Wake Forest enters its showdown with Cal at Berkeley this weekend riding a 5-1 record and a second-place standing in the ACC, having defied preseason expectations by vaulting from a projected 13th-place finish to a top-25 AP ranking. Head coach Jake Dickert, now under consideration for the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award, has shifted focus to managing the team’s newfound confidence, emphasizing process over results amid a stretch where players like defensive back Braylon Johnson have openly questioned why the Demon Deacons haven’t yet achieved a perfect record.
Dickert dismisses any ‘should have won’ mentality, instead framing each remaining game as an independent challenge, regardless of the looming schedule or external accolades. Meanwhile, Cal arrives with an unstable quarterback situation: starter Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who has thrown for 1,180 yards and eight touchdowns this season, remains questionable with a recent concussion, leaving backup Jackson Brousseau—who stepped in to lead the Golden Bears to a win over Virginia Tech—potentially in line for another start.
The coaching staff’s recent offensive overhaul, including a mid-game coordinator swap during the UNLV contest, adds another layer of uncertainty for a Bears team already navigating a 3-3 record and a late-night kickoff that will test Wake Forest’s travel and stamina.
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