By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports activities
September 2, 2025
A soccer season reveals itself just like the layers of an onion. Chopping them up can add taste to a meal. It will possibly additionally make you cry.
Cal served up the tastiest deal with with the efficiency of true freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele.
Washington State stepped away from the desk feeling half-full and hungry. The Cardinal had the week off to rub their sore eyes. And the Beavers shed mistake-ridden tears.
Right here’s a standing replace on all 4 groups heading into Week Two.
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele brings new hope to Cal followers in all places
California had an outstanding opening week. The play of quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele introduced renewed hope to Cal Nation.
Nonetheless, it’s essential to watch out right here.
Oregon State made a bunch of blunders that helped the Golden Bears shine in Corvallis. Cal was the higher workforce, however the Beavers made it straightforward on them.
Sagapolutele threw for 234 yards, three touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. He additionally added 30 yards on the bottom.
Right here’s large factor working in Cal’s benefit going ahead: Their subsequent six contests are all winnable.
Two of their subsequent three are in opposition to Texas Southern and San Diego State, and so they get Minnesota in between.
If the Bear protection can play at a excessive stage, they’ll be powerful to beat, as has so typically been the case underneath Justin Wilcox.
As promising as his workforce seemed within the opener of a make-or-break 12 months for Wilcox, this Cal workforce would possibly upset just a few model names within the ACC.
The Dam breaks underneath the load of Oregon State’s errors
I don’t know if anybody is aware of what to make of what occurred to Oregon State final week. They seemed dangerous, shot themselves within the foot, or extra precisely, “toes.”
Oh, and by the best way, California is likely to be kinda good.
However let’s get again to the Beavers’ errors. That they had a “too many males on the sector” penalty that prolonged the Cal’s opening drive, resulting in a landing.
Then the Beavs misplaced a fumble on the finish of the second quarter, trailing 14-3. As an alternative of an in depth halftime rating, Cal took a fourteen level lead into the break.
Maalik Murphy additionally threw an interception in the beginning of the fourth quarter when OSU was trailing by fifteen factors. That sealed the loss for the Beavers.
Murphy has to play higher, however the season-ending damage to Darrius Clemons damage this squad greater than anticipated. They didn’t have a second choice to throw to outdoors of Trent Walker.
The Beavers have gotten to discover a strategy to play higher in opposition to Fresno State, or their season may slip away. OSU travels to Lubbock and Eugene the next two weeks.
Stanford seems to be to rebound from Hawai’i setback at BYU
Stanford might be excited to get again on the sector after their Week-Zero loss at Hawaii.
A bye is a vital factor to have earlier than taking part in an opponent like BYU.
To compete in opposition to the Cougars, the Cardinal wants Ben Gulbranson to step up. The senior quarterback posted a 7-1 file because the beginning quarterback at Oregon State in 2022.
So we all know he can get it executed.
It will additionally assist if Micah Ford continues to make an influence. Ford rushed for 113 yards and one landing within the opener.
The Tree are nonetheless determining the right way to change Elic Ayomanor’s manufacturing at wideout.
On protection, Matt Rose was a beast at linebacker within the opener. Rose had 13 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack. Clay Patterson additionally chipped in two sacks at defensive deal with.
The sport in opposition to the Cougars ought to show tough, however Stanford could make issues occur if it will get back-to-back victories in opposition to Boston School and Virginia.
An upset in opposition to BYU would change the whole lot.
Washington State feels lucky to have survived in opposition to Idaho
Washington State’s first recreation was fairly ugly, however hey, it was a win.
The Cougar offense struggled all through nearly everything of Week One. WSU completed with a complete of 211 yards, and solely three on the bottom.
If the Cougs can’t discover a strategy to generate extra offense this week, they’ll most likely lose in opposition to San Diego State.
The important thing to WSU’s victory over Idaho was protection, and a last-second scoring drive—their offense did simply sufficient.
One other fascinating choice was sJimmy Rogers beginning Jaxon Potter over Zevi Eckhaus, who didn’t even see the sector. Julian Dugger was the backup quarterback in a working position.
All of which amounted to a call that didn’t work. If the Cougars hadn’t received this contest, Rogers would’ve had some explaining to do.
As dangerous because it seemed, Washington State survived, and no less than has a rivalry victory underneath their belt. The Aztecs really feel like an ideal level-up opponent to see the place the Cougs actually stand.
WSU is fortunate to have their first couple of matchups at house.
<h3>WK 2 ACC, Pac-12 Updates: Cal Up, OSU Down, WSU Cautious</h3><span type='coloration:grey;font-size:18px;'> > Nick Bartlett updates the weekly soccer standing of the Bears, Beavers, Cardinal, and Cougars</span> first appeared on <h3>WK 2 ACC, Pac-12 Updates: Cal Up, OSU Down, WSU Cautious</h3><span type='coloration:grey;font-size:18px;'> > Nick Bartlett updates the weekly soccer standing of the Bears, Beavers, Cardinal, and Cougars</span> and was syndicated with permission.
