BERKELEY, Calif. — In a game that felt like the end of one chapter and the start of another, California pulled off its biggest win of the season Saturday night, taking down No. 21 SMU 38–35 at Memorial Stadium thanks to a dramatic go-ahead touchdown in the final minute.
True freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele delivered the defining moment of his young career, marching the Bears 75 yards in seven plays before running back Kendrick Raphael powered in a 2-yard score with 43 seconds remaining. The touchdown not only flipped the lead but sparked a celebration that washed away one of the most turbulent weeks in recent Cal history.
It was the Bears’ first game since parting ways with former head coach Justin Wilcox, leaving newly appointed interim coach Nick Rolovich to guide the team through a high-pressure rivalry-style finish.
Rolovich, who stepped in only days earlier, called the locker room after the win “one of the most emotional moments” he’s been a part of — a release after a difficult stretch and a season full of close games.
The Bears entered Saturday already bowl-eligible, but the upset over a ranked opponent gives Cal its strongest finish to a regular season since 2019. At 7–5 overall and 4–4 in their first ACC season, it marks one of the program’s most encouraging step-forward years in half a decade.
Sagapolutele was the star of the night. The first-year starter played with the poise of a veteran, completing 31 of 40 passes for a career-high 330 yards and four touchdowns, all without a turnover.
His performance continued a late-season surge that has vaulted him into Cal’s record books — he surpassed 3,000 passing yards on the season, becoming just the 10th quarterback in program history to hit that milestone.
Three different Bears caught touchdown passes, including Jaiven Plummer, Cole Boscia, and QuaRon Adams, each recording the first scoring reception of his Cal career. Meanwhile, wide receiver Jacob De Jesus continued his historic pace with 12 catches for 97 yards, moving to 99 receptions on the year — one shy of the school record set in 1998.
Cal had controlled the game for nearly three quarters, building a 31–14 lead early in the fourth. But SMU, armed with one of the nation’s most efficient offenses, stormed back with 21 unanswered points to take a 35–31 advantage with just over two minutes left.
That set the stage for Sagapolutele’s clutch drive — a sequence of quick-hitting throws, smart decisions, and calm under pressure that showed exactly why Cal sees him as a long-term cornerstone.
Running back Kendrick Raphael capped the comeback with the game-winner, finishing the night with 111 yards on 33 carries, the first Cal player to hit 30+ attempts in two years. His physical style wore down SMU’s defense and helped the Bears reclaim tempo late.
On the defensive side, Cal’s front held firm despite SMU’s late surge. Defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina said Rolovich’s message all week was simple: play for each other.
With the regular season wrapped, the Bears now wait for their bowl destination, set to be announced on Dec. 7. Saturday’s victory — a ranked win on national radar — strengthens Cal’s positioning for one of the ACC’s upper-tier bowl tie-ins.
For a team that has battled instability, injuries, and coaching transitions, the ending felt symbolic: messy at times, dramatic throughout, and ultimately resilient.
Cal’s season isn’t finished — but its most memorable moment so far came with 43 seconds left.
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