Wake Forest football has operated under the mantra of “Built in the Dark” since Jake Dickert took over as head coach in 2025. The Demon Deacons will play an ACC “After Dark” game this Saturday, traveling to California for a late-night contest kicking off at 10:30 p.m. ET.
This has suddenly become an important contest in the ACC race.
Wake Forest improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the league with last Saturday’s 38-14 victory at NC State, taking sole possession of second place in the standings by half a game. California’s 25-20 upset of visiting Virginia Tech pushed the Bears to 3-3, 2-1 in the ACC — still very much in the conversation in the upper division.
Wake Forest opened as roughly a nine-point favorite. But as Virginia Tech learned last Saturday, being heavily favored may mean little in these cross-country matchups. The Hokies lost despite being 10-point favorites.
Here is everything you need to know about Wake Forest-Cal football, including TV information, latest lines, injury updates, statistical comparisons and more.
🔄 Last Updated: October 12, 2026 10:51 pm
🏟️ How to Watch Wake Forest-Cal Football
Matchup: Wake Forest (5-1, 3-1 ACC) at California (3-3, 2-1 ACC)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Databricks Field at California Memorial Stadium (Berkeley, CA)
TV Station: ESPN2
📊 Wake Forest at Cal betting odds
Spread: Wake Forest -9.5
Over/Under Total: 53.5 points
Moneyline: Wake Forest -365 | California +285
Lines courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook. Odds will be refreshed periodically during the week. All lines are subject to change.
🩹 Injury Updates
Official availability reports from the ACC are released each week starting on Wednesdays. Information from those reports will be added here later in the week.
⏪ Last Time Out
Wake Forest 38, NC State 14 (Oct. 10) – The Demon Deacons outscored the Wolfpack 28-0 after halftime to claim their third ACC victory of the season. Quarterback Gio Lopez threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns. Receivers Carlos Hernandez and Jack Foley both surpassed 100 receiving yards, and each scored TDs.
Cal 25, Virginia Tech 20 (Oct. 10) – Ashten Emory scored from the 2-yard line with 18 seconds left, and the Bears broke up a pass in the end zone on the final play to secure a key ACC win. Backup quarterback Jackson Brousseau finished 29-of-43 for 321 yards and a touchdown in relief of injured starter Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele.
Wake Forest 2026 Results (5-1, 3-1 ACC)
Wake Forest 38, Akron 16
Wake Forest 38, Purdue 36 (2 OT)
Miami 33, Wake Forest 20
Wake Forest 30, Louisville 27
Wake Forest 57, Stanford 3
Wake Forest 38, NC State 14
Cal Bears 2026 Results (3-3, 2-1 ACC)
UCLA 45, Cal 24
Cal 21, Syracuse 18
Cal 49, Wagner 7
Clemson 24, Cal 10
UNLV 39, Cal 31
Cal 25, Virginia Tech 20
🔍 What to Know About Wake Forest-Cal
Wake Forest is one of college football’s biggest surprises
Wake won nine games in coach Jake Dickert’s debut in 2025, but the Demon Deacons still were lightly regarded heading into 2026. The ACC Preseason Media Poll pegged the Deacs 13th out of 17 teams.
Pundits are singing a different tune now, and Wake Forest has been picking up steam – and national acclaim – since playing a strong second half against Miami on Friday, Sept. 18.
Dickert’s team has won three conference games in a row, including a road upset of nationally ranked Louisville, a 54-point demolition of Stanford and Saturday’s steamrolling of NC State.
Wake Forest joined the Top 25 this week, landing at No. 21 in the Associated Press poll and No. 23 in the coaches poll.
Gio Lopez, Carlos Hernandez continue to be dynamic
Wake Forest has emerged as one of the ACC’s most potent offenses. The Deacs average 36.8 points per game (4th in the league), scoring 27 touchdowns (3rd).
Gio Lopez is having an All-ACC caliber season thus far at the controls. The transfer quarterback, who struggled to find a groove last season at UNC, ranks second in the ACC in passing yards (1,680) and is tied for fourth in touchdown throws (13). He only has one interception.
Lopez’s favorite target, Carlos Hernandez, leads the ACC in receiving yards (720) and has found the end zone four times. He’s averaging 120.0 yards per game and 14.7 yards per catch. Credit Dickert and offensive coordinator Rob Ezell for scheming Hernandez open and getting Lopez into a rhythm.
Will key starters return for Cal this week?
California pulled off the remarkable 25-20 win over Virginia Tech despite missing its starting quarterback (Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele), two top running backs (Adam Mohammed and Carter Vargas) and one of the team’s leading tacklers (defensive back Kingston Lopa).
Sagapolutele and Lopa both were considered game-time decisions Saturday after each suffered concussions in the loss to UNLV. But neither saw the field. While official injury reports have not yet been released for this week, Cal is hoping both can be ready this week – and possibly Mohammed as well.
Backup quarterback Jackson Brousseau proved a capable leader of the offense against the Hokies, throwing for 321 yards and one touchdown, with no interceptions.
Lopa has picked off five passes this season and recorded 29 tackles.
📊 Wake Forest vs. California Stats and Trends
Wake Forest Team Highlights
- Points For: 36.8 points per game
- Points Against: 21.5 points per game
- Passing Offense: 290.5 yards per game
- Rushing Offense: 144.8 yards per game
- Passing Defense: 236.7 yards per game
- Rushing Defense: 95.3 yards per game
Wake Forest Individual Statistical Leaders
- Passing: Gio Lopez – 1,680 yards, 13 TDs, 1 INT
- Rushing: Deuce Lawrence – 281 yards, 3 TDs
- Receiving: Carlos Hernandez – 49 catches, 720 yards, 4 TDs
- Tackles: Vincent Firenze – 46 tackles (19 solo), 4.0 TFLs
- Interceptions: Dallas Afalava, Somad Eaddy – 1 interception each
- Scoring: Connor Calvert – 53 points (10 FGs, 23-23 PATs)
California Team Highlights
- Points For: 26.7 points per game
- Points Against: 25.5 points per game
- Passing Offense: 304.3 passing yards per game
- Rushing Offense: 92.8 rushing yards per game
- Passing Defense: 192.5 passing yards per game
- Rushing Defense: 175.0 rushing yards per game
California Individual Statistical Leaders
- Passing: Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele – 1,180 yards, 8 TDs, 5 INTs
- Rushing: Adam Mohammed – 336 yards, 3 TDs
- Receiving: Ian Strong – 28 catches, 396 yards, 1 TD
- Tackles: Isaiah Crosby, AJ Tuitele – 32 tackles each
- Interceptions: Kingston Lopa – 5 interceptions
- Scoring: Ashten Emory, Adam Mohammed – 24 points each (4 touchdowns each)
📚 Series History
- California leads the all-time series 1-0
- The Bears won the only meeting between the teams 46-36 on Nov. 8, 2024, giving Cal its first-ever win as an ACC program. California and Stanford joined the ACC that season.
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