Stanford holds off NC State 31-28 as Davis Warren throws 4 touchdown passes

As of 4:10 p.m. ET, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

Davis Warren threw for 303 yards and four touchdowns as Stanford beat North Carolina State 31-28 on Friday night at Stanford, California, according to Stanford Athletics.

Micah Ford rushed for 150 yards, Nico Brown caught two touchdown passes, and Caden High had nine catches for 103 yards and a score for the Cardinal (4-4, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), the school said. Stanford has won four of its five home games.

CJ Bailey threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns, and Will Wilson ran for two short scores for the Wolfpack (3-4, 1-3).

How it unfolded

Warren threw touchdown passes to Brown and Sedrick Irvin on Stanford's first two drives for a 14-0 lead. NC State tied it on a 58-yard touchdown pass from Bailey to Deandre Desinor and a 2-yard run by Wilson, before Warren hit High for a 26-yard score with 25 seconds left in the first half, Stanford Athletics said.

NC State had a touchdown wiped out by an offensive pass interference penalty on the opening drive of the third quarter. Stanford then drove 90 yards, and Warren found Brown for a 5-yard touchdown on fourth-and-4 to make it 28-14.

Wilson scored on the first play of the fourth quarter, and Stanford answered with a field goal. Bailey's second touchdown pass came with 1:23 to play, but the Cardinal recovered the onside kick to seal the win.

Stanford visits Louisville on Oct. 31.