California quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has been named to the 2026 Manning Award Watch List.

Entering the season, Sagapolutele has been named to the Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, Maxwell Award Watch List, Polynesian Player of the Year Award Watch List and was named a Top 100 player by On3.

As a true freshman in 2025, Sagapolutele completed 316-of-492 passes for 3,454 yards with 18 touchdowns while starting all 13 games. He had the second-highest totals for completions, attempts, passing yards and passing touchdowns by a Golden Bear freshman quarterback to only Jared Goff in 2013. Last season, Sagapolutele became the only Power 4 and second FBS player to start his collegiate career with 13 consecutive games of 200 passing yards or more.

The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates' postseason performances in its balloting. Finalists will be selected prior to the postseason, and the winner will be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship.