Stanford opens October with another cross-country trip, this one sending the Cardinal to Wake Forest on Saturday at 9 a.m. PT. The game will air on ACC Network.
The bigger number hanging over this one is 12. Stanford is trying to end a 12-game road losing streak, the longest in program history and the third-longest active skid away from home in the country behind Purdue’s 16 and Ball State’s 13. The Cardinal’s last road victory came in its first ACC game, a Sept. 20, 2024 win at Syracuse.
There are a few reasons Stanford has stayed in games this season, and one of the biggest is Davis Warren. The quarterback is one of three ACC starters without an interception, alongside Darian Mensah and Ethan Grunkemeyer, and he has gone 143 pass attempts to start the year without throwing one.
That is the third-longest run in Stanford history, behind only Davis Mills’ 167 attempts to open the 2020 season. Warren also leads all FBS quarterbacks in pass attempts without an interception.
Stanford’s turnover profile has been one of the clearest bright spots through four games. The Cardinal has not lost the turnover battle once, is plus-4 in turnover margin, and has started a season with four straight games without losing the turnover battle for the first time since 2018. That mark has Stanford third in the ACC in turnover margin, and with just one turnover this year, the Cardinal trails only New Mexico for the fewest in the nation; 12 teams are tied with one turnover.
The defense has also leaned on Matt Rose, who keeps piling up tackles at a high level. The fifth-year linebacker from Brecksville, Ohio, is second in the ACC with 38 tackles through four games, behind only Boston College’s Anthony Palano. Rose finished 2025 in the top 25 nationally in total tackles and is tied for 13th after four games this season.
On the outside, Caden High gave Stanford a big-time burst against Georgia Tech. He caught four passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns, marking his third career game with multiple receiving scores and his first such outing at Stanford. He also became the first Cardinal receiver to top 100 yards in a game this season.
Stanford’s Week 4 win also brought some conference recognition. Warren was named ACC Quarterback of the Week, and Rose earned ACC Linebacker of the Week honors.
With turnovers coming in every game so far and key players showing up on both sides of the ball, Stanford heads to Wake Forest with a few clear strengths - and a long road drought still waiting to be broken.
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Stanford Finally Found Something Fans Can Rally Around
Stanford finally gave its fan base a game worth leaning into, and it came with a comeback to match. After falling behind by 10 points, the Cardinal responded with four straight scoring drives in the second half and pulled out a 34-27 victory over Georgia Tech behind quarterback Davis Warren, who delivered a career-high 396 yards and three touchdowns.
The finish had the kind of edge Stanford has been missing, with the defense coming up with two late turnovers to seal it. It also set up a quick turn to Wake Forest, giving the Cardinal a little momentum to carry and a reminder that this team can still manufacture something for its supporters to believe in. [Read more 🡒]