back, this time, Daniel Harris after he was ejected from the game due to targeting.
UNLV responded with a scoring drive of their own after Rebels quarterback Jackson Arnold threw a 10-yard touchdown to Keyan Burnett. Arnold converted a two-point conversion, taking a quarterback sneak up the middle to give UNLV a 32-25 lead with 9:31 left in the game.
Another gritty possession from UNLV put them up late, 39-25. Cal answered with too little, too late. The Golden Bears produced an impressive 86-yard drive on 14 plays, ending in a 10-yard TD to Strong. It would not be enough, and Cal would fall, 39-31.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele injury update: Coach Lupoi ‘made that decision’
