Backup Jackson Brousseau throws for 321 yards as Cal rallies past Virginia Tech, 25-20

Cal’s backup quarterback delivered a steady performance on the road at Virginia Tech, and it was enough to decide a close game that swung multiple times. The Golden Bears took advantage of their opportunities and held on for a 25-20 victory over the Hokies on Saturday.

The backdrop was complicated for Cal early. Yahoo Sports reported that Cal was without starting quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and starting safety Kingston Lopa for the matchup. Those absences forced Cal to lean on depth at two key positions, with quarterback play directly in the spotlight.

Jackson Brousseau, the backup quarterback, responded by staying efficient and attacking down the field when the Hokies offered openings. According to the game report, he completed 29 of 43 passes for 321 yards and threw a touchdown, giving Cal a passing baseline that Virginia Tech could not fully shut down.

Virginia Tech stayed in the game in spite of the deficit that comes with a high-volume passing day for an offense operating without its starter. Cal’s 25 points mattered, but the scoreline also reflected how difficult it is to create consistent separation against a conference opponent that can match physicality and adjust week to week.

From Virginia Tech’s perspective, the loss of defensive continuity likely became more significant than the final point differential. When a starting safety is unavailable, communication in coverage and late-game matchups can become harder to execute, especially when an offense is quarterbacked by someone asked to throw with rhythm from the start. Cal’s ability to move the ball through the air forced Virginia Tech to keep answering, even as the game tightened late.

For Cal, the win was a reminder of how valuable organizational depth can be when the plan changes. Brousseau’s 29 completions and 321 yards show that the Golden Bears were not simply surviving with short plays or conservative scripting. They were moving the ball in multiple phases, which kept their chances alive until the final minutes.

What to watch next is how Cal’s situation evolves for the quarterback room and the defensive secondary. With starting personnel noted as unavailable for this game, the immediate question becomes whether Sagapolutele and Lopa are available moving forward. Meanwhile, Brousseau’s performance may shape how the staff approaches reps and game-week preparation if new constraints appear again.