AP Top 25: Florida Soars to No. 8 as Texas Holds No. 1 After Wild Week 4

No. 5 SMU overcame a blistering start from Cal to earn a 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon at Moody Coliseum, completing an undefeated opening weekend of ACC play behind a season-best performance from Suli Davis. The Mustangs dropped the opening set before responding to win 19-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-15 . SMU improved to 10-2 overall and 2-0 in the ACC , while Cal fell to 10-3 and 0-2. Davis powered the comeback with a season-high 26 kills while hitting .308 , and SMU finished at .358 as a team. Cal Takes Control of Opening Set Cal entered the match facing its second top-five opponent of the weekend after playing No. 2 Pitt on Friday, but the Golden Bears showed no signs of being intimidated. Cal grabbed the lead early and never surrendered it in the first set. There were no ties or lead changes , with the Golden Bears building advantages of 8-4 and 19-13 before closing out a 25-19 victory. The offensive numbers were exceptional. Cal hit .538 in the opening frame , outperforming an SMU offense that still managed a .400 hitting percentage. Davis was already producing at a remarkable rate despite the opening-set loss. She recorded 10 kills in the first frame , the most by an individual player in a set during head coach Sam Erger's tenure. The challenge for Cal was maintaining its early efficiency. It could not. SMU Responds With 25-16 Second-Set Win The momentum changed quickly in the second set. SMU found ways to create opportunities for Davis and middle blocker Favor Anyanwu, and the Mustangs raced to a 25-16 victory to even the match at one set apiece. At the same time, Cal's attacking efficiency began falling sharply. After hitting .538 in the first set, the Golden Bears dropped to .214 in the second . That decline continued throughout the remainder of the afternoon. SMU's ability to respond after losing the opening frame prevented Cal from turning its early momentum into control of the match. From that point forward, the Mustangs never dropped another set. Mustangs Hold Off Cal in Third Cal made another push in the third set. SMU created as much as a seven-point advantage, but the Golden Bears refused to let the frame get away. Cal gradually reduced the deficit and eventually pulled within 23-20 late in the set. The Mustangs responded by taking the final two points and closing out a 25-20 victory . Cal's offensive efficiency had now dropped to just .074 , a dramatic difference from its .538 performance in the opening set. With SMU ahead 2-1, the Golden Bears needed another strong start in the fourth to extend the match. For a brief stretch, they got one. SMU Breaks Open Fourth Set Cal stayed with SMU through an 8-8 tie in the fourth set. Then the match changed completely. The Mustangs began forcing mistakes while finding openings offensively, turning the tie into a commanding 21-11 advantage . Cal managed to collect a few additional points, but there was no second comeback. SMU finished the set 25-15 , completing the 3-1 victory. Cal hit only .087 in the fourth , meaning the Golden Bears went from .538 in the first set to below .100 in each of the final two frames. Across the final three sets, SMU held Cal to a combined .132 hitting percentage . Suli Davis Delivers Season-High 26 Kills Davis was the centerpiece of SMU's offensive performance. The sophomore outside hitter finished with 26 kills on a .308 hitting percentage , reaching the 20-kill mark for the fourth time this season. She has recorded at least 15 kills in all but one match this year. Her 26 kills also tied for the second-most by an SMU player in a four-set match during the 25-point rally-scoring era . Davis finished the weekend averaging 6.29 kills and 6.71 points per set across victories over No. 12 Stanford and Cal, performances that earned her ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. SMU Middles Add Efficient Attack Davis produced the biggest numbers, but SMU also received highly efficient production from the middle. Natalia Newsome and Favor Anyanwu combined for 18 kills while hitting .630 , committing only one error on 27 attacks. Setter Hannah Beauford recorded 43 assists and four digs , helping the Mustangs finish with a .358 team hitting percentage. Victoria Harris led SMU defensively with 12 digs and also contributed a team-high two service aces. Anyanwu led the Mustangs with four blocks. Overall, SMU held advantages of 56-41 in kills, 52-41 in assists, 6-2 in aces and 35-27 in digs . Abby Zimmerman Leads Cal Cal's offense never rediscovered its first-set rhythm, but several Golden Bears still produced strong individual numbers. Abby Zimmerman led Cal with 11 kills , while Sawyer Thomsen contributed nine kills on an efficient .562 hitting percentage . Senior libero Sophia Johnson also reached a career milestone , recording her 1,000th career dig during the weekend. The larger issue was the dramatic offensive decline after Cal's opening-set performance. The Golden Bears went from hitting .538 in the first to .214, .074 and .087 over the remaining three sets. SMU Extends Home and ACC Winning Streaks The victory extended two significant SMU streaks. The Mustangs have now won 15 consecutive home matches , setting a program record and tying for the third-longest active home streak nationally. SMU has also won 11 consecutive ACC matches , the longest active conference winning streak in the league. Since joining the ACC in 2024, the Mustangs are 35-7 in conference matches. SMU is also 52-0 under Erger when hitting .300 or better , a streak preserved by Sunday's .358 performance. The Mustangs will now leave Dallas for their first ACC road test, traveling to face Syracuse on Friday, Oct. 2 . Cal returns to Haas Pavilion to host Virginia and Virginia Tech.

No. 2 Pitt continued its undefeated start Sunday night, sweeping No. 12 Stanford 3-0 in a nationally televised ACC matchup at Victory Heights Arena in Pittsburgh. The Panthers won 25-21, 25-23, 25-21 , improving to 12-0 overall and 2-0 in ACC play . Stanford fell to 7-5 and 0-2 in the conference. The matchup featured the top two teams from the ACC preseason poll. Olivia Babcock led Pitt with 20 kills , adding nine digs and four blocks. The Panthers hit .325 as a team and controlled the net with 11.5 blocks as their remarkable winning streak continued. Pitt Pulls Away Late in Opening Set Stanford matched Pitt closely throughout the early stages of the opening set. Neither side led by more than two points before the Cardinal moved ahead 15-13 . Pitt responded immediately with three consecutive points to force a Stanford timeout. The teams remained tied at 18-18 before Abbey Emch and Babcock delivered consecutive kills to put the Panthers ahead 20-18. Babcock then struck twice more after Stanford pulled within one, extending Pitt's advantage to 22-19. Maaike Heilig added another kill following Stanford's final timeout, and Blaire Bayless eventually delivered the set-winning point as Pitt took the opener 25-21. It was the beginning of another efficient night for a Pitt offense that repeatedly found answers whenever Stanford threatened. Stanford Pushes Pitt to 23-23 The second set provided Stanford's strongest opportunity to change the direction of the match. With the score tied 8-8, Pitt produced a three-point run highlighted by an Emch kill off an overpass. Stanford responded and eventually pulled even at 13-13 , forcing the Panthers to use a timeout. Pitt regained control behind consecutive kills from Babcock and Ayanna Watson, building an 18-15 advantage. Babcock later recorded her 14th kill to stretch the margin to four, but Stanford refused to concede the set. The Cardinal fought back and tied the score 23-23 with consecutive kills . Pitt then executed when the set reached its decisive moments. Izzy Starck produced a strong set that allowed Bayless to finish a kill, and the Panthers captured the final two points for a 25-23 victory and a 2-0 match lead. Pitt’s Blocking Takes Over in Third Set Stanford opened the third set with three consecutive points, handing Pitt its largest deficit of the match. The Panthers answered immediately. Babcock contributed two kills and participated in two assisted blocks during a four-point Pitt run. Bayless and Emch then helped produce two more blocks as the Panthers moved ahead 6-3. Pitt eventually extended its lead to 15-9 , but Stanford mounted another comeback. The Cardinal reduced the deficit to 18-15 and later pulled within two at 22-20. Another Stanford kill made it 22-21 , forcing Pitt head coach Dan Fisher to use his second consecutive timeout. Once again, Babcock delivered when Pitt needed a point. Her kill ended Stanford's run. Emch and Bayless followed with a block to create match point, and Bayless closed the night with the final kill , securing the 25-21 set and the sweep. Olivia Babcock Reaches 20 Kills Again Babcock's performance continued another outstanding season for the Pitt star. She finished with 20 kills, nine digs, four blocks and two assists , recording her third 20-kill match of the season. The performance also pushed Babcock past another offensive milestone. She now has 202 kills through Pitt's first 12 matches , two more than she had through the same number of matches last season when she eventually broke Pitt's single-season kills record. Bayless provided another effective attacking option with 11 kills on a .333 hitting percentage , along with three digs and two blocks. Starck recorded a double-double with 31 assists and 10 digs . She also contributed four blocks and converted all three of her attacks into kills. Panthers Win the Battle at the Net Pitt's blocking played a major role in preventing Stanford from gaining control of any set. The Panthers finished with 11.5 blocks compared with Stanford's six , while hitting .325 and limiting the Cardinal to a .228 attack percentage. Heilig led Pitt with six blocks and also recorded the Panthers' only service ace. Trinity Thompson anchored the back row with a career-high 14 digs , tying the highest individual total by a Pitt player in a match this season. Stanford actually held a 54-45 advantage in digs, but Pitt's efficiency and blocking allowed the Panthers to win each of the three close sets. Jordyn Harvey Leads Stanford Stanford had several productive individual performances despite the loss. Jordyn Harvey led the Cardinal with 15 kills , while Julia Blyashov contributed 13 kills, six digs, two blocks and three assists. Middle blocker Lizzy Andrew added 10 kills while hitting .455 and finished with four blocks. Setter Logan Parks recorded 34 assists, eight digs, four blocks, three kills and an ace , while libero Spencer Etzler led the defensive effort with a season-high 21 digs . Stanford consistently challenged Pitt late in sets, but the Cardinal could not convert those opportunities into set victories. Pitt Extends Winning Streak to 12 Matches The sweep added to an impressive collection of streaks for Pitt. The Panthers are now 12-0 , matching the 1983 team for the fifth-longest unbeaten start in program history. Pitt's program record is a 23-0 start in 2018. Pitt has also won 21 consecutive sets since dropping the opening frame against Utah on Sept. 6. The Panthers are 5-0 at Victory Heights Arena this season and have yet to lose a set in the building. Even more impressive is Pitt's home winning streak. Sunday's victory was the Panthers' 58th consecutive home win , tying Florida's 1990-94 streak for the seventh-longest home winning streak in NCAA Division I history. Pitt also earned its sixth victory over a ranked opponent this season . The Panthers next travel to face Boston College on Friday at 7 p.m. , followed by a road matchup against Syracuse on Sunday. Stanford returns home to host Virginia Tech on Friday before facing Virginia the following night.

No. 24 North Carolina survived one of its toughest matches of the season Sunday afternoon, outlasting Wake Forest 3-2 in a five-set ACC thriller at Varsity Arena in Winston-Salem. The Tar Heels won 25-21, 23-25, 26-24, 30-32, 15-9 , improving to 7-3 overall and 2-0 in ACC play . Wake Forest fell to 6-7 and 0-2 despite pushing the nationally ranked Tar Heels through a marathon fourth set and into a decisive fifth. Safi Hampton tied her career high with 22 kills while hitting .373 and added 13 digs , while Hailey Pearce stepped into a larger role following a first-set injury and delivered 11 kills. North Carolina Survives Wake Forest’s Opening Push The tone was established immediately. The first set featured six ties and two lead changes as neither team found much separation early. Hampton and Chelsea Thorpe led North Carolina with four kills apiece, while Thorpe also contributed three blocks. With UNC holding a one-point advantage, the Tar Heels used a 4-0 run to establish a 15-10 lead . Wake Forest responded quickly, cutting the deficit to 15-14, but the Demon Deacons never managed to pull even. North Carolina maintained control down the stretch and captured the opening set 25-21 . Wake Forest Answers in Second Set The Demon Deacons responded with another tightly contested frame. Wake Forest and North Carolina combined for seven ties and three lead changes in the second set. The Demon Deacons eventually created a 23-19 advantage, but UNC refused to let the frame end easily. The Tar Heels scored three consecutive points to cut Wake Forest's lead to one. This time, the Demon Deacons held on. Ryleigh Whitekettle delivered another late kill as Wake Forest finished the set 25-23 , evening the match at one set apiece. Hampton Delivers in Wild Third Set The third set was even closer. Wake Forest opened with a 4-1 run before North Carolina immediately answered to tie the score at 4-4. The Tar Heels later used a four-point surge to move ahead 12-9, only for the Demon Deacons to battle back again. Wake Forest eventually took a 19-17 advantage. Hampton responded with a kill and a service ace to pull UNC even, setting up a tense finish. Freshman Lyla Stewart recorded her 16th and 17th kills to tie the set at 24-24 , but North Carolina ultimately prevailed. Wake Forest survived two set points before Hampton supplied the finishing kill for a 26-24 victory . The set featured an extraordinary 16 ties and three lead changes . North Carolina now held a 2-1 advantage, but Wake Forest was far from finished. Wake Forest Wins 32-30 Marathon The fourth set became the defining battle of the afternoon. Stewart reached a major individual milestone when her 20th kill tied the score at 12-12, establishing a new career high. From there, the teams traded points deep into extra play. Wake Forest capitalized on a pair of North Carolina errors to tie the score at 24-24. Neither side could immediately finish the set, creating a dramatic sequence of repeated set and match-point opportunities. The frame eventually featured 11 set or match points before Wake Forest finally broke through. Sanaa Williams delivered consecutive kills to close the set 32-30 , forcing a fifth and sending the record-tying crowd at Varsity Arena into a deciding frame. Tar Heels Race to 9-2 Lead in Fifth After the exhausting fourth set, North Carolina wasted no time regaining control. The Tar Heels exploded to a 9-2 advantage in the fifth. Wake Forest's Kelis Hawkins opened the frame with a block, but North Carolina answered with a seven-point run. Stewart eventually stopped the surge with her 24th kill, but the damage had already been done. Wake Forest could not erase the deficit. North Carolina closed out the deciding set 15-9 , securing the five-set road victory. Pearce proved especially important in the final frame, producing a team-high three kills in the fifth set after being called upon because of an injury earlier in the match. Safi Hampton Ties Career High With 22 Kills Hampton delivered her strongest offensive performance of the season when North Carolina needed it most. She finished with 22 kills on a .373 hitting percentage , tying her career high. Her 13 digs gave her a second consecutive double-double. Her production was especially important during the third set, when Wake Forest repeatedly threatened to take control. Hampton produced the kill and ace that erased a 19-17 deficit before eventually recording the set-winning kill. Pearce's contribution was equally valuable under different circumstances. The senior entered because of an injury in the opening set and finished with 11 kills , providing North Carolina with crucial production throughout the remainder of the afternoon. Lyla Stewart Posts Career-High 24 Kills Wake Forest's Stewart delivered the biggest offensive total of the match. The freshman recorded 24 kills and 14 digs , producing her first career 20-kill match and third consecutive double-double. She also contributed two assists, two blocks and two service aces. Stewart has now accumulated 72 kills over her last four matches and has reached double figures in kills in each of those contests. She received plenty of offensive support. Whitekettle finished with 17 kills , while Williams added 14 kills and a team-high five blocks. Amina N'Diaye contributed eight kills and three blocks. Setter Becca Bellows posted a double-double with 34 assists and 10 digs , while Emma Keeping added 26 assists and eight digs. North Carolina Extends In-State Winning Streak The victory extended North Carolina's success against programs from its home state. The Tar Heels have now won 11 consecutive matches against in-state opponents , while head coach Mike Schall improved to 16-4 in matchups against North Carolina programs. Wake Forest played the match in front of 945 fans , tying the largest home crowd in program history. North Carolina now returns to Chapel Hill for the first time since Sept. 4 and will host Clemson on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. Wake Forest begins its first ACC road trip of the season at Miami on Oct. 2 , followed by a matchup at Florida State on Oct. 4.

Pitt remained unbeaten with its most dominant performance of the season Saturday, overwhelming Bucknell 59-0 at Acrisure Stadium behind a record-setting passing attack and a defense that never allowed the Bison to reach the scoreboard. Quarterback Mason Heintschel completed 29 of 37 passes for 403 yards and six touchdowns , despite playing only a little more than two quarters. Pitt scored touchdowns on its first five possessions, built a 35-0 halftime lead and improved to 4-0 . The performance also made Heintschel the first quarterback in Pitt history to produce two games with at least six touchdown passes in the same season. Pitt Takes Control From Opening Drive There was little suspense once Pitt's offense settled into the afternoon. The Panthers reached the end zone on each of their first five possessions, allowing Heintschel to spread the football throughout a deep group of receivers. He ultimately completed passes to nine different players . Pitt entered the matchup looking to sharpen its passing attack after relying heavily on the running game in its previous victory over Syracuse. The Panthers had rushed for 245 yards in that game but used Bucknell as an opportunity to get Heintschel and his receivers back into rhythm. The result was Pitt's most productive offensive performance of the season. By halftime, the Panthers had built a 35-0 advantage , capped by Heintschel's 48-yard touchdown pass to freshman Demetrice McCray in the final minute of the second quarter. Mason Heintschel Throws Six Touchdowns Heintschel did not begin the afternoon perfectly. The sophomore opened just 3-of-7 passing , but once he found his rhythm, Bucknell could not slow him down. He finished 29-of-37 before leaving after only two series in the second half. His final numbers were remarkable: 403 passing yards and six touchdowns . The six scoring passes fell just one short of the Pitt and ACC record of seven, a mark Heintschel set himself in the Panthers' season-opening victory over Miami (Ohio). That gives him two games with six or more touchdown passes this season, something no other quarterback in Pitt history has accomplished. Heintschel's performance was also an important response after he went without a touchdown pass in Pitt's previous two games. Censere Lee Finds End Zone Three Times Pitt's receiving depth was on full display. Censere Lee caught five passes for 47 yards and three touchdowns , becoming the first Panthers receiver with three touchdown catches in a game since Jared Wayne accomplished the feat against Miami in 2022. Lee's production demonstrated how many options Pitt has available in the passing game. Despite recording fewer than 50 receiving yards, he repeatedly became Heintschel's target near the end zone. McCray provided the explosive plays. The freshman caught three passes for 72 yards , highlighted by the 48-yard touchdown that pushed Pitt's advantage to 35-0 before halftime. The photograph on page 1 of the source captures McCray scoring during the second quarter, while the image on page 12 shows the freshman celebrating one of his touchdown receptions. Pitt Sets Program Record With Eight TD Passes Heintschel was not the only Pitt quarterback to reach the end zone through the air. Backups Holden Geriner and Corey Dailey each threw a touchdown pass after Heintschel left the game. That gave Pitt eight touchdown passes , setting a new program record. The Panthers finished with 766 total yards , another program record according to Pitt's official recap. Tight end Carson Kent also became more involved in the offense, recording six receptions for 57 yards and his first touchdown of the season . The offensive explosion demonstrated considerable balance in Pitt's passing game. Heintschel found nine receivers, Lee scored three times, McCray supplied explosive plays and the backups continued producing after the game had already been decided. Pitt Defense Completes the Shutout While the offense generated the headlines, Pitt's defense was equally dominant. Bucknell did not cross 100 total yards until the fourth quarter and finished without a point. Quarterback Emmett Dowling completed only 10 of 21 passes for 49 yards . The Bison also converted just two of 13 third-down opportunities , repeatedly sending their defense back onto the field against Pitt's high-powered offense. The result was Pitt's first shutout of the season and completed a game in which the Panthers controlled virtually every major phase. Penalties Provide Pitt’s Biggest Concern Despite winning by 59 points, Pitt did leave the afternoon with one obvious area to address. The Panthers were penalized 16 times for 165 yards . The penalty yardage exceeded Bucknell's entire offensive output. Head coach Pat Narduzzi expressed frustration afterward, particularly because similar mistakes could become much more damaging against stronger conference opponents. Pitt also committed the game's only turnover when Cataurus "Blue" Hicks fumbled after making a catch during the third quarter. Neither issue threatened the outcome against Bucknell, but both provide areas for Pitt to clean up as the schedule becomes more demanding. Pitt Improves to 4-0 Before Virginia Tech Test Pitt has now completed an unbeaten September. The Panthers are 4-0 , combining an explosive passing attack with a running game that carried the offense against Syracuse a week earlier. Saturday's 59-0 victory showed what Pitt can produce when Heintschel and the passing game are operating efficiently. The challenge increases immediately. Pitt will travel to Blacksburg to face undefeated Virginia Tech on Friday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN . The Panthers will enter that matchup following their most dominant offensive performance of the season, with Heintschel coming off a 403-yard, six-touchdown afternoon and Pitt's defense coming off a shutout.

Stanford erased a 10-point halftime deficit and rode a career performance from quarterback Davis Warren to a 34-27 comeback victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday night at Stanford Stadium. Warren threw for a career-high 396 yards and three touchdowns , directing three consecutive touchdown drives in the second half after the Cardinal entered halftime trailing 20-10. Stanford improved to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in the ACC , while Georgia Tech fell to 1-3 and 0-1 in conference play. The victory gave Stanford its first conference win of the season and provided a dramatic response after consecutive lopsided ACC losses. Georgia Tech Builds 20-10 First-Half Lead Georgia Tech controlled much of the opening half, scoring on each of its first four possessions and finding success both through the air and on the ground. Trelain Maddox emerged as a major part of that early production. After Justice Haynes broke loose for a 46-yard run , Maddox caught a nine-yard touchdown pass for the first receiving score of his career. Maddox later added a 20-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter, helping the Yellow Jackets establish a 20-10 advantage. Georgia Tech carried that 10-point margin into halftime, putting Stanford in position to need its best offensive stretch of the night. The Cardinal delivered exactly that. Caden High’s 49-Yard Touchdown Pulls Stanford Even Stanford's passing attack began creating explosive plays after halftime. Warren connected with Caden High for a 49-yard touchdown , completing Stanford's comeback from the 20-10 deficit and tying the game at 20-20 during the third quarter. High became Warren's primary big-play target and finished with four catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns . The Cardinal continued attacking a Georgia Tech secondary dealing with injuries and inexperienced players. Stanford repeatedly created favorable matchups downfield, and Warren took advantage. Georgia Tech's defense surrendered 237 yards in the third quarter alone , while its offense managed just 26 during the period. That dramatic swing transformed the game. Warren Converts Fourth-and-11 for Go-Ahead Touchdown Stanford's biggest offensive play came on its next possession. Facing fourth-and-11 , Warren looked toward the end zone and found Nico Brown for a 33-yard touchdown . The score completed Stanford's surge from behind and gave the Cardinal the lead. It was part of an impressive night for Warren in high-pressure situations. The quarterback completed all three of his passes on fourth down and went 5-for-8 on throws traveling at least 15 yards. Stanford's success on those aggressive situations helped compensate for a running game that Georgia Tech largely contained. The Yellow Jackets allowed only 88 rushing yards, but they could not prevent Warren from repeatedly creating explosive plays through the air. Stanford Turns 20-10 Deficit Into 34-20 Lead The Cardinal continued their offensive surge into the fourth quarter. Warren again connected with High, this time on a sweep that produced another touchdown and extended Stanford's advantage to 34-20 . Stanford had entered halftime trailing by 10. After three consecutive second-half touchdown drives, the Cardinal suddenly held a two-touchdown advantage. The turnaround was particularly significant after Georgia Tech had scored on each of its first four possessions. Stanford's defense settled down after the break, while Warren and the offense repeatedly capitalized on opportunities downfield. Georgia Tech Makes Late Push The Yellow Jackets still had time to make the finish uncomfortable for Stanford. Quarterback Alberto Mendoza connected with Jaiven Plummer for a fourth-quarter touchdown , trimming Stanford's advantage and making it a one-possession game. Mendoza finished with 268 passing yards and two touchdowns , completing 67 percent of his passes. His final possessions, however, proved costly. A miscommunication resulted in an interception and ended one promising drive. After Georgia Tech's defense produced another stop, Mendoza was called for intentional grounding on the Yellow Jackets' final opportunity, turning a fourth-and-13 situation into fourth-and-45. Stanford held on from there to complete the 34-27 comeback. Davis Warren Delivers Career Night Warren's 396 passing yards established a new career high, while his three touchdown passes powered Stanford's second-half transformation. His performance also continued an encouraging start to the season. Warren entered 2026 with seven touchdown passes and 10 interceptions across his first 16 career games. Through Stanford's first four games this season, he has thrown five touchdowns without an interception . Stanford coach Tavita Pritchard credited Warren's command of the offense, including his responsibility for protection and run checks. High's 121-yard performance gave Warren an explosive downfield target, while Brown's fourth-down touchdown provided one of the defining plays of the comeback. Penalties Hurt Georgia Tech Georgia Tech's first-half success ultimately gave way to a difficult second half. The Yellow Jackets were penalized 12 times for 105 yards , with several offensive-line penalties wiping out productive plays or creating difficult down-and-distance situations. The third quarter was especially damaging. Georgia Tech surrendered a 17-0 run , allowing Stanford to erase its 20-10 halftime advantage while struggling to sustain drives offensively. Melvin Jordan IV provided a bright spot defensively, leading the Yellow Jackets with six tackles, including four solo stops, and a tackle for loss. But Georgia Tech never fully recovered after Stanford's third-quarter surge. Stanford Earns First ACC Victory For Stanford, the comeback delivered a needed conference result. After dropping its previous two ACC games, the Cardinal earned their first conference victory of the season behind a passing attack that produced explosive plays when the game demanded them. Warren's career-high 396 yards, High's two touchdowns and Brown's fourth-down score turned a 20-10 deficit into a 34-20 advantage before Stanford survived Georgia Tech's late push. The Cardinal will now travel to face Wake Forest next Saturday , while Georgia Tech returns home to host Duke on Oct. 10 .

Wake Forest delivered a statement road victory Saturday afternoon, defeating No. 16 Louisville 30-27 at L&N Stadium behind a huge performance from wide receiver Carlos Hernandez and a defense that protected a three-point lead in the closing minutes. Hernandez caught nine passes for 194 yards and a touchdown , while quarterback Gio Lopez threw for 225 yards and Ty Clark III rushed for 91 yards and two scores. The Demon Deacons improved to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the ACC , while Louisville fell to 2-2 and 1-1. The victory also gave Wake Forest ranked road wins in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1975 and 1976. Wake Forest Strikes First in Louisville Wake Forest's defense established the tone by forcing a three-and-out on Louisville's opening possession. Connor Calvert then put the Demon Deacons on the scoreboard with a 39-yard field goal , giving Wake Forest a 3-0 advantage with 6:18 remaining in the first quarter. Louisville answered late in the period when quarterback Lincoln Kienholz scored on a five-yard run to make it 7-3. Wake Forest responded early in the second quarter. Lopez escaped pressure on third-and-15 and connected with Hernandez for a 48-yard gain , extending a drive that ended with Clark scoring from six yards out. The touchdown gave Wake Forest a 10-7 lead. Louisville answered with another Kienholz rushing touchdown to regain the advantage, but the Cardinals' lead lasted only 103 seconds. Carlos Hernandez Breaks Free for 77-Yard Touchdown Wake Forest needed just four plays to respond. Lopez found Hernandez for a 77-yard touchdown reception , immediately putting the Demon Deacons back in front 17-14 with 5:49 remaining in the second quarter. Wake Forest's defense then produced another opportunity when Somad Eaddy recorded the first interception of his career . The Demon Deacons capitalized on the turnover. Clark scored his second six-yard rushing touchdown with 1:19 remaining, stretching the advantage to 24-14 . Louisville responded almost immediately. Kienholz connected with Jaleel Skinner for a 61-yard touchdown just 22 seconds after Clark's score, cutting Wake Forest's halftime lead to 24-21 . Louisville Rallies to Tie the Game The Cardinals erased the remaining deficit in the third quarter. Carson Hilbert converted a 41-yard field goal with 9:37 remaining in the period to tie the score at 24-24. Wake Forest responded with a lengthy drive that ended with Calvert's 35-yard field goal, restoring a 27-24 advantage. Louisville again answered, with Hilbert connecting from 54 yards late in the third quarter to send the teams into the fourth tied at 27. The back-and-forth battle featured five lead changes , with neither team able to create lasting separation. Connor Calvert Gives Wake Forest the Lead Wake Forest opened the fourth quarter with one of its most important drives. The Demon Deacons moved 48 yards over 11 plays and controlled more than six minutes of game clock before Calvert connected on a 32-yard field goal with 6:20 remaining . It was Calvert's third field goal of the afternoon and gave Wake Forest a 30-27 lead . Louisville still had opportunities to respond, but Wake Forest's defense delivered when it mattered most. Wake Forest Defense Protects Three-Point Lead The Cardinals drove deep into Wake Forest territory before defensive lineman Zach Lohavichan recorded a third-down sack , helping force Louisville into a field-goal attempt. Hilbert missed from 42 yards with 2:29 remaining, keeping Wake Forest ahead. Louisville received one final opportunity and lined up for another long attempt in the closing seconds. Wake Forest again came through on special teams, blocking the field goal to preserve the 30-27 upset . The Demon Deacons finished with nine tackles for loss and four sacks . Gabe Kirschke recorded two sacks, while Langston Hardy added two tackles for loss and a sack. Aiden Hall led Wake Forest with 11 tackles, and Eaddy added seven tackles along with his first career interception. Hernandez Delivers Historic 194-Yard Performance Hernandez was Wake Forest's biggest offensive difference-maker. His nine catches for 194 yards included gains of 48 and 77 yards in the second quarter. The performance tied Hernandez for the fifth-most receiving yards in a single game in Wake Forest history . The record table on page 8 places Hernandez's 194 yards alongside James Brim and Fabian Davis for fifth in program history. Hernandez also owns the third-highest mark after recording 197 yards against Delaware in 2025. Through four games this season, Hernandez leads the ACC with 516 receiving yards . Lopez finished 12-of-19 for 225 yards and a touchdown , pushing his season passing total to 1,112 yards. Clark provided the balance on the ground, carrying 21 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns , the first multi-touchdown performance of his career. Demon Deacons Shut Down Louisville Running Game Louisville quarterback Kienholz still produced a strong statistical performance, completing 27 of 36 passes for 324 yards and a touchdown while adding two rushing scores. Wake Forest, however, prevented Louisville from establishing the rushing attack it had relied on earlier in the season. The Cardinals entered the matchup averaging 229 rushing yards per game , but the Demon Deacons held them to only 75 yards on the ground . That defensive effort, combined with Hernandez's explosive receiving performance and Calvert's three field goals, allowed Wake Forest to leave Louisville with one of the program's notable road victories. Wake Forest Earns Another Ranked Road Win The win was Wake Forest's 19th victory over a top-20 opponent and its second road victory over a top-20 team under head coach Jake Dickert. The Demon Deacons also defeated No. 12 Virginia 16-9 on the road in 2025. The historical table on page 10 lists Saturday's 30-27 victory among Wake Forest's highest-ranked road wins, alongside victories over teams including No. 4 Tennessee, No. 12 Virginia and No. 12 Georgia. Wake Forest now returns home to host Stanford next Saturday at Allegacy Financial Stadium.

No. 22 SMU Defeats Missouri State 34-24 Behind Kevin Jennings’ Record-Breaking Night By East Coast Sports Live No. 22 SMU overcame an early double-digit deficit and a pair of first-quarter turnovers to defeat Missouri State 34-24 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, with quarterback Kevin Jennings delivering a record-breaking performance . Jennings completed 33 of 39 passes for a career-high 464 yards and three touchdowns , while adding another score on the ground. He also completed a school-record 21 consecutive passes as the Mustangs improved to 3-1. Missouri State dropped to 1-3. By the end of the night, Jennings had become SMU's career leader in passing yards and completions while also setting the program record for career touchdowns responsible for. Missouri State Turns SMU Mistakes Into 10-0 Lead SMU moved the football early, but costly mistakes allowed Missouri State to build a surprising advantage. Yamir Knight fumbled after a 23-yard gain, giving the Bears possession inside their own 10. Missouri State turned the takeaway into a 35-yard field goal from Yousef Obeid. The trouble continued when Jennings was intercepted by Joel Boamah , who returned the ball 60 yards for a touchdown. The defensive score gave Missouri State a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter. SMU finally answered with an 11-play, 78-yard drive. Kendrick Raphael finished it with a one-yard touchdown run , cutting the deficit to 10-7 early in the second quarter. Jennings Gives SMU the Lead Before Halftime Despite the slow start, SMU's passing attack was already producing significant yardage. Jennings entered the closing seconds of the first half with an opportunity to put the Mustangs ahead. He capitalized, finding Theo Melin Ohrstrom for a 19-yard touchdown with four seconds remaining . The score gave SMU its first lead at 14-10 heading into halftime. Jennings already had 291 passing yards at halftime , while Knight had accumulated 125 receiving yards. SMU then carried that momentum into the second half. SMU Extends Lead After Halftime After forcing Missouri State to punt, the Mustangs marched 80 yards in 10 plays on their first offensive possession of the third quarter. Jennings finished the drive himself with a one-yard rushing touchdown , his first rushing score of the season and 11th of his career. SMU's lead grew to 21-10. Missouri State refused to disappear. Early in the fourth quarter, quarterback Skyler Locklear connected with Isaiah Myers for a 15-yard touchdown. The Bears converted the ensuing two-point attempt, trimming SMU's advantage to 21-18 with approximately 12 minutes remaining. The Mustangs needed an answer, and Jennings delivered again. Yamir Knight Helps SMU Pull Away After Missouri State pulled within three, Jennings connected with Knight for a 28-yard touchdown , restoring SMU's double-digit advantage. Knight finished with a career-best 11 receptions for 164 yards , giving him his fourth career 100-yard receiving game. SMU's defense then produced another pivotal play. Linebacker Brandon Booker intercepted Henry Belin IV , recording the first interception of his career. On the very next offensive play, Jennings found Ohrstrom for a 23-yard touchdown , pushing SMU ahead 34-18. Missouri State added a late touchdown to make the final score 34-24, but the Mustangs had already done enough to secure their third victory of the season. Kevin Jennings Rewrites SMU Record Book Jennings' performance went far beyond the final score. His 464 passing yards were a career high and the fourth-highest single-game passing total in SMU history. He finished with an 84.6 percent completion rate , the second-highest single-game mark in program history among quarterbacks with at least 20 completions. His streak of 21 consecutive completions established another SMU record and ranked as the second-longest such streak in ACC history. The career records were even more significant. Jennings finished the night with 9,162 career passing yards , surpassing Ben Hicks' previous SMU record of 9,081. His 33 completions moved him to 722 for his career , passing Hicks' former record of 718. Jennings also accounted for four touchdowns against Missouri State, giving him 78 career touchdowns responsible for and breaking Tanner Mordecai's previous program record of 76. SMU Offense Produces 592 Total Yards Jennings had plenty of help from his playmakers. Along with Knight's 164 receiving yards, Jalen Cooper caught eight passes for a career-high 125 yards . Ohrstrom finished with three catches for 49 yards and two touchdowns. Raphael nearly gave SMU another 100-yard performance, rushing 23 times for 98 yards and a touchdown . He also caught four passes for 48 yards, finishing with 146 all-purpose yards. The Mustangs finished with 592 total yards , including 464 through the air and 128 on the ground. SMU also held a 29-14 advantage in first downs and converted eight of 12 third downs. Mustangs Defense Records Seven Sacks SMU's defense complemented the offensive production by creating consistent pressure. The Mustangs recorded season highs with 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks . Tavion Atkinson led the pass rush with two sacks, while Booker and Marques White each recorded 1.5. Missouri State converted only four of 16 third-down attempts and finished with 239 total yards. The Mustangs were not flawless. Two early turnovers, two missed field goals and 12 penalties for 106 yards prevented them from putting the game away earlier. Still, after falling behind 10-0, SMU outscored Missouri State 34-14 the rest of the way. SMU Turns Attention Back to ACC Play The victory allowed SMU to rebound from its 41-31 loss at Louisville and finish its final nonconference game with a 3-1 overall record. Now the Mustangs return to conference competition. SMU will remain at Gerald J. Ford Stadium to host Boston College on October 3 at 11 a.m. CT , marking the Mustangs' first ACC home game of the season. Jennings will enter that matchup after one of the most productive games of his SMU career, having rewritten multiple program records while leading the Mustangs out of an early 10-point hole.