Wake Forest Takes Ranked Momentum West for Late-Night ACC Test at California

WINSTON-SALEM — Wake Forest will carry a three-game winning streak and a return to the national rankings into Saturday night's Atlantic Coast Conference trip to California. The Demon Deacons face the Golden Bears on October 17 at California Memorial Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 10:30 p.m. Eastern.

Wake Forest improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in ACC play with a 38-14 victory at NC State last weekend. The Deacons trailed 14-10 at halftime before dominating the second half, a performance that reinforced their growing confidence under coach Jake Dickert. The victory helped lift Wake Forest into the AP Top 25.

Quarterback Gio Lopez threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns against the Wolfpack and also scored on the ground. Receiver Jack Foley caught eight passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. Wake's defense made crucial adjustments after halftime, limiting NC State's opportunities and helping turn a close rivalry game into a comfortable final margin.

The cross-country trip presents a different challenge. A 10:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff is later than most Wake Forest games, and the team will have to manage travel and preparation before playing in a different time zone. The contest is only the second meeting between Wake Forest and California; Cal won the first matchup in Winston-Salem in 2024.

Wake's recent success provides momentum but not a guaranteed result. California has its own home-field advantage, and the Deacons must avoid assuming that their strong second half against NC State will automatically carry over. The ACC standings make every league result significant as the season progresses.

The kickoff time was confirmed in an official Wake Forest athletics announcement. TTN News will monitor any final television-network designation, team availability updates and the verified score after Saturday's game.