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Stanford is coming off of a comeback win over Georgia Tech last week, hoping that the momentum it earned from the victory can carry over to this week, with a road matchup against Wake Forest in store.

Facing a program like the Demon Deacons on the road is never easy, but for a Cardinal program riding high from a big win, this is the chance to make a real statement.

The Tavita Pritchard era has been a mixed bag so far, but sitting at 2-2, the program has the chance to turn things around and play for its first bowl game appearance since 2018. Stanford has a long way to go to reach its ultimate goal of competing for a national title, but this season is a building year in which it hopes to make a bowl game. 

Wake Forest is proving to be a very strong team this season, a year removed from going 9-4 and winning the Duke's Mayo Bowl. Wake Forest is 3-1, with its only loss coming at the hands of Miami — a national title contender. For Stanford, a win over Wake Forest would give it even more to build off and would solidify those bowl game aspirations. 

Stanford enters the week as underdogs once again, but will look to come out firing. The last time the program posted a winning season was in 2018, and even though there is a lack of easy games on the schedule, this team is ready for the challenges that lie ahead. 

Here is everything you need to know leading up to Stanford's matchup against Wake Forest.

Game Information

When: Saturday, Oct. 3, 9:00 a.m. (PT)

Where: Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, Winston-Salem, N.C.

How to Watch: ACC Network

Spread: Wake Forest (-4.5)

Moneyline: Stanford (+164), Wake Forest (-198)

Total: O/U 50.5

*Betting odds provided by Vegas Insider and are used here as a reference point, not betting advice*

Players to Watch – Stanford

QB Davis Warren

Don't be fooled by the two losses in which the Cardinal combined for only 13 points — Warren has been fantastic. Warren played his best game of the season in the Georgia Tech win, and possibly of his career, registering 396 passing yards with three passing touchdowns and no interceptions, and he was crucial in leading the Cardinal to the come-from-behind victory.

Warren has yet to turn over the ball this season, something that has been a major bright spot for the Cardinal and a very welcome sign for a team that has had major quarterback issues in recent seasons.

Wake Forest will be another tough matchup and has a high-level defense, but if Warren can put together another good game, it may be safe to say that the Cardinal have found their diamond in the rough. All Warren has to do is continue to protect the ball and drive the offense downfield.

WR Nico Brown

Brown was one of Stanford's biggest offensive transfer portal pickups this offseason, coming off a career year at Yale where he registered 71 catches for 1,085 yards and 11 touchdown catches, earning All-Ivy First team and Walter Camp FCS All-American selections.

Brown missed the first couple of games of this season with an injury, but broke out last week with five catches for 98 yards and a touchdown in his first real playing time of the year. 

Stanford is still trying to figure out what roles players have, but Brown showed last game that he could become a major force on the offensive side of the ball. If that is the case and Warren continues to really trust him, watch out for Brown to cement himself as a Power Four star, especially with a big game against Wake Forest.

LB Matt Rose

Rose, the first Cardinal player to put together a 100-tackle season in over a decade last year, has continued his ascent as a superstar. The team leader in tackles, he registered 11 total tackles in the win over Georgia Tech and has had two double-digit tackle games already this season, with the first one in the loss to Miami.

Rose is cemented as the star of the defense, and possibly the star of the whole team, while making his case as a top NFL Draft prospect.

Rose will be tested a lot this week against a strong Wake Forest offense, but if there is one thing he has shown the past two seasons, it's that no challenge is too big and he will excel no matter what the circumstances are.

Players to Watch – Wake Forest

QB Gio Lopez

Lopez, a transfer from North Carolina, has a lot of experience as a starting quarterback in college football, but is finally looking like the superstar he's been projected to be. Through four games, he has registered 1,112 passing yards, eight touchdowns and only one interception while adding over 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground.

Lopez is shining for Wake Forest, and that could be a problem for Stanford if it does not have a good game plan.

Lopez will certainly make the Cardinal offense dig deep, and if he has a good game, it will be hard for Stanford to leave with a victory. The Cardinal need to eliminate Wake Forest's passing game in this matchup. That is the key.

WR Carlos Hernandez

Hernandez, who is in his second season at Wake Forest after spending the first two years of his career at Washington State, is having the year of his life through four games. Registering 30 catches for 516 yards and three touchdown catches, he is on pace to set career highs in all categories and has continued to improve since last season.

Hernandez caught 40 passes for 611 yards and three touchdowns in his debut season at Wake Forest last year, cementing himself as the team's top pass catcher in 2026.

Lopez and Hernandez have built a strong connection, and for Stanford to pull off a victory, the defensive backs need to be ready to work hard.

LB Aiden Hall

Hall is one of Wake Forest's most experienced players, having spent his entire career in North Carolina. He flew under the radar early on, but this season, he has broken out so far and leads the entire Wake Forest defense in tackles.

Hall has 33 total tackles so far this season, and had 11 tackles last week against Louisville, putting his knack for being around the ball on full display.

Hall will be all over the field this week, and if Stanford wants to see its offense flourish, keeping Cardinal players and the ball away from him will make matters easier.

Score Prediction

Wake Forest 35, Stanford 20 

Stanford is riding high after beating Georgia Tech. But that win was against a team that faced low expectations of its own entering the season and was on a cross-country trip playing in a late-night game on the West Coast.

Wake Forest is a different animal, and one that has shown that it is ready to possibly make a run at a conference title this season. Stanford will be facing that same cross-country obstacle as well, only it will be tasked with an early morning game according to its own body clocks. 

Wake Forest may have experienced a fair amount of roster turnover during the offseason, but the additions of guys like Lopez have made it that much tougher to beat. Combine that with facing it on the road, and the hill becomes harder to climb.

The Stanford program is deep in a rebuild, and when you go on the road to face a team that is not rebuilding, you do not get a good recipe for success. Stanford will compete until the very end of this game, but the Demon Deacons will be too much for it to handle. Stanford will head to Notre Dame with a losing record.

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