Pat McAfee Names Freshman QB Set to Become the ‘Biggest of All Time’

“Mom, I’m heading back to Cal.” That was the moment everything aligned for Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. A decision that was questioned, criticized, and even mocked; yet under the lights of Memorial Stadium during Cal’s “Gold Out”, it proved to be the right one.

The performance matched the occasion. After a perfect debut against Oregon State on August 30, Sagapolutele was yet again sensational against Minnesota last Saturday. Cal’s true freshman quarterback completed 24 of 38 passes for a career-high of 279 yards and three touchdowns without a single interception. Sagapolutele’s composure in the pocket, ability to extend plays with his legs, and precise left-handed delivery reflected maturity far beyond his years. Cal defeated Minnesota 27–14 to move to 3-0, and the conference recognized Sagapolutele as ACC Rookie of the Week for the second time in three weeks.

The strong start did not go unnoticed, with analyst Pat McAfee offering a direct assessment: “The guy, he’s going to get paid so much money this offseason. I apologize to the Calgary team. Maybe the Cals are able to keep up, though, after an off-season of losing a lot of their guys to other schools. It would suck if the Cal Bears just became a feeder system for other schools, but there’s a chance that is what Cal currently is.” Still, while it might be too early to judge Sagapolutele’s overall potential, his journey in Berkeley did not start without turbulence.

After originally committing to Cal, he flipped to Oregon on signing day before ultimately returning to Berkeley in July. A month later, he earned the starting QB job. Many, however, labeled the decision reckless, saying he wasted a shot at a national powerhouse. Yet Jaron trusted his instincts and now stands as the program’s most significant quarterback addition since Jared Goff. McAfee underscored the same sentiment, adding: “I think what he and everybody around him knew was… this guy needs to be playing football.”

McAfee didn’t hold back in his praise, calling him the ‘Cal’s biggest freshman of all time’ since Jared Goff. “This dude is phenomenal. He’s tall, and he’s athletic. He’s a lefty, obviously, which in 2025 isn’t as big a deal as maybe it was back in the day, but it is a moot point; he might have one of the most beautiful lefty strokes… I mean, he’s in Cal. So right-brain-wise, we’re talking about it having to be a big deal, actually; after this season, my biggest of all time.” While it may seem a premature comment from Pat, Sagapolutele’s numbers in the first three games have already put him in some elite company.

After putting such a solid performance in his third game, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound lefty has also made it to the Top-10 of the On3 Heisman Poll. Through three games, the results are difficult to dispute: 67% completion, 772 passing yards, six touchdowns, and only one interception. Cal is undefeated at 3-0, and Sagapolutele has already entered the national conversation, ranked No. 10 on On3’s early-season Heisman list.

Earlier this year, when Ron Rivera joined the program, he remarked, “By the time the season’s over, it’s filled. That’s the goal,” in reference to Memorial Stadium attendance. Performances such as Sagapolutele’s against Minnesota suggest that this objective may be within reach.

It is important to note that growth is still ongoing. Against Texas Southern, the Ewa Beach native endured his first difficult outing, throwing an interception and failing to register a touchdown. Yet his recent dominance against Minnesota put all whispers to rest.

As ACC play approaches, Cal finds itself in unfamiliar yet exciting territory. With a phenomenal freshman quarterback already displaying national potential and the program’s recent move into FBS competition, there is a renewed sense that the Bears, for the first time in a long while, can enter the playoff conversation. What a remarkable moment for California football!