The Cal starting quarterback job remains up in the air as the Bears (3-4) prepare for No. 23 SMU (5-1) following a crushing 41-7 loss to then-No. 21 Wake Forest, in which head coach Tosh Lupoi benched Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele in favor of Jackson Brousseau.
"I'm gonna put the individual that I think is gonna be best for us to go win the game coming up this Saturday," Lupoi told reporters at his Tuesday media availability when asked if he has decided on a starting quarterback.
The first-year head coach is incentivized tactically to keep the truth close to the chest, even if the Bears aren't set on who to start yet, to make the Mustangs prepare two separate game plans for two different quarterbacks.
However, it remains unclear why Lupoi supplanted Sagapolutele with Brousseau. The star sophomore was cleared to play after missing the previous game due to a concussion. Given that the program committed heavily to retaining him after his freshman year, it's puzzling why Lupoi and Cal would willingly thrust the program into additional controversy.
Lupoi emphasized multiple times Tuesday that Wake Forest was the first opportunity Sagapolutele was clear to play and that Brousseau's efforts against Virginia Tech were a factor, saying that he "put us in the best position to win." Reading between the lines of Lupoi's disjointed explanation, the reasoning seems to be that Brousseau got more reps in the week leading up to the Wake Forest game because Sagapolutele was limited in practice due to the thorough steps dictated in the concussion protocol.
"Made the decision to put the best player that's available, right, and do our best to put ourselves in position for success, like we did with Jackson the week before," Lupoi explained. "It's not about losing your spot via injury… If the guy is available and ready to go and he gives us our best chance to win, absolutely."
When Cal has the ball: Whoever's leading the offense will be facing a challenge. The Mustangs defense ranks 9th in the nation in passing success rate (36.0%), 11th in yards per dropback (5.11), and 57th in expected points added or EPA per pass (0.03). Additionally, they've allowed just one quarterback this season to throw for more than 200 yards, with the defense holding opposing passing attacks to just 164.8 yards a game (9th in the country). Headlined by linebacker Alexander Kilgore and safety Jimmy Wyrick, the Mustangs will look to wreak havoc on an inconsistent Cal offense still searching for some rhythm.
SMU's weakness is trying to contain the run game, so the Bears will look to lean on third-string RB Ashten Emory, who's starting with No. 1 and No. 2 backs Adam Mohammed and Carter Vargas out. Emory has done a serviceable job, tallying 205 yards on 59 carries for four rushing touchdowns.
In the few moments Cal's offense has looked good, it's been because the run game has taken pressure off opponents' pass rush. But the Bears will also need to get some of the skill position players acquired in the transfer portal involved; tight end Dorian Thomas has just one catch on the season and WR Ian Strong – scratched late before last game – has been touch-and-go all season. The Bears have the talent; they just need to put them to work.
When SMU has the ball: The Bears face another dual-threat quarterback in Kevin Jennings, hoping to fare better than they did against Wake Forest's Gio Lopez, who torched their secondary last week. Jennings is a big play hunter as the SMU offense ranks 17th in EPA per pass (0.27) and 19th in offensive explosive plays (runs of 10-plus yards or receptions that gain more than 20) at a rate of 9%. The Mustangs will look to carve up Cal's defense like the Demon Deacons just did.
The Bears can exploit Jennings' hero ball style of play, as the senior QB gets carried away with the kind of throws he believes he can make, forcing the ball into tight coverages. His ability to extend a play with his legs can also become a weakness, as he has a habit of trying to solve unsolvable situations.
Cal's defense has thrived on forcing turnovers, so the Bears are capable of exploiting Jennings' tendencies to create some takeaways. Players like Kingston Lopa, Aiden Manutai, and AJ Tuitele can shake up a game in just one play.
Notable injuries: Cal's questionables include offensive linemen Siope Vaitkani, Bastian Swinney, and Jimothy Lewis Jr., as well as receivers Strong, Cooper Perry, Mark Hamper and Jordan King. SMU will be without safety and second-leading tackler Tyren Polley Jr. after he suffered a season-ending injury last week, but may get standout safety Ahmaad Moses on the field; he's listed as questionable and has yet to play this season.
Key stats to remember: The Mustangs' defense generates a 19% havoc rate (14th) and does a great job of putting opponents in long third-down situations, averaging a 7.97-yard distance. The Bears have to do a better job staying ahead of the chains as they rank 120th in early down EPA (-0.05) and 117th in 3rd/4th down success (36.0%).
Stanford hosts NC State
After beating up FCS opponent Elon 34-7 last week, Stanford (3-4) hosts NC State (3-3) in what is a good opportunity for Tavita Pritchard and his squad to string together their first win streak of the season.
"Coming out with an energy and an intensity from the jump is extremely important in what we do," Pritchard told reporters on Tuesday. "We can't have another opportunity where we don't come out with the right energy and focus from the jump. That's what we'll be looking for this week and making sure we start fast in practice because that will lead to us being able to do that in the game."
When Stanford has the ball:
The key to Warren thriving rests in running back Micah Ford and the ground attack. Ford rattled off an 81-yard touchdown run last week. While recreating that is unlikely against a non-FBS opponent, it bodes well that the Stanford run game found some rhythm.
When NC State has the ball:
CJ Bailey will be at the forefront of the Wolfpack attack as the junior quarterback has tallied 1,507 yards, 9 touchdowns, and a 66.7% completion percentage this season.
"Their offense poses some challenges," Pritchard said. "They have talented wide receivers, a big quarterback that can throw it around the yard, they like to establish themselves up front, they have a physical offensive line that tries to come off the ball with a number of different schemes. What's going to be important for us is to meet and exceed that physicality."
Notable injuries: Stanford will be without linebacker Matt Rose for his third straight game, as well as starting cornerback Brandon Nicholson. NC State will be without starting left guard Kamen Smith, right guard Yousef Mugharbil, and center Spike Sowells Jr., as well as starting running back Duke Scott.
Key stats to remember: Stanford ranks 121st in opposing passing success rate (50.5%) while the NC State offense ranks a respectable 37th (47.6%).
San Jose State heads to Nevada
Fresh off a good win in the Lone Star State over UTEP last week, San Jose State (4-3) heads to Nevada (2-4) seeking its first win in Reno since 2000. With just one loss in league play this season, the Spartans also look to keep their hopes alive for a Mountain West championship game.
When San Jose State has the ball: The Spartans will look to see if quarterback Daniel Rolovich can maintain his strong play from his debut against UTEP as the freshmen went 12-for-23 with 193 yards and one touchdown after supplanting starter Luke Weaver. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo said after the win in El Paso, "My initial gut feeling is probably to stick with Daniel," so it appears likely Rolovich will get another opportunity at the helm of the offense.
When Nevada has the ball: The Spartans recorded 11 sacks their last time out, two shy of the school record of 13 set in 1981. Expect San Jose State to hound Nevada quarterback Carter Jones. And in a game where the Cougars generate a good amount of explosive plays at 8%, and the Spartans prevent a good amount of explosives (6%), the unit that does its strength the best will dictate the course of this matchup.
Key stats to remember: Under head coach Ken Niumatalolo, the Spartans are 9-4 when they win the turnover battle, 3-2 when they are even, and 2-12 when they lose it. Nevada ranks 11th in turnover margin per game (-0.8).
Kenzo Fukuda is a freelance journalist born and raised in San Francisco. He has covered the Giants, Warriors and Valkyries since 2025, and he previously covered Cal football and women's basketball from 2022-24. You can follow him on X at @kenzofuku
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There’s more to San Francisco with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at College football preview: Cal mum on QB controversy before SMU game, Stanford hosts NC State.