It didn’t take long for Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to show he could play. The harder part, as Cal found out in his freshman season, was giving him enough around him to make the offense hum.
That was the job after Jacob De Jesus left Berkeley as the Bears’ all-time single-season receptions leader. Cal needed pass-catching help, and it needed it fast. First-year head coach Tosh Lupoi didn’t have much time to work the transfer portal, but he still came away with the kind of targets that can change the look of an offense.
Through Cal’s first three games, those additions have already accounted for nearly 1,000 yards of offense.
Now comes a matchup that feels strange on paper and even tighter on the field. Cal hosts Clemson on Sept. 25, a meeting between teams that sit on opposite sides of the country and, in a way, on opposite ends of the color wheel.
They also share the same record: two wins and one loss. The programs haven’t seen each other since their first meeting in the Citrus Bowl nearly 35 years ago.
But in college football, the present usually matters more than the past. For Cal, the present starts with the new playmakers around Sagapolutele, especially Chase Hendricks and Ian Strong.
Hendricks arrives in Berkeley as a senior transfer wide receiver with an underdog story and an NFL goal. His path was shaped by his mother’s sacrifices, and he brings his “angel number” with him to Cal.
Strong has already flashed what he can do. He bought into Lupoi’s vision for Cal football, and the early return has been obvious at Memorial Stadium.
The Bears’ revamped receiving group is also part of a bigger picture. These are the kinds of weapons Cal will need if it wants to push toward prominence in the ACC in 2026.
There’s also a personal layer to the Clemson game. When the Tigers come to Berkeley, the family of Joyce Kami, class of ’58, will gather to celebrate her 90th birthday. Family members are flying in from around the globe for the occasion.
In Other News...
Cals Clemson Test May Come Down To One Brutal Battle Up Front
Clemsons visit to Berkeley is drawing plenty of attention for reasons that go beyond the usual September matchup, and the conversation around the Tigers has been shaped by a fan base still trying to sort out what this version of the program is supposed to be. Michael Ray Serber, a Clemson fan and podcast producer, said the teams recent performance has left expectations in a strange place, even as there are still players on both sides of the ball worth circling. He pointed to names on offense and defense who could matter in a game that should be tight, with the Tigers likely trying to lean on the run.
For Cal, that makes the trench battle feel like the whole story. Serber expects Clemson to come in wanting to establish its ground game and keep the game within reach, which puts the Bears front squarely under the microscope. If Cal can control that part of the game, it can make life harder on a Clemson offense still searching for consistency and turn a matchup that looks close on paper into one decided by who wins up front. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Defense Could Put Clemson In A Spot It Hasn't Faced Yet
Clemson arrives in Berkeley facing the kind of early-season uncertainty that can make even a familiar opponent feel tricky. The Tigers have leaned on continuity in the past, but this version of the roster is still settling in after heavy transfer portal turnover, and the offense is doing it with freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds taking on a major role. For Cal, that creates a chance to make the game feel uncomfortable in a hurry, especially if the Bears can get pressure on a group that is still trying to find its rhythm.
The matchup also puts a spotlight on Kingston Lopa, whose ball production has already made him one of the most dangerous defenders in the country. If Cal can force Clemson to think twice about pushing the ball downfield, the Tigers may have to take a more measured approach than they would prefer. For a program that has usually had the upper hand in this series, this is the sort of test that can reveal how ready it is to handle disruption. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Has A Real Chance To Prove Last Week Was No Fluke
Cal heads into its matchup with Clemson trying to show last week was more than a one-off. The Bears have been playing better football lately, and the setting adds some real weight to it: a chance to back up recent progress against a program that still carries the kind of national reputation that can make a statement win stick. There is also a familiar layer of urgency here, with the Bears still sorting through key personnel questions as they prepare for one of the more demanding games on the schedule.
Clemson brings its own mix of intrigue and pressure, especially with freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds making just his second start. The Tigers have been scoring in stretches, but their defensive numbers suggest Cal will have openings if it can stay disciplined and avoid letting the game tilt into Clemsons preferred rhythm. For Cal, the broader test is whether the same edge, execution, and energy from last week can travel against a higher-profile opponent, because a convincing showing here would say plenty about where the Bears really are. [Read more 🡒]