The Cal beginning quarterback job stays up within the air because the Bears (3-4) put together for No. 23 SMU (5-1) following a crushing 41-7 loss to then-No. 21 Wake Forest, by which head coach Tosh Lupoi benched Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele in favor of Jackson Brousseau.
“I am gonna put the person who I feel is gonna be finest for us to go win the sport developing this Saturday,” Lupoi instructed reporters at his Tuesday media availability when requested if he has selected a beginning quarterback.
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The primary-year head coach is incentivized tactically to maintain the reality near the chest, even when the Bears aren’t set on who to begin but, to make the Mustangs put together two separate sport plans for 2 completely different quarterbacks.
Nevertheless, it stays unclear why Lupoi supplanted Sagapolutele with Brousseau. The star sophomore was cleared to play after lacking the earlier sport on account of a concussion. On condition that this system dedicated closely to retaining him after his freshman yr, it is puzzling why Lupoi and Cal would willingly thrust this system into extra controversy.
Lupoi emphasised a number of instances Tuesday that Wake Forest was the primary alternative Sagapolutele was clear to play and that Brousseau’s efforts in opposition to Virginia Tech have been an element, saying that he “put us in one of the best place to win.” Studying between the strains of Lupoi’s disjointed rationalization, the reasoning appears to be that Brousseau bought extra reps within the week main as much as the Wake Forest sport as a result of Sagapolutele was restricted in apply because of the thorough steps dictated within the concussion protocol.
“Made the choice to place one of the best participant that is obtainable, proper, and do our greatest to place ourselves in place for achievement, like we did with Jackson the week earlier than,” Lupoi defined. “It isn’t about dropping your spot through damage… If the man is on the market and able to go and he offers us our greatest likelihood to win, completely.”
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When Cal has the ball: Whoever’s main the offense shall be going through a problem. The Mustangs protection ranks ninth within the nation in passing success charge (36.0%), eleventh in yards per dropback (5.11), and 57th in anticipated factors added or EPA per cross (0.03). Moreover, they’ve allowed only one quarterback this season to throw for greater than 200 yards, with the protection holding opposing passing assaults to only 164.8 yards a sport (ninth within the nation). Headlined by linebacker Alexander Kilgore and security Jimmy Wyrick, the Mustangs will look to wreak havoc on an inconsistent Cal offense nonetheless looking for some rhythm.
SMU’s weak point is attempting to comprise the run sport, so the Bears will look to lean on third-string RB Ashten Emory, who’s beginning with No. 1 and No. 2 backs Adam Mohammed and Carter Vargas out. Emory has achieved a serviceable job, tallying 205 yards on 59 carries for 4 speeding touchdowns.
Within the few moments Cal’s offense has seemed good, it has been as a result of the run sport has taken stress off opponents’ cross rush. However the Bears will even have to get among the talent place gamers acquired within the switch portal concerned; tight finish Dorian Thomas has only one catch on the season and WR Ian Robust – scratched late earlier than final sport – has been touch-and-go all season. The Bears have the expertise; they simply have to put them to work.
When SMU has the ball: The Bears face one other dual-threat quarterback in Kevin Jennings, hoping to fare higher than they did in opposition to Wake Forest’s Gio Lopez, who torched their secondary final week. Jennings is a giant play hunter because the SMU offense ranks seventeenth in EPA per cross (0.27) and nineteenth in offensive explosive performs (runs of 10-plus yards or receptions that achieve greater than 20) at a charge of 9%. The Mustangs will look to carve up Cal’s protection just like the Demon Deacons simply did.
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The Bears can exploit Jennings’ hero ball model of play, because the senior QB will get carried away with the sort of throws he believes he could make, forcing the ball into tight coverages. His potential to increase a play together with his legs may develop into a weak point, as he has a behavior of attempting to resolve unsolvable conditions.
Cal’s protection has thrived on forcing turnovers, so the Bears are able to exploiting Jennings’ tendencies to create some takeaways. Gamers like Kingston Lopa, Aiden Manutai, and AJ Tuitele can shake up a sport in only one play.
Notable accidents: Cal’s questionables embrace offensive linemen Siope Vaitkani, Bastian Swinney, and Jimothy Lewis Jr., in addition to receivers Robust, Cooper Perry, Mark Hamper and Jordan King. SMU shall be with out security and second-leading tackler Tyren Polley Jr. after he suffered a season-ending damage final week, however could get standout security Ahmaad Moses on the sector; he is listed as questionable and has but to play this season.
Key stats to recollect: The Mustangs’ protection generates a 19% havoc charge (14th) and does a terrific job of placing opponents in lengthy third-down conditions, averaging a 7.97-yard distance. The Bears should do a greater job staying forward of the chains as they rank one hundred and twentieth in early down EPA (-0.05) and 117th in third/4th down success (36.0%).
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Stanford hosts NC State
Stanford quarterback Davis Warren prepares to cross through the second half of a sport in opposition to Notre Dame, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend. (Paul Barnick/Related Press)
After beating up FCS opponent Elon 34-7 final week, Stanford (3-4) hosts NC State (3-3) in what is an efficient alternative for Tavita Pritchard and his squad to string collectively their first win streak of the season.
“Popping out with an power and an depth from the bounce is extraordinarily essential in what we do,” Pritchard instructed reporters on Tuesday. “We won’t have one other alternative the place we do not come out with the appropriate power and focus from the bounce. That is what we’ll be in search of this week and ensuring we begin quick in apply as a result of that may result in us having the ability to try this within the sport.”
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When Stanford has the ball:
The Cardinal will look to take care of the balanced offensive sport they performed in opposition to Elon, this time going up in opposition to a subpar Wolfpack protection. NC State is 133rd in opponent EPA per cross (0.39) and 109th in EPA per play (0.10). The Stanford offense hasn’t been this season however quarterback Davis Warren has been good after they’ve saved him clear.
The important thing to Warren thriving rests in working again Micah Ford and the bottom assault. Ford rattled off an 81-yard landing run final week. Whereas recreating that’s unlikely in opposition to a non-FBS opponent, it bodes nicely that the Stanford run sport discovered some rhythm.
When NC State has the ball:
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Explosiveness from the Stanford protection shall be equally essential, as NC State will look to assault one of many worst defenses in school soccer. The Wolfpack are respectable relating to discovering chunk performs, which can be sufficient in opposition to a Cardinal unit that ranks 114th in opposing explosive play charge (9%).
CJ Bailey shall be on the forefront of the Wolfpack assault because the junior quarterback has tallied 1,507 yards, 9 touchdowns, and a 66.7% completion proportion this season.
“Their offense poses some challenges,” Pritchard mentioned. “They’ve gifted extensive receivers, a giant quarterback that may throw it across the yard, they like to ascertain themselves up entrance, they’ve a bodily offensive line that tries to return off the ball with a variety of completely different schemes. What is going on to be essential for us is to satisfy and exceed that physicality.”
Notable accidents: Stanford shall be with out linebacker Matt Rose for his third straight sport, in addition to beginning cornerback Brandon Nicholson. NC State shall be with out beginning left guard Kamen Smith, proper guard Yousef Mugharbil, and heart Spike Sowells Jr., in addition to beginning working again Duke Scott.
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Key stats to recollect: Stanford ranks 121st in opposing passing success charge (50.5%) whereas the NC State offense ranks a decent thirty seventh (47.6%).
San Jose State heads to Nevada
San Jose State Spartans extensive receiver Jordan Anderson appears to be like over his shoulder earlier than a cross reception through the sport between the San Jose Spartans and the Wyoming Cowboys on Friday, October 9, 2026 at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose. (Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)
Recent off win within the Lone Star State over UTEP final week, San Jose State (4-3) heads to Nevada (2-4) searching for its first win in Reno since 2000. With only one loss in league play this season, the Spartans additionally look to maintain their hopes alive for a Mountain West championship sport.
When San Jose State has the ball: The Spartans will look to see if quarterback Daniel Rolovich can preserve his sturdy play from his debut in opposition to UTEP because the freshmen went 12-for-23 with 193 yards and one landing after supplanting starter Luke Weaver. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo mentioned after the win in El Paso, “My preliminary intestine feeling might be to stay with Daniel,” so it seems seemingly Rolovich will get one other alternative on the helm of the offense.
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When Nevada has the ball: The Spartans recorded 11 sacks their final day out, two shy of the varsity document of 13 set in 1981. Anticipate San Jose State to hound Nevada quarterback Carter Jones. And in a sport the place the Cougars generate quantity of explosive performs at 8%, and the Spartans stop quantity of explosives (6%), the unit that does its power one of the best will dictate the course of this matchup.
Key stats to recollect: Underneath head coach Ken Niumatalolo, the Spartans are 9-4 after they win the turnover battle, 3-2 when they’re even, and 2-12 after they lose it. Nevada ranks eleventh in turnover margin per sport (-0.8).
Kenzo Fukuda is a contract journalist born and raised in San Francisco. He has coated the Giants, Warriors and Valkyries since 2025, and he beforehand coated Cal soccer and ladies’s basketball from 2022-24. You possibly can comply with him on X at @kenzofuku
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This text initially printed at Faculty soccer preview: Cal mum on QB controversy earlier than SMU sport, Stanford hosts NC State.
