Saturday, October 17

Compare these teams

Wake Forest

5–1 · AP #21

at

California

3–3

10:30 PM ET7:30 PM PTCalifornia Memorial StadiumBerkeley, CA

Weather

Clear66°FW 5 mphGusts 6 mphPrecip 0%

At kickoff · 7:30 PM PT · Updated 11:27 AM PT · National Weather Service

Hour by hour

Berkeley · local time (PT)

Hour of the game (PT)

Kickoff hour

Clear66°FW 5 mphGusts 6 mphPrecip 0%

Weather is not an input to the SBR forecast.

Game forecast

79%

Wake Forest win probability

California 21%

Wake Forest by 11.5

Projected margin

Margin uncertainty ±14.1 points

Published forecast · SBR sbr-2r · Model track record

The game in a minute

01 · Wake Forest's case

Wake Forest's offense leads its matchup in per-play efficiency

Wake Forest's offense is in the 90th percentile for per play this season. California's defense is in the 48th percentile for PPA allowed.

See when each team has the ball

02 · California's answer

California has no clear answer on this matchup

None of its defense's numbers stands out against Wake Forest's offense.

03 · What could swing it

The forecast comes with a range

The model gives Wake Forest a 79% chance to win and predicts Wake Forest by 11.5 points. That margin has an uncertainty of ±14.1 points.

See the forecast

When each team has the ball

Offensive efficiency meets defensive efficiency. Percentiles run from 0 to 100.

When Wake Forest has the ball

Wake Forest offense
90th
California defense
48th
Show the underlying numbers
Wake Forest offensive PPA per play
0.3190th percentile · #12 nationally
California PPA allowed per play
0.0648th percentile · #64 nationally
Wake Forest
48%76th percentile · #34 nationally
California success rate allowed
36%74th percentile · #36 nationally
Wake Forest points per game
36.880th percentile · #29 nationally
California per game
25.538th percentile · #85 nationally

PPA and success rate: CFBD, 2026 season to date, garbage time included. Points per game: 2026 games so far. Percentiles and ranks are among 2026 teams.

Wake Forest offense · Last 6 games · garbage time excluded

Explosiveness
1.30
Rush success
47.8%

California defense · 5 of the last 6 games · garbage time excluded

Explosiveness allowed
1.41
Rush success allowed
41.7%

When California has the ball

California offense
13th
Wake Forest defense
42nd
Show the underlying numbers
California offensive PPA per play
0.0113th percentile · #119 nationally
Wake Forest PPA allowed per play
0.0842nd percentile · #75 nationally
California success rate
39%18th percentile · #113 nationally
Wake Forest success rate allowed
43%24th percentile · #105 nationally
California points per game
26.738th percentile · #86 nationally
Wake Forest points allowed per game
21.563rd percentile · #51 nationally

PPA and success rate: CFBD, 2026 season to date, garbage time included. Points per game: 2026 games so far. Percentiles and ranks are among 2026 FBS teams.

California offense · Last 6 games · garbage time excluded

Explosiveness
1.31
Rush success
38.0%

Wake Forest defense · Last 6 games · garbage time excluded

Explosiveness allowed
1.12
Rush success allowed
36.2%

Defense is oriented so a higher percentile is stronger.

Where they attack.

Follow the direction. Check the production.

Offense on the field
Play type
Field measure
Share of charted attemptsDirectional schematic
Direction, from the offense's perspective

Offense moving upfield ↑

Select left, middle or right. The paths show direction only; alignment, routes and throw depth are schematic.

Gio Lopez · 98% of charted pass attempts

Throwing left

Share of charted plays
42%
Usage: charted in this direction
66 attempts
Yards / attempt
7.6
over 65 attempts with a result
Completion rate
66%
over 65 attempts with a result

156 of 157 have a direction · 1 unknown, excluded · rounded

Charted 5 of 6 games

Efficiency charted in 5 of 6 games

Depth as written in the play-by-play: 134 short · 22 deep · 1 not stated

Who's driving the offense?

The Wake Forest offense in 2026

Featured players for

Gio Lopez

QB · 6 games

Gio Lopez

Photo: ESPN

124/184 · 67% season

Passing yards
1,680
Touchdowns
13
Interception
1

Last game

NC State · Oct 10, 2026: 26/33, 303 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT

Ty Clark III

RB · 6 games

Ty Clark III

Photo: ESPN

Carries
62
Rushing yards
275
Touchdowns
3

Last game

NC State · Oct 10, 2026: 12 carries, 17 yds, 0 TD

Carlos Hernandez

WR · 6 games

Carlos Hernandez

Photo: ESPN

Receptions
49
Receiving yards
720
Touchdowns
4

Last game

NC State · Oct 10, 2026: 12 rec, 117 yds, 1 TD

Wake Forest player tables

Who is producing

Wake Forest player production

2026 evidence · 6 games in this window · 6 with recorded rows in this view

Statistic category

Sorted by Completions and attempts, highest first

Wake Forest — Passing production
Player
Giovanni LopezQB6124 / 1841,6809.1131
Steele PizzellaQB23 / 66310.500

2 players with recorded rows

Rows are recorded player-game box lines for the games listed above. A missing row is missing data, not proof that a player did not appear, and none of these figures describe targets, snaps, starters or availability.

California player tables

Who is producing

California player production

2026 evidence · 6 games in this window · 6 with recorded rows in this view

Statistic category

Sorted by Completions and attempts, highest first

California — Passing production
Player
Jaron-Keawe SagapoluteleQB5107 / 1641,1807.285
Jackson BrousseauQB458 / 916206.830
Mason MiniTE11 / 12626.000

3 players with recorded rows

Rows are recorded player-game box lines for the games listed above. A missing row is missing data, not proof that a player did not appear, and none of these figures describe targets, snaps, starters or availability.

In the trenches

Wake Forest's line averages 302.7 lbs against California's 294.0 lbs front — an edge of 8.7 lbs a man.

Typical FBS gap: 31.7 lbs.

Roster size is context. It isn't a forecast advantage.

MatchupO-lineD-line
Wake Forest OL302.7 lbs294.0 lbs
California OL317.3 lbs273.0 lbs
  • Wake Forest
  • California

Average listed roster weight, 2026 · bars run from 0 to 350 lbs.

How these teams stack up

2026 season. Percentiles and ranks are among 2026 FBS teams.

Wake Forest

Points per game
36.8#29 nationally · 80th percentile · 6 games
Points allowed per game
21.5#51 nationally · 63rd percentile · 6 games
Returning production
14% of 2025 PPA returns · 19th percentile
Upperclassmen
35% · 116 of 116 with a class year

California

Points per game
26.7#86 nationally · 38th percentile · 6 games
Points allowed per game
25.5#85 nationally · 38th percentile · 6 games
Returning production
58% of 2025 PPA returns · 69th percentile
Upperclassmen
45% · 114 of 114 with a class year

Recruiting

Wake Forest

2026 signing class · #39 nationally
72nd percentile · 217.9 pts
4-year recruiting composite (Saturday Bias) · classes 2023–2026 · #52 nationally
63rd percentile · 0.29 (0 is the FBS average)
Roster talent (CFBD Team Talent) · 2026 · #63 nationally
55th percentile · 680.9

California

2026 signing class · #56 nationally
60th percentile · 202.8 pts
4-year recruiting composite (Saturday Bias) · classes 2023–2026 · #65 nationally
53rd percentile · 0.03 (0 is the FBS average)
Roster talent (CFBD Team Talent) · 2026 · #33 nationally
77th percentile · 751.9

Recruited classes aren't the roster that takes the field.

Season percentile profiles

Offense · SP+ 2026Defense · SP+ 2026Special teams · SP+ 2026Recruiting · 2026 signing classExperience · returning production 2026Wake Forest Offense · SP+ 2026: 32.6, 76th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)Wake Forest Defense · SP+ 2026: 22.3, 69th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)Wake Forest Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.3, 80th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)Wake Forest Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 217.9 pts, 72nd percentile (CFBD, 2026 signing class)Wake Forest Experience · returning production 2026: 14% returning, 19th percentile (CFBD, 2026 roster)California Offense · SP+ 2026: 24.4, 34th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)California Defense · SP+ 2026: 26.6, 44th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)California Special teams · SP+ 2026: −0.4, 3rd percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)California Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 202.8 pts, 60th percentile (CFBD, 2026 signing class)California Experience · returning production 2026: 58% returning, 69th percentile (CFBD, 2026 roster)0100
  • Wake Forest Offense · SP+ 2026: 32.6, 76th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)
  • California Offense · SP+ 2026: 24.4, 34th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)
  • Wake Forest Defense · SP+ 2026: 22.3, 69th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)
  • California Defense · SP+ 2026: 26.6, 44th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)
  • Wake Forest Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.3, 80th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)
  • California Special teams · SP+ 2026: −0.4, 3rd percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)
  • Wake Forest Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 217.9 pts, 72nd percentile (CFBD, 2026 signing class)
  • California Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 202.8 pts, 60th percentile (CFBD, 2026 signing class)
  • Wake Forest Experience · returning production 2026: 14% returning, 19th percentile (CFBD, 2026 roster)
  • California Experience · returning production 2026: 58% returning, 69th percentile (CFBD, 2026 roster)

Season percentiles · outward is stronger · recruiting and experience are context, not forecast weights

Wake Forest: solid line, circles · California: dashed line, squares

Wake Forest

Offense · 2026
32.6 · 76th percentile
CFBD, 2026 season to date
Defense · SP+ 2026
22.3 · 69th percentile
CFBD, 2026 season to date
Special teams · SP+ 2026
0.3 · 80th percentile
CFBD, 2026 season to date
Recruiting · 2026 signing class
217.9 pts · 72nd percentile
CFBD, 2026 signing class
Experience · returning production 2026
14% returning · 19th percentile
CFBD, 2026 roster

California

Offense · SP+ 2026
24.4 · 34th percentile
CFBD, 2026 season to date
Defense · SP+ 2026
26.6 · 44th percentile
CFBD, 2026 season to date
Special teams · SP+ 2026
−0.4 · 3rd percentile
CFBD, 2026 season to date
Recruiting · 2026 signing class
202.8 pts · 60th percentile
CFBD, 2026 signing class
Experience · returning production 2026
58% returning · 69th percentile
CFBD, 2026 roster

Wake Forest's recent games

Most recent completed 2026 games · play stats exclude garbage time

  1. Oct 10 · 66 recorded plays

    at NC State

    W 38–14

    47%

    Success rate

    0.26

    PPA / play

  2. Oct 3 · 48 recorded plays

    vs Stanford

    W 57–3

    65%

    Success rate

    0.56

    PPA / play

  3. Sep 26 · 62 recorded plays

    at Louisville

    W 30–27

    44%

    Success rate

    0.21

    PPA / play

The coaching staff

Wake Forest

Head coach

Jake Dickert

career +5.6 SP+ overall

Offensive coordinator

Rob Ezell

career +28.3 SP+ offense

Defensive coordinator

Scottie Hazelton

career +25.7 SP+ defense

California

Head coach
Tosh Lupoi

Tosh Lupoi

First season as California's head coach · no career rating on file

Photo: George Wrighster's College Football Podcast, CC BY 4.0

Offensive coordinator
Ike Hilliard

Ike Hilliard

Co-offensive coordinator · no career rating on file

Photo: JohnHJ, CC BY-SA 4.0

Jordan Somerville

no career rating on file

Defensive coordinator

Da'Von Brown

Co-defensive coordinator · career +28.6 SP+ defense

Michael Hutchings

career +28.6 SP+ defense

Head-to-head

California leads 1–0 since 2000
  1. 2024 · California 46, Wake Forest 36

    Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium

Evidence and sources

Evidence window: 2026 season to date

  • Wake Forest: 6 games
  • California: 6 games
  • Forecast: 2026 game forecast · this game · Saturday Bias
  • Weather: 2026 game forecast · this game · NWS
  • The game in a minute: 2026 season to date, garbage time included · compared with 2026 FBS teams · CFBD
  • When each team has the ball: 2026 season to date, garbage time included · compared with 2026 FBS teams · CFBD
  • Where they attack: 2026 season to date, garbage time included, regular season only · per team, not ranked · NCAA
  • Featured players: 2026 season to date, garbage time included · per team, not ranked · CFBD
  • In the trenches: 2026 roster snapshot · compared with 2026 FBS teams · CFBD
  • Team profiles: 2026 season to date · compared with 2026 FBS teams · CFBD
  • Recent games: 2026 recent games, garbage time excluded · this game · CFBD
  • Coaching staff: 2026 coaching staff · per team, not ranked · CFBD (head coaches, SP+) and Wikipedia (coordinators)
  • Head-to-head: completed meetings since 2000 · games between these two programs · CFBD
Compare these teams