The No. 21 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-1) visit the California Golden Bears (3-3) on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 PM ET, and the game airs on ESPN2. DraftKings lists the spread at WAKE -9.5 with a total of 53.5; moneylines are Wake Forest -360 · California +285. Below is our Wake Forest vs California preview with the latest odds, point spread, moneyline, over/under, kickoff time, TV channel and where to watch, plus a look at each team’s season so far, head coach and key players. Lines may move before kickoff.
Wake Forest vs California Odds, Spread, Kickoff Time & TV
| Matchup detail | Line / info |
|---|---|
| Matchup | No. 21 Wake Forest at California |
| Records | Wake Forest 5-1 · California 3-3 |
| Spread | WAKE -9.5 |
| Moneyline | Wake Forest -360 · California +285 |
| Total | 53.5 |
| Venue | California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA |
| Date/Time | Saturday, October 17, 2026 · 10:30 PM ET |
| TV / How to Watch | ESPN2 |
| Head Coaches | Wake Forest: HC Jake Dickert, OC Rob Ezell · California: HC Tosh Lupoi, OC Jordan Somerville |
Wake Forest Preview: Season So Far, Coach & Key Players
Season so far: The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are 5-1 overall, 3-1 in ACC play, and they are ranked No. 21 in this week’s AP Top 25. Results to date: Sep 3 — W 38-16 vs Akron; Sep 12 — W 38-36 at Purdue; Sep 18 — L 33-20 vs Miami; Sep 26 — W 30-27 at Louisville; Oct 3 — W 57-3 vs Stanford; Oct 10 — W 38-14 at NC State. Most recently, Wake Forest beat NC State 38-14 on the road. Through 6 games, Wake Forest is averaging 36.8 points scored and 21.5 points allowed per game.
Head coach: Jake Dickert (head coach since 2025). Offensive coordinator: Rob Ezell. Defensive coordinator: Scottie Hazelton.
Key players (2026 season stats):
- Passing leader: Gio Lopez (QB) — 124/184, 1,680 yards, 13 TD, 1 INT
- Rushing leader: Deuce Lawrence (RB) — 55 carries, 281 yards, 3 TD
- Receiving leader: Carlos Hernandez (WR) — 49 receptions, 720 yards, 4 TD
- Sacks leader: Langston Hardy (DL) — 4.5 sacks
- Tackles leader: Vincent Firenze (LB) — 44 total tackles
Strengths: An offense scoring 36.8 points per game; Gio Lopez’s passing volume (1,680 yards); a pass rush paced by Langston Hardy (4.5 sacks). Questions: Handling a road trip to California Memorial Stadium.
California Preview: Season So Far, Coach & Key Players
Season so far: The California Golden Bears are 3-3 overall, 2-1 in ACC play. Results to date: Sep 5 — L 45-24 vs UCLA; Sep 12 — W 21-18 at Syracuse; Sep 19 — W 49-7 vs Wagner; Sep 25 — L 24-10 vs Clemson; Oct 3 — L 39-31 at UNLV; Oct 10 — W 25-20 vs Virginia Tech. Most recently, California beat Virginia Tech 25-20 at home. Through 6 games, California is averaging 26.7 points scored and 25.5 points allowed per game.
Head coach: Tosh Lupoi (first season in charge). Offensive coordinator: Jordan Somerville. Defensive coordinators: Da'Von Brown / Michael Hutchings.
Key players (2026 season stats):
- Passing leader: Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (QB) — 107/164, 1,180 yards, 8 TD, 5 INT
- Rushing leader: Adam Mohammed (RB) — 73 carries, 336 yards, 3 TD
- Receiving leader: Ian Strong (WR) — 28 receptions, 396 yards, 1 TD
- Sacks leader: AJ Tuitele (LB) — 3 sacks
- Tackles leader: AJ Tuitele (LB) — 33 total tackles
Strengths: Momentum from a 25-20 win over Virginia Tech. Questions: A defense allowing 25.5 points per game; ball security at quarterback (5 interceptions for Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele).
How to Watch Wake Forest vs California
- Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Kickoff: 10:30 PM ET
- Venue: California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA
- TV / Streaming: ESPN2
Odds: DraftKings lines reported via ESPN as of October 12, 2026 2:12 AM PT (Arizona time). Lines may move before kickoff. Records, results and season stats via ESPN; coaching staffs per 2026 staff listings. This page is an informational matchup preview only.