Cal Embraces the Spotlight, Takes Down Minnesota in Week 3, 27-14

The California Golden Bears are rolling to start the season, improving to 3-0 with a big win at home against Minnesota in Week 3. The game was close going into the fourth quarter, but a few big plays that went the Bears’ way propelled them above the Gophers. It’s unsure if head coach Justin Wilcox has defeated his demons, but things are genuinely going the team’s way to start the season. It’s a welcome sight for sure, and a signature win for this coaching staff. With that said, let’s dive into this Cal vs. Minnesota 2025 game recap.

Cal vs. Minnesota 2025: Game Recap

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Shrines Bright on Primetime

Everything about Saturday night was golden: the team, the jerseys, the fans, and the true freshman quarterback. In front of nearly 40,000 fans and on national television, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele‘s performance was nothing but a masterclass. Yes, he did make a few mistakes, but this coaching staff asked him to do a lot, and he delivered. The offense hardly ran the ball in the first half, but Sagapolutele had 241 yards passing in the first half. The young quarterback finished the game with 279 yards and three touchdowns.

The Defense Steps Up

Minnesota may have been missing their best running back, Darius Taylor, but the Gophers still have a good offense. It can be a bit boring at times, trying to pick up 4-5 yards per carry and then lull defenses to sleep with the play-action. Their offense was pesky, converting multiple third downs, but the Cal defense played their tails off.

Linebacker Luke Ferrelli had to man the defense with Harrison Taggart while Cade Uluave sat out the first half. Hezekiah Masses nabbed another interception to bring his total to three. Minnesota did have success running the football, but the defensive line, for the most part, held its own.

The biggest thing that stood out was the fact that the Cal defense didn’t give too many big plays. Outside of the two touchdowns, the Golden Bears defense held firm. This game was a big test, but the defense stepped up in primetime and played physical against a Big 10 team.

A Good Special Teams Makes a Difference

Cal punter Michael Kern had a big night. He had multiple punts inside the 10-yard line, and delivered a knuckleball that caused Koi Perich to misplay it. That error gave the Bears great position deep in the Gopher territory. Perich also mistakenly fair-caught a punt on his own 2-yard line.

As mentioned earlier, things have been going Cal’s way to start the season, and one of the biggest reasons is kicker Abram Murray. Murray drilled a 45-yard field goal just before half to give the team momentum heading into the locker room. Cal would also add another field goal from Chase Meyer to extend the lead. What a difference a year makes; as Justin Wilcox has needed stability from his kickers for years, and right now, he has it.

It’s been a pleasant surprise through the first three games, and Justin Wilcox will take it. Could this really all be coming together in year nine? It’s still too early to tell, but the Bears do play San Diego State next weekend on the road. That’s a game they should win, and would put them at 4-0 before starting conference play.

The schedule still feels weird, as there’s a lot of solid teams. Yet, if Cal continues to improve they could really start to rack up some wins. They don’t play any of the top teams in the conference, and the offense hasn’t even hit its full stride yet. Still, the team has to take it week by week, game by game. The potential is there, but everyone should stay grounded. This is a great start, though.