Wake Forest faces Cal in Week 7 college football matchup

No. 21 Wake Forest travels to Berkeley to face the California Golden Bears in a Week 7 matchup. The Demon Deacons enter the contest as a 9.5-point favorite following a strong season that has seen them climb to second place in the ACC.

Wake Forest is led by transfer quarterback Gio Lopez, who has recorded 13 touchdown passes and only one interception this season. His primary target, Carlos Hernandez, currently leads the ACC in receiving yards. The Deacons' offense will look to exploit Cal's run defense, which ranks 122nd nationally, allowing an average of 175 rushing yards per game.

Cal enters the game facing challenges under coach Tosh Lupoi. The Golden Bears' outlook remains uncertain due to the status of sophomore quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who missed the previous game against Virginia Tech due to a concussion. While backup Jackson Brousseau recently provided a strong performance with 321 passing yards, the team's overall momentum has struggled compared to early-season expectations.