When the schedule for the 2025 season dropped, a lot of people probably glossed over the Cal vs Texas Southern matchup. It looked like your standard "buy game"—a power conference team paying an FCS school to come out to the West Coast for a guaranteed win. And while the scoreboard eventually reflected that, the actual vibe inside California Memorial Stadium was a bit more complicated than the 35-3 final score suggests.
Honestly, the first half was kind of a slog. If you were one of the 35,898 fans sitting in the Berkeley sun on September 6, you saw a Cal team that looked a little hungover from their season opener. They were moving the ball, sure, but they weren't finishing. They led just 11-0 at the half. Against an HBCU program like Texas Southern, which doesn't have nearly the same depth or scholarship pool, people expected the Golden Bears to be up by three touchdowns before the second quarter even started.
The Kendrick Raphael Breakout Party
The real story of Cal vs Texas Southern wasn't just the win; it was the emergence of Kendrick Raphael. Before this game, Raphael was a junior transfer from NC State who had been "kinda just there" in the rotation. He’d had a decent debut against Oregon State the week before, but nothing that made you jump out of your seat.
That changed against the Tigers.
Raphael basically took the game over in the second half. He finished with 131 yards on the ground, which was his first career 100-yard game. He wasn't just running through holes; he was initiating contact. You've gotta respect the way he averaged 7.3 yards per carry. It looked like Justin Wilcox finally found the bell-cow back he needed for the ACC schedule.
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Under the Microscope
Then there's the quarterback situation. Freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele had all the hype coming in. He’d thrown three touchdowns against Oregon State and looked like the future of the program. Against Texas Southern, he was solid, but not spectacular.
He went 26-for-37 for 259 yards. He didn't actually throw a touchdown pass in this one—his scores came on the ground, including a 1-yard dive that finally got Cal into the end zone in the second quarter. He did throw one interception, which was a bit of a "freshman moment," but he kept his composure. It’s funny how a "disappointing" day for a true freshman is still 250+ yards and a 70% completion rate.
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Why the Score Was Closer Than it Looked
If you look at the box score, you see 35-3 and think total blowout. But Texas Southern’s defense actually played out of their minds for the first thirty minutes. Coach Cris Dishman had his guys ready. They forced a fumble in the first quarter, stopped Cal on downs, and even picked off Sagapolutele.
For a good chunk of that game, the Tigers' defense was the most physical unit on the field. Edric Whitley had a massive interception that briefly sucked the life out of the home crowd. They just ran out of gas. That’s the reality of these FCS vs. FBS matchups—eventually, the size and depth of a team like Cal just wears you down. By the fourth quarter, the Tigers were gapped. Cal scored 24 points in the second half to pull away.
Defensive Dominance for the Bears
One stat that really stands out from Cal vs Texas Southern is the touchdown count. Or rather, the lack of one. Cal didn’t allow a single touchdown. That hadn't happened in Berkeley since October 2021.
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Texas Southern was limited to just 194 total yards. Their only points came from the leg of Christian Avelar, who nailed a 39-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to avoid the shutout. Cal's defensive line, led by guys like Aidan Keanaaina, was basically living in the Tigers' backfield. They finished with two sacks and forced a lot of hurried throws from TSU quarterback KJ Cooper.
Looking Beyond the Numbers
You might wonder why this game matters in the grand scheme of the season. For Cal, it was about identity. They were moving into the ACC, a conference full of heavy hitters like Miami and Clemson. They needed to prove they could handle the business of winning games they were "supposed" to win without making it a heart-attack affair.
For Texas Southern, these games are about the paycheck and the exposure. They get a massive payout to travel to Berkeley, which helps fund their entire athletic department. Plus, playing in front of 35,000 people and a national audience on ACCNX is a huge recruiting tool. They didn't win, but they showed they could hang with a power conference team for a half.
Lessons Learned from the Matchup
So, what did we actually learn?
First off, Kendrick Raphael is the real deal. If Cal is going to be successful, they have to lean on the run to take the pressure off their freshman QB. Second, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is talented but still learning the nuances of the college game. He needs to get through his progressions faster against better defenses.
Lastly, Cal's defense is legit. Keeping any team out of the end zone—even an FCS team—requires discipline and tackling. They didn't miss many tackles in the second half.
If you're following Cal this season, keep an eye on how they handle the transitions between non-conference and ACC play. This game was a bridge. It wasn't perfect, and it was definitely "ugly" at times in the first half, but a 32-point win is a 32-point win.
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Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Raphael Highlights: If you missed the game, go back and watch Kendrick Raphael’s second-half runs. His vision through the tackles is something Cal hasn't had in a few years.
- Track the Sagapolutele Progression: Compare his decision-making in this game to his performance against Minnesota. He's learning to take what the defense gives him rather than forcing the big play.
- Check the Injury Report: Cal looked a bit thin at wide receiver during this game, which might explain some of the offensive stagnation early on. See if their starters return before the next conference road trip.
The Cal vs Texas Southern game might not go down as a classic, but it was a vital stepping stone for a team trying to find its footing in a new era of college football.