Cal got the news it wanted on Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele on Friday.
The Bears quarterback moved from questionable to probable on the updated injury report, making him likely to be available Saturday night when Cal hosts No. 21 Wake Forest.
A probable tag carries a 75% chance of availability, and that would set Sagapolutele up to start against the Demon Deacons. He sat out last week’s game after suffering a concussion against UNLV two weeks ago, and he had been listed as questionable on Wednesday and Thursday before his condition improved.
Cal’s report also shifted for several other key players. Safety Kingston Lopa was upgraded to probable, while running back Adam Mohammed was downgraded to doubtful. Wide receiver Cooper Perry also moved from questionable to probable, but offensive tackle Jimothy Lewis dropped to doubtful.
Lopa’s return would be a big boost on defense. He has been Cal’s best defensive player and leads the nation with five interceptions. He missed last week’s game against Virginia Tech after sustaining a concussion against UNLV, but he is likely to be back against the Deacons.
The Bears, though, may be short-handed again in the backfield. Mohammed is likely to miss his third straight game, even though he still leads Cal with 336 rushing yards.
With No. 2 back Carter Vargas already ruled out, that leaves Ashten Emory as the likely primary runner. Emory handled that role last week and finished with 46 yards against Virginia Tech.
Wake Forest also saw two players trend in the right direction. Wide receiver Carlos Hernandez and defensive end Langston Hardy were both upgraded from questionable to probable.
Hernandez has been a major part of the Demon Deacons’ passing attack, leading the nation with 49 receptions and ranking third with 720 receiving yards. Hardy is one of Wake Forest’s key defenders, leading the team and sitting second in the ACC with 9.5 tackles for loss.
In Other News...
Cal May Have Found A Clutch Scorer As Offense Still Looks Shaky
Cals preseason tune-up against Loyola Marymount did little to hide the bigger offensive questions, but it did offer a glimpse of a player who might thrive when the game tightens late. Nojus Indruaitis delivered the decisive bucket in the closing moments of a 60-59 win, giving the Bears a needed bright spot in a game that was ugly in stretches but still ended with a confidence-building finish.
Mark Madsen pointed to Indruaitis and others who helped Cal hang around despite the rough shooting night, which is the part that matters most this early in November. The Bears still have another exhibition left before the regular season begins, and for a team searching for more reliable scoring, the final seconds provided at least one encouraging answer while the broader offensive picture remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forest Brings A Major Depth Question Into Berkeley
Wake Forest is heading into Berkeley with its injury report carrying plenty of weight, and California has reason to keep an eye on it. The Demon Deacons have six players listed as out, leaving their depth thinner than usual in spots that matter most, especially up front where line rotations can shape both protection and the run game. For a Cal defense that will be watching how the visitors handle pressure, the availability of the players listed as probable could end up being part of the early-game story.
Among the names to watch are wide receiver Carlos Hernandez and defensive lineman Langston Hardy, both listed as probable heading into the matchup. Wake Forest will need to sort through personnel issues on both sides of the ball, and that makes the health of those key contributors even more important as the week unfolds. If the Deacons can patch together their offensive and defensive fronts, theyll give themselves a chance to keep the game manageable, but the margin for error is already looking slim. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Heads Into Wake Forest With One Huge Question Unsettled
Cals trip to Wake Forest comes with the usual midseason questions, but one stands above the rest: who takes the first snap at quarterback. In a Q&A preview with Jake Curtis, the expectation is that Chase Sagapolutele would be the choice if he is cleared to play, giving the Golden Bears a clearer path into a game that already asks plenty of them on the road. The discussion also pointed to Cals defensive identity, one built on aggression and frequent pressure, with inside linebacker AJ Tuitele and tight end Taimane Purcell among the names to keep an eye on.
The intrigue, though, is how that style holds up against an opponent that can force a defense to prove it can do more than blitz. Cal has leaned into a disruptive approach, but the next test is whether that energy travels when Wake Forest starts probing the edges and challenging the Bears to stay disciplined. If Sagapolutele is available, the offense gets a stabilizing presence, but the larger issue is whether Cal can pair that with a cleaner defensive showing in a matchup that could reveal a lot about where this team really stands. [Read more 🡒]