BERKELEY — The puzzle that is Cal’s offensive lineup continues to be plagued by missing or damaged pieces.
Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, after sitting one game with a concussion and being held out until the third quarter last week against Wake Forest, seems certain to be back on the field when the Bears (3-4, 2-2 ACC) face No. 23 SMU (5-1, 3-1) on Saturday morning in Dallas. Kickoff is at 9 a.m. Pacific.
Even if coach Tosh Lupoi declined to confirm it this week.
Elsewhere, the are questions or holes.
The club’s top two running backs when the season began — Adam Mohammed and Carter Vargas — remain out due to injuries. Ashten Emory, the starter since Mohammed went down a month ago, limped off the field in the third quarter of the Bears’ 41-7 loss to Wake but was not included on the ACC’s weekly injury report.
California running back Ashten Emory (20) is tackled by Wake Forest defensive back Myles Turpin (22) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Meanwhile, four wide receivers are included on the availability list, albeit as questionable. Ian Strong, the team’s No. 2 pass catcher, was a late scratch last week. The status of Jordan King, Cooper Perry and Mark Hamper is also uncertain.
There are concerns up front, as well. Center Bastian Swinney, who left the Wake Forest game in the first quarter, guard Sioape Vatikani and reserve tackle Jimothy Lewis Jr., all are tagged as questionable.
Sagapolutele, injured in the first half of the UNLV game on Oct. 3, is nowhere on the availability chart after a surprise appearance in relief of Jackson Brousseau in the third quarter against Wake.
Even so, Lupoi at his weekly news conference opted against revealing a starter. “I’m going to put the individual I think is going to be best for us to go win the game coming up this Saturday,” he said.
SMU coach Rhett Lashlee sees no mystery.
California defensive lineman Jayden Williams (51) tackles Wake Forest running back Deuce Lawrence (22) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
“They’re getting their quarterback back, who I think is one of the better quarterbacks in our league and the country,” he said this week.
A year ago, JKS passed for 330 yards and four touchdowns in the Bears’ 38-35 upset win over Lashlee’s squad. “We saw the talent last year, so that part we do remember.”
We’ll find out Saturday who will be taking handoffs from Sagapolutele, catching his passes or providing him protection.
Rolovich gratified by son’s debut at SJSU
On Saturday night, while the Bears were playing Wake Forest in Berkeley, quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich’s 19-year-old son was halfway across the country, making a successful debut as a college football player.
True freshman Daniel Rolovich got his first start at quarterback for San Jose State, and passed for 193 yards and a touchdown in a 24-11 victory at UTEP.
A quarterback at Hawaii and beyond college, Rolovich knew just what to say to his son when they talked later on the phone. “I asked him if he was sore.”
Nick Rolovich coached his son his sophomore and junior seasons at San Marin High School in Novato before joining the Cal staff in 2025.
“Some of the greatest years of my life being able to drive home with him before he got his license, just spending that time with him,” Rolovich said. “As a parent, those times are pretty precious.”
Coaching his own son could be a balancing act at times, he said. “But as long as you put him as your son first and his journey’s his journey, I think it’s an incredible experience I wish every father could experience.”
Cal’s long bowl odds
The Bears have played in 27 bowl games, but only twice have gotten there after starting a season at 3-4 or worse:
— 2024: After opening 3-4, the Bears won three of four, securing bowl eligibility with a 24-21 win in the Big Game against Stanford when Fernando Mendoza threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes.
— 2003: At 3-5, the Bears responded by winning five of their next six games and toppled Virginia Tech 52-49 in the Insight Bowl as Aaron Rodgers passed for 394 yards and two TDs.