Stanford names Davis Warren, Darrius Davis and Bo Tate as captains for trip to Notre Dame

Stanford football has selected three captains for its game week trip to Notre Dame, an assignment the program framed as a chance to set the tone on the road. The Cardinal will face the Fighting Irish in South Bend against a No. 3-ranked opponent, and Stanford’s captains for the matchup are quarterback Davis Warren, safety Darrius Davis, and linebacker Bo Tate.

The naming of a quarterback as one of three captains is a familiar report in college football, because the position often sits closest to play-calling and in-game adjustment. As the team’s quarterback, Warren is expected to be a primary communicator during the week’s key moments, including offensive cadence, protection calls, and turning halftime adjustments into early second-half execution.

On the defensive side, Stanford paired its captaincy with two defenders who can affect the game in different ways. Darrius Davis, a safety, lines up at the back end of the defense and typically has visibility on formation shifts and route concepts, a role that can translate into coverage disguises and answers to the kind of quarterback reads that teams try to exploit. Bo Tate, a linebacker, is often positioned to influence the middle of the field, where run fits and pass-rush discipline can determine how consistently a defense stays on script.

Stanford’s selection of captains across both sides of the ball underscores the program’s focus for the environment at Notre Dame. Playing a top-3 team adds pressure in every phase, from field position battles to third-down conversion defense and the discipline required when momentum swings. Captains are usually tasked with bridging those moments, keeping the sideline organized when the matchup tightens and when big plays force quick responses.

For Notre Dame, the challenge on defense and special teams will be matched against Stanford’s leadership, with Warren’s offensive control tested by a high-profile opponent and Davis and Tate asked to coordinate their responses to the Irish’s run-pass mix and tempo. For Stanford, the most practical questions ahead of kickoff are whether Warren can manage tempo and protections without unnecessary disruption, whether Davis can support the secondary’s leverage and spacing, and whether Tate can help maintain integrity inside the box and on early-down stops.

Stanford has announced its captain trio ahead of the matchup, and the focus now shifts to how those roles translate during live action. The captains’ impact will likely be visible in the team’s ability to start fast, limit defensive breakdowns, and respond cleanly after negative plays. With the Cardinals back on the road for a high-stakes game against a top-3 opponent, this captain selection functions as both a recognition of leadership and a roadmap for the areas Stanford will need to control to stay competitive.