The race finally has a winner.

Cal coach Sonny Dykes named Jared Goff the starting quarterback for Cal football on Friday.

“We have had a fiercely contested competition for our starting quarterback position,” Dykes said. “It’s important to name a starter and give them the reps they need to be prepared to play. We feel that right now, Jared Goff gives us the best chance to be successful as a team, but we are very fortunate to have three outstanding quarterbacks we feel we can be successful with.”

The announcement means that the true freshman will be getting all the first team reps in practices from here on out and will start when Cal opens the season against Northwestern on Aug. 31.

The 6-foot-4 prospect from Marin Catholic High School has wowed in training camp with his touch and accuracy. Because he ran a similar offensive system in high school, his transition to Sonny Dykes’ system has been smooth. Though he hasn’t shown some of the big play ability freshman Zach Kline often showed, Goff’s consistency was unmatched.

“I’m honored to get the chance to start for Cal and am looking forward to going out and helping the team win,” Goff said. “I’m super excited and ready to get rolling. My competitors are great quarterbacks as well. It was a tremendous competition that has helped all us become better quarterbacks.”