Stanford arrive at Wake Forest on Saturday with real momentum after Davis Warren threw for 396 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-27 win over Georgia Tech, but this still looks like a test of whether that performance can travel. The unusual 9 a.m. Pacific start on the East Coast adds another layer to a matchup that Wake Forest enter at 3-1 after beating No. 16 Louisville on the road.
That is the basic shape of Stanford vs Wake Forest: one team trying to build on a statement result, the other carrying the confidence of a ranked win and the edge of home advantage in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The teams also know each other well enough already, after Wake Forest beat Stanford 27-24 on The Farm in 2024.
Warren gives Stanford a clear reference point
For Stanford, the encouraging sign is not just the win over Georgia Tech, but the way Davis Warren led the offence. A 396-yard, three-touchdown outing is the sort of performance that gives a quarterback and a coaching staff a clear identity to lean on.
The question now is whether that level can be repeated against a Wake Forest team that has already shown it can handle pressure. Stanford are 2-2, and the margin between a good result and a real run of form is still fairly thin.
Wake Forest’s confidence is built on results
Wake Forest enter at 3-1 and with receiving votes in the poll, which tells its own story about the start they have made. Beating No. 16 Louisville on the road last Saturday is a strong marker, especially in a conference game where control and composure matter.
That does not make Stanford underdogs in a simple sense, but it does mean the Cardinal will need to prove that last week was not a one-off. Wake Forest have already answered one big question this season; Stanford are still trying to answer theirs.
The early kick-off adds to the challenge
The 9 a.m. start is one of the more unusual features of the game, and it should not be ignored. Early kick-offs can change rhythm, preparation and energy, particularly for a Stanford side travelling across the country to play on the East Coast.
That makes the opening stages important. If Stanford can settle quickly and give Warren time to build on his form, they have enough to make this interesting. If Wake Forest impose themselves early, the 3-1 home side will expect to control the afternoon.
In the end, Stanford vs Wake Forest looks like a matchup between proof and potential. Wake Forest have the better record and the more established momentum right now, but Stanford have at least shown they have a quarterback capable of carrying them into the conversation.
Saturday in Winston-Salem should tell us whether that Georgia Tech performance was the start of something or simply a sharp, isolated response.
