RALEIGH – For 30 minutes Saturday afternoon, NC State appeared positioned to defend its home field against one of its oldest rivals. By the time the fourth quarter arrived, Wake Forest had turned a four-point halftime deficit into a 17-point advantage and taken complete control of the game.

Behind quarterback Gio Lopez and a defense that shut out the Wolfpack in the second half, Wake Forest scored 31 unanswered points to defeat NC State 38-14 at Carter-Finley Stadium in this week's Carolina Gridiron Old North State Showdown.

The Demon Deacons (5-1, 3-1 ACC) trailed 14-10 at halftime before scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions of the second half. Wake Forest outgained NC State 265-63 over the final two quarters, turning what had been a competitive rivalry matchup into a decisive road victory.

Lopez completed 26 of 33 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns while adding a one-yard scoring run. He finished the game with 13 consecutive completions, accounting for 184 passing yards during that stretch.

His primary targets were Jack Foley and Carlos Hernandez, who combined for 20 receptions, 273 yards and two touchdowns. Foley established a career high with 156 yards on eight catches, while Hernandez set a career high with 12 receptions for 117 yards.

It marked the first time Wake Forest had two receivers surpass 100 yards in the same game since A.T. Perry and Jaquarii Roberson accomplished the feat against North Carolina on November 6, 2021.

A Rivalry Game That Changed After Halftime

NC State (3-3, 1-2 ACC) recovered from a disastrous opening possession to control much of the first half.

The Wolfpack lost a fumble on their third offensive play when Wake Forest linebacker Vincent Firenze stripped quarterback CJ Bailey. Defensive back Braylon Johnson recovered the ball and returned it 28 yards to the NC State two-yard line.

Two plays later, Lopez connected with tight end Matthew Lusardi for a one-yard touchdown, giving the Demon Deacons a 7-0 lead just 1:57 into the game. It was Lusardi's first career reception and touchdown.

NC State responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive, tying the game on Bailey's 24-yard touchdown pass to Chance Robinson with 8:17 remaining in the first quarter.

The Wolfpack then produced their longest scoring possession of the afternoon, marching 96 yards in 13 plays after taking over at their own four-yard line. Will Wilson capped the drive with a two-yard jump pass to Hunter Provience, whose one-handed touchdown reception gave NC State a 14-7 advantage with 9:42 remaining in the second quarter.

Wake Forest threatened late in the half, moving 89 yards in 16 plays, but the Wolfpack defense held near the goal line. Connor Calvert converted a 23-yard field goal as time expired, sending NC State into halftime with a 14-10 lead.

The Wolfpack had limited Wake Forest to 122 total yards in the opening half, while Bailey had completed his first 16 passes.

Those advantages disappeared quickly after intermission.

Wake Forest opened the third quarter with an 11-play, 73-yard touchdown drive. Hernandez caught four passes for 54 yards during the possession, including a six-yard touchdown reception that put the Demon Deacons ahead 17-14 with 10:44 remaining in the period.

After forcing NC State's first three-and-out of the afternoon, Wake Forest needed only four plays to travel 64 yards. Foley accounted for 63 yards on the possession, finishing it with a 10-yard touchdown reception from Lopez to extend the lead to 24-14.

The Wolfpack subsequently advanced to the Wake Forest 32-yard line but failed to convert on fourth down. The Demon Deacons capitalized again, driving 68 yards before Lopez scored from one yard out on fourth-and-goal.

Wake Forest had scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter alone, transforming a 14-10 halftime deficit into a 31-14 advantage.

The Demon Deacons added another touchdown early in the fourth quarter when Deuce Lawrence scored on a 17-yard run, completing a seven-play, 66-yard possession and pushing the lead to 38-14 with 11:24 remaining.

NC State never answered.

Wake Forest's Defense Takes Over

While Lopez and his receivers provided the offensive production, Wake Forest's second-half defense was equally decisive.

NC State managed just 63 yards after halftime and finished the game with only 15 net rushing yards on 24 attempts. The Wolfpack averaged 0.6 yards per carry and surrendered three sacks for 37 yards in losses.

Wake Forest defensive lineman Langston Hardy recorded eight tackles, including two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Firenze also finished with eight tackles to accompany his first-quarter forced fumble.

The Demon Deacons held NC State to two conversions on nine third-down attempts in the second half after the Wolfpack had converted four of six before halftime.

Bailey finished 28-of-39 passing for 241 yards and a touchdown, but NC State's inability to establish a rushing attack left the offense increasingly dependent on the passing game.

The Wolfpack entered the matchup without three starting offensive linemen and leading running back Duke Scott because of injuries.

Keenan Jackson led NC State with five receptions for 61 yards, while Robinson caught three passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. Preston Douglas added five receptions for 45 yards.

Linebacker Popo Aguirre led all defenders with 12 tackles, including one for loss. Freshman Ziggy Moore contributed nine tackles, while fellow freshman Elijah Satchell recorded NC State's lone sack.

Bailey also reached a career milestone, increasing his passing total to 7,025 yards and moving past Devin Leary into sixth place on NC State's all-time list.

Road Success Continues for the Demon Deacons

Saturday's victory was Wake Forest's third road win over a Power Four opponent this season, following a 38-36 double-overtime victory at Purdue on September 12 and a 30-27 win at No. 16 Louisville on September 26.

The Demon Deacons have scored at least 30 points in all three victories, strengthening their position in the ACC race under second-year head coach Jake Dickert.

For NC State, the defeat marked its first home loss of the season and its second loss in three conference games. The Wolfpack still lead the all-time series 70-44-6, but Saturday's result belonged emphatically to the visitors.

Wake Forest will travel to California next Saturday for its first meeting with Cal, while NC State will return to action Friday, October 23, at Stanford.

LOUISVILLE, KY – Louisville had one more chance.

Then another.

And still, Wake Forest wouldn't go away.

The Demon Deacons went on the road Saturday and knocked off No. 16 Louisville, 30-27, surviving two potential game-tying field goal attempts in the final three minutes and blocking the last one with 15 seconds remaining to secure their biggest victory of the young season.

For a Wake Forest team coming off a 33-20 loss to No. 5 Miami, Saturday offered an immediate opportunity to prove it belonged in the conversation with the ACC's top teams.

The Demon Deacons took it.

Wake improved to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in ACC play, handing Louisville its second loss of the season.

Carlos Hernandez led the way offensively with a career afternoon, catching nine passes for 194 yards and a touchdown. He accounted for all but 31 of Gio Lopez's 225 passing yards, including a 77-yard touchdown in the second quarter that immediately answered a Louisville score.

That became the theme of the afternoon.

Louisville took a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter. Wake answered with a Ty Clark III touchdown.

The Cardinals went back ahead 14-10. Less than two minutes later, Lopez found Hernandez for 77 yards and another Wake lead.

After Somad Eaddy intercepted Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, Clark scored his second touchdown to stretch the advantage to 24-14. Louisville responded with a 61-yard touchdown just before halftime, but Wake still carried a 24-21 lead into the locker room.

The second half became a fight for every point.

Louisville tied the game twice in the third quarter. Both times Wake answered with a Connor Calvert field goal.

Calvert's third field goal, a 32-yarder with 6:20 remaining, gave Wake a 30-27 lead.

Six minutes against a ranked Louisville team felt like an eternity.

The Cardinals marched 50 yards on 10 plays and appeared poised to tie the game, but Carson Hilbert pushed a 42-yard attempt wide left with 2:29 remaining.

Wake had its chance to finish the job.

It couldn't.

The Demon Deacons managed seven yards on three plays and burned only 35 seconds before punting the ball right back to Louisville with 1:54 remaining.

Once again, the Cardinals had life. Once again, Wake's defense had to answer.

Louisville advanced to the Wake 40 before the Demon Deacons pushed the Cardinals into fourth-and-20. With 18 seconds remaining, Louisville sent Nick Keller onto the field to attempt a 57-yarder.

This time, Wake didn't wait to see whether the kick would sail through.

Gabe Kirschke blocked it.

Devin Cook recovered the football at the Louisville 46. Fifteen seconds later, Wake Forest was celebrating a ranked road victory.

It was a fitting ending for a defense that spent the afternoon making Louisville work. The Cardinals threw for 324 yards but managed just 75 rushing yards on 38 attempts. Wake recorded nine tackles for loss and four sacks, with Kirschke collecting two sacks before providing the biggest special-teams play of the afternoon.

Wake wasn't perfect. The Demon Deacons converted only 2-of-10 third downs, committed 10 penalties and couldn't put the game away when Louisville's first missed field goal gave them the opportunity.

They just wouldn't quit.

A week after falling short against No. 5 Miami, Wake Forest walked into Louisville and found itself in another fight with one of the ACC's ranked teams.

This time, when the game came down to one final play, the Demon Deacons made it.

WINSTON-SALEM – Wake Forest introduced the “Rushing Deacon” to the world Friday morning, a new football-specific take on its familiar mascot meant to celebrate the program’s history while giving Demon Deacon fans something new to rally around.

By Friday night, Wake Forest could have used some of that rush.

No. 5 Miami controlled much of the first half behind a nearly flawless performance from quarterback Darian Mensah, built a 24-7 halftime lead and held off a second-half Wake Forest push for a 33-20 victory before a sold-out crowd of 32,147 at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium.

The final margin, though, does not entirely capture the difference between the Wake Forest team that went to the locker room and the one that came back out.

“We didn’t give them enough to cheer about until midway through the third quarter,” Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert said. “I’m proud of our guys. They refused to die. They did what I think good teams do; they kept playing, they kept fighting, they kept believing.”

For a while, Miami gave Wake Forest precious little opportunity to do any of those things.

Mensah completed all 20 of his passes in the first half and extended his streak to 24 consecutive completions before finally throwing incomplete. He finished 30-of-34 for 220 yards and three touchdowns, completing 88.2 percent of his passes. Miami did not turn the ball over.

It was an exercise in efficiency more than explosiveness.

Miami struck first when Mensah found JoJo Moore for a nine-yard touchdown with 7:20 remaining in the opening quarter. Wake Forest answered, putting together an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Gio Lopez finding Keshawn Johnson for a 10-yard score.

For a moment, with 1:22 left in the first quarter, it was 7-7 and the packed stadium had exactly the kind of game it came to see.

Then Miami took control.

Mensah connected with Elija Lofton for a 21-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, and Mark Fletcher Jr. added a 17-yard scoring run less than five minutes later. Carter Weinberg’s 27-yard field goal on the final play of the half sent the Hurricanes to the locker room leading 24-7.

The numbers behind that halftime score were just as striking. Miami possessed the ball for 10:46 of the second quarter compared with only 4:14 for Wake Forest, and the Demon Deacons endured a stretch of four consecutive three-and-outs.

Miami stretched the lead to 31-7 when Mensah found Malachi Toney for a two-yard touchdown with 8:56 remaining in the third quarter.

At that point, the game appeared headed toward a rout.

Wake Forest refused to let it become one.

Deacons finally find a spark

Lopez and the Wake Forest offense began finding room against a Miami defense that had controlled the game.

A 10-play, 75-yard drive ended with Lopez finding redshirt freshman Jack Foley for a 23-yard touchdown with 4:06 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion failed, but the Deacons had life.

Then came the play that gave a sold-out Allegacy Stadium reason to believe.

Early in the fourth quarter, Lopez hit Foley for 49 yards, Wake Forest’s longest play of the night. Two plays later, he found Carlos Hernandez for a 17-yard touchdown.

Suddenly, a game Miami had led 31-7 was 31-20 with 14:56 still to play.

“What changed in the third quarter?” Dickert said afterward. “Because the defensive calls didn’t change, the offensive calls didn’t change. Our execution and our tackling in space and some other fundamental things we did better.”

The comeback never got closer.

Miami’s defense closed the door, and the Hurricanes added an unusual final two points when Wake Forest conceded a safety with 13:11 remaining, producing the 33-20 final.

Wake Forest actually finished with more passing yards than Miami, 312-220, and was not far behind in total offense, 378-334 in Miami’s favor. But the difference on the ground was considerable: the Hurricanes rushed for 158 yards while holding Wake Forest to just 22. Miami also possessed the football for 33:24.

The Deacons also hurt themselves with 13 penalties for 137 yards, compared with seven penalties for 75 yards for Miami. Several came at particularly damaging moments on special teams.

“Obviously penalties were a big deal, especially on special teams,” Dickert said. “We had some fields flipped, some momentum surged, and obviously those were taken away in those kinds of deals.”

Lopez produces despite little running game

With Wake Forest unable to establish much on the ground, much of the offensive burden fell on Lopez.

He responded by completing 29 of 46 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Through his first three games as a Demon Deacon, Lopez has now thrown for 887 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception while completing 62.9 percent of his passes.

His biggest target Friday was Foley.

The redshirt freshman entered the night without a performance remotely like this one and left with career highs of six receptions and 118 yards, including the 23-yard touchdown and 49-yard fourth-quarter reception.

Hernandez remained Lopez’s most frequent target, catching 10 passes for 69 yards and the fourth-quarter touchdown. Lopez completed passes to 11 different receivers.

Miami countered with Toney, who caught all 12 passes thrown his way for 114 yards and a touchdown. Fletcher supplied the balance on the ground with 85 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

A new Deacon, and a different kind of night in Winston-Salem

The result spoiled what was otherwise a notable night for Wake Forest football.

Hours before kickoff, the university unveiled its new Rushing Deacon, a football-themed Demon Deacon caricature designed for apparel, headwear and other football merchandise. It follows the golf-themed “Swinging Deacon” introduced earlier this year and is part of a broader effort to create sport-specific Wake Forest artwork.

The logo itself will not win football games, of course. But its debut fit the larger scene Friday night.

This was Wake Forest’s first home game against Miami since 2009, and the Deacons played it in front of a sellout crowd.

Dickert noticed.

“Our game day atmosphere was the best since I’ve been here,” he said. “I appreciate everyone sticking it out.”

That crowd watched Wake Forest fall behind by 24 points against the nation’s fifth-ranked team. It also watched the Deacons score twice in less than five minutes of game time and give themselves opportunities to make things uncomfortable in the fourth quarter.

There are no points in the standings for that.

Dickert wasn’t interested in pretending otherwise.

“We don’t celebrate losses around here,” he said. “We have to get our learns, and we have to be a better football team next week.”

For Wake Forest, that might be the lasting takeaway from Friday night.

The Rushing Deacon is new. The energy surrounding the program felt different. And for a stretch in the second half against one of the nation’s highest-ranked teams, Wake Forest showed what it wants the football attached to that new logo to look like.

But Miami also provided a reminder of how small the margin becomes against the country’s best teams.

The Deacons eventually found theirs.

They just found it too late.

WINSTON-SALEM – Gio Lopez waited nine months to get hit again.

Once he did, Wake Forest's new quarterback could get back to doing what he came to Winston-Salem to do.

The North Carolina transfer threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns as Wake Forest raced to a 28-3 halftime lead and opened its season with a 38-16 victory over Akron on Thursday night at Allegacy Financial Stadium.

Lopez completed 21 of 32 passes without an interception and helped the Demon Deacons pile up 559 yards of offense. Wake Forest averaged 8.2 yards per play and scored touchdowns through the air from 27, 72 and 78 yards. 

For Lopez, it was his first game action since suffering a broken fibula the last time he was tackled.

“I was like, ‘I haven't been tackled in like nine months,’” Lopez said. “You get that first hit, you're like, ‘All right, we're good.’”

Wake Forest didn't need long to settle in.

Lopez capped an eight-play, 82-yard opening possession with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Ke'Shawn Shanks. Connor Calvert added a 25-yard field goal later in the first quarter to make it 10-0.

Then the Demon Deacons started producing the explosive plays that broke the game open.

Lopez connected with Antonio Meeks for a 72-yard touchdown less than four minutes into the second quarter. After another Calvert field goal, Lopez found Carlos Hernandez for a 78-yard score, giving Wake Forest a 28-0 advantage with 4:57 remaining before halftime. Akron's only first-half points came on a 28-yard field goal. 

“I felt very in control,” Lopez said. “I trust Coach Ezell when he's telling me what the play is or whatever the check is. So it's full belief in Coach Ezell just to get us in the right situation, and I just go and execute the play that he called.”

Hernandez became Lopez's biggest target, catching five passes for 165 yards. Kam Shanks finished with five receptions for 55 yards, while Antonio Meeks had three catches for 93.

Lopez credited his receivers for turning throws into big gains, something Wake Forest couldn't fully simulate during practices designed to limit contact.

“They did a really good job with the ball in their hands,” Lopez said. “To see those guys make plays with the ball in their hand after the catch was super exciting for me just to be a fan and watch those guys play.”

His connection with Hernandez goes beyond football.

“That's my best friend,” Lopez said. “We're super close off the field and super close on the field.”

Wake Forest also found explosiveness on the ground. Running back Ty Clark rushed seven times for 105 yards, including a 57-yard run, while Deuce Lawrence added 52 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown. 

Yet coach Jake Dickert wasn't interested in allowing a comfortable season-opening victory to obscure Wake Forest's mistakes.

“Success can be an illusion,” Dickert said. “I thought we were sloppy in a lot of phases of this game.”

Wake Forest managed only three points in the third quarter and was outscored 13-7 in the fourth as Akron scored twice against the Demon Deacons' reserves. Dickert also wanted more physicality from the running game and was disappointed with how his defense finished.

“There's so much to clean up from this tape,” Dickert said. “We'll show them the good, we'll be excited about where we go from here, but we've got to be a better football team in nine days.”

Lopez offered a similar assessment.

“I think we did a really good job executing the playbook,” he said. “I think we've got to be better in the second half, just overall keeping the energy going.”

The degree of difficulty now increases.

Wake Forest travels to West Lafayette, Indiana, in nine days to face Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium.

“I think we're super excited to go to Purdue,” Lopez said, “go to their stadium and play in a stadium that isn't ours, but try to win a game.

CHARLOTTE – Jake Dickert didn’t waste time defining what Wake Forest football is supposed to be. He said it plainly, repeatedly, and with the conviction of a coach who knows exactly what he wants his program to look like.

Wake Forest is built in the dark.

It’s not a slogan. It’s not a marketing line. It’s the identity Dickert has hammered into the program since the day he arrived – humility, hunger, development, toughness, and a willingness to do the work when nobody’s watching.

Last year, that identity produced one of the quietest nine‑win seasons in ACC history. Wake Forest tied for the third‑best season in school history, won the Duke’s Mayo Bowl over an SEC opponent, and did it with a roster that was supposed to finish near the bottom of the league.

Dickert didn’t shy away from the challenge of sustaining it. “Good is the enemy of great,” he said. “Last year’s hunger, I can’t recreate that. This year’s team has to be humble enough to turn the lights out and get back in the dark.”

Wake Forest returns 60 players, adds more than 50 newcomers, and has one of the best staff retention rates in the country. That continuity is the backbone of Dickert’s confidence. “We can win in a lot of different ways,” he said. “We retained a tremendous depth of experience on the defensive side of the ball.”

The Deacons aren’t trying to be Clemson or Miami. Dickert made that clear. “If we think and act like Miami, we’re not going to be successful,” he said. “There’s a perfect lane of Wake Forest football.” That lane is development, connection, and consistency, and the roster reflects it.

Stability at quarterback

Wake Forest hasn’t always had stability under center, but Dickert believes he has it now in Gio Lopez, the South Alabama transfer who briefly landed at UNC before choosing Wake.

Lopez didn’t need to learn the offense from scratch – Wake’s OC Rob Ezell coached him at South Alabama. “The adjustment was pretty smooth,” Lopez said. “I already knew it.” That familiarity allowed Lopez to lead from day one. “You can’t ask for respect if you’re not doing the right things,” he said. “I had to show up early, be the first guy in, last guy out.” Lopez brings experience, mobility, and a calm presence,  and he’ll play behind a defense that expects to carry its weight.

A defense with continuity

Wake Forest’s defensive front returns intact, and Langston Hardy is the headliner. He doubled his sack total last season and became one of the ACC’s most disruptive edge players.

Hardy missed the spring with an injury, but used the time to become a better leader. “I was able to see things from a different lens,” he said. “How guys like to be coached, how they like to be led.”

The connection across the front four is real. “I can look to my right and see Dallas or Zach and know exactly what stunt we’re running,” Hardy said. “Connection is our edge.”

Then there’s Davaughn Patterson, the versatile chess piece who played through a sports hernia in both groins last season. “My body was hurting, but mentally I wanted to be there for my teammates,” Patterson said. He can line up at defensive end, blitz from the slot, or drop into coverage, and Dickert loves having that flexibility. “He’s one of the fiercest competitors you could ever imagine,” Dickert said.

Schedule Breakdown

Wake Forest’s 2026 schedule is a mix of manageable openers, tricky travel, and a November stretch that will determine whether the Deacons can match last year’s success.

Sep. 3 vs. Akron 

Sep. 12 at Purdue  

Sep. 18 vs. Miami

Akron is a tune‑up, but Purdue on the road is a legitimate early test. Miami on a Friday night in Winston‑Salem will be one of the biggest home games of the season.

If Wake starts 2-1, they’ll be positioned well.

Sep. 26 at Louisville  

Oct. 3 vs. Stanford  

Oct. 10 at NC State  

Oct. 17 at Cal  

This is the stretch that will define Wake Forest’s season. Louisville on the road is tough. Stanford at home is winnable. Then comes a brutal two‑week run: at NC State, then a cross‑country trip to Berkeley to play Cal. If Wake goes 2-2 here, they’re still in the hunt.

Oct. 31 vs. Virginia  

Nov. 7 vs. Merrimack  

Virginia isn’t the pushover it used to be. The Cavaliers reached the ACC title game last season and return enough talent to make this a dangerous matchup. Wake Forest will need to be sharp here, especially coming off a long travel stretch.

Then the difficulty spikes:

Nov. 14 at SMU  

Nov. 21 at Georgia Tech  

Nov. 28 vs. Duke  

SMU and Georgia Tech on the road will test Wake’s depth and toughness. Duke at home is a rivalry game that could determine bowl positioning, or more.

Photos courtesy of ACC Digital Services

CHARLOTTE – The scoreboard flashed three points for Mississippi State, and Koredell Bartley erased them in a hundred-yard flash less than twenty seconds later.

That opening sequence set the pattern for a Friday night at Bank of America Stadium where Wake Forest found answers for everything Mississippi State attempted, pulling away for a 43-29 victory in the Duke's Mayo Bowl that secured nine wins in Jake Dickert's debut season as head coach.

Robby Ashford accounted for five touchdowns, including three through the air and two on the ground, completing 20 of 33 passes for 303 yards while rushing 14 times for 50 yards. The redshirt senior quarterback from Hoover, Alabama earned MVP honors for a performance that answered every Mississippi State scoring threat with an offensive counter.

"I just think back to a year ago today when we actually had our first portal visits," Dickert said. "We brought in over 40 new players. The guys that were here accepted everything that we wanted to do. I think we laid a tremendous foundation. Nine wins is really special and I'm proud of these guys."

The Bulldogs opened the game with purpose, as Kamario Taylor connected with Brenen Thompson for 51 yards on the first play from scrimmage. But the Wake Forest defense tightened inside the red zone, forcing Kyle Ferrie to attempt a 33-yard field goal that gave Mississippi State an early 3-0 advantage.

Bartley, a freshman from Dudley High School in Greensboro, fielded the ensuing kickoff at his own goal line and found a seam up the right side. The return covered all hundred yards and gave Wake Forest the lead 22 seconds after losing it. Sawyer Racanelli threw a two-point conversion pass to Eni Falayi, putting the Demon Deacons ahead 8-3 just over two minutes into the contest.

Mississippi State responded with Ferrie's second field goal, a 50-yarder that cut the deficit to 8-6. Wake Forest needed its offense to establish rhythm after the special teams spark, and Ashford delivered on a nine-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 3:23. He found Kamrean Johnson in the corner of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown with 3:49 remaining in the first quarter. Connor Calvert's extra point extended the lead to 15-6.

The Demon Deacons held Mississippi State on downs at the Wake Forest 10-yard line early in the second quarter. Frank Cusano and Nuer Gatkuoth combined to stop Fluff Bothwell for a two-yard loss on fourth-and-one, ending a nine-play drive that had covered 53 yards from the Bulldogs' 37.

Ferrie added his third field goal from 23 yards following a 10-play, 56-yard possession that consumed 5:11. Nick Andersen recorded a sack on the drive, helping force the field goal attempt that made it 15-9 with 6:15 left in the half.

Wake Forest opened the second half with three plays that covered 75 yards in 54 seconds. Ashford dropped back on third-and-10 and launched a pass down the middle that Jack Foley caught at the Mississippi State 19 and carried into the end zone. The 64-yard touchdown marked Foley's first career reception. Ashford kept the ball on the two-point conversion, extending the advantage to 23-9.

Dallas Afalava sacked Taylor on Mississippi State's next possession, contributing to a drive that ended with Ferrie's fourth field goal of the game from 36 yards. The Bulldogs trailed 23-12 with 9:24 remaining in the third quarter.

Wake Forest responded with its most methodical drive of the night, marching 75 yards over 11 plays and 5:05. Ty Clark gained 12 yards on a rush to the Mississippi State 49, and Ashford converted a third-and-one with a 10-yard rush to the 24. After a pass interference penalty moved the ball to the two-yard line, Ashford powered into the end zone. Calvert's extra point made it 30-12 with 4:19 left in the third.

Mississippi State needed just 4:19 to answer, driving 65 yards in eight plays. Luke Kromenhoek connected with Anthony Evans III for 39 yards to the four-yard line, and Taylor scored from one yard out on the final play of the third quarter. Taylor then threw a two-point conversion pass to Seydou Traore, cutting Wake Forest's lead to 30-20.

The Bulldogs forced a Wake Forest punt and needed just 1:09 to cover 84 yards in four plays. Taylor found Sanfrisco Magee for 42 yards and a touchdown, with Ferrie's extra point pulling Mississippi State within 30-27 with 10:17 remaining.

Wake Forest absorbed the punch and drove 63 yards in 10 plays, taking 6:03 off the clock. Ashford completed passes to Clark for nine yards and to Racanelli for 25 yards, reaching the one-yard line. He scored on a quarterback sneak with 4:07 left in regulation.

Nevaeh Sanders blocked Calvert's extra point attempt, and Kelley Jones fielded the ball at the 14-yard line, racing 86 yards for a defensive two-point conversion that pulled Mississippi State within 36-29.

The Demon Deacons needed one first down to seal the victory but instead delivered a knockout. On third-and-seven from the Wake Forest 38, Ashford flipped a pass to Clark in the flat. The sophomore from Tampa found space along the left sideline and covered 62 yards for the touchdown with 2:15 remaining. Calvert's extra point restored the 14-point margin at 43-29.

Mississippi State attempted one final drive but turned the ball over on downs at its own 32 with 1:02 left. Wake Forest took two kneel-downs to end the contest.

Clark finished with 91 rushing yards on 17 carries and added three receptions for 73 yards, including the game-sealing touchdown reception. Carlos Hernandez caught six passes for 73 yards, and Sterling Berkhalter had five receptions for 34 yards.

For Mississippi State, Taylor completed 13 of 22 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown but was sacked three times. Kromenhoek completed three of five passes for 53 yards but was sacked twice. Taylor rushed 18 times for 63 yards and a touchdown. Thompson caught four passes for 106 yards, and Evans hauled in four receptions for 80 yards.

Andersen led Wake Forest with 12 tackles, including six solo stops and a sack. The Demon Deacons recorded five sacks and nine tackles for loss as a team. Jalen Smith led Mississippi State with 12 tackles.

Wake Forest's nine victories equal the program's fourth-highest win total in 118 years of football, joining the 2021 (11-3), 2006 (11-3) and 2007 (9-4) teams. The Demon Deacons have won three consecutive bowl games, matching program streaks from 1992-2002 and 2016-18.

Dickert's nine wins represent the most by a first-year head coach in Wake Forest history, surpassing the seven victories Bill Dooley recorded in 1987. The Demon Deacons improved to 5-1 against SEC opponents in the College Football Playoff era.

Bartley's kickoff return marked Wake Forest's second such touchdown this season, the first time the program has recorded two in the same year since 1952. The return tied the longest play in program history, matching Demond Claiborne's kickoff return at Miami in 2024 and Alphonso Smith's 100-yard interception return against Maryland in 2007.

North Carolina will be well represented in the college football postseason. Four of the state’s seven FBS programs, NC State, Duke, Wake Forest, and East Carolina, secured bowl invitations Sunday as the 2025-26 lineup was announced. After several teams declined, App State accepted a bowl invitation late Sunday as well. North Carolina and Charlotte were left out of the field, leaving five teams to carry the state’s banner into December and January.

NC State – Gasparilla Bowl

NC State (7-5) heads to Tampa to face Memphis (8-4) in the Gasparilla Bowl on Dec. 19. The Wolfpack closed the season with a rivalry win over UNC and will lean on their defense to slow a Tigers offense averaging more than 30 points per game. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Duke – Sun Bowl

Fresh off its first outright ACC title since 1962, Duke (8-5) meets Arizona State (8-4) in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31. The Blue Devils’ defense will be tested by ASU’s dual-threat quarterback, while coach Manny Diaz looks to cap his debut season with a statement win. Game time is 2 p.m. ET on CBS.

Wake Forest – Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Wake Forest (8-4) returns to Charlotte for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Mississippi State (5-7) on Jan. 2. First-year coach Jake Dickert guided the Deacs to a steady finish, and his offense will try to exploit a Bulldogs team that slipped into the postseason via APR. Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

East Carolina – Military Bowl

East Carolina (8-4) rides late-season momentum into the Military Bowl against Pitt (8-4) on Dec. 27. Quarterback Katin Houser leads a Pirates offense averaging nearly 500 yards per game, while Pitt counters with a physical defense that thrives on pressure. The game begins at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN.

App State – Birmingham Bowl

App State (5-7) steps into the Birmingham Bowl against Georgia Southern (7-5) on Dec. 29. The Mountaineers accepted a late invitation after several teams declined, setting up a Sun Belt rivalry rematch at Protective Stadium. Kickoff is 2 p.m. ET on ESPN.

DURHAM – Duke captured its second consecutive North Carolina “state championship” with a 49-32 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium, completing a season sweep of the Old North State's ACC programs.

The Blue Devils (7-5, 6-2 ACC) secured back-to-back state titles for the first time since 1961-62, defeating NC State, North Carolina and Wake Forest in successive seasons. The victory also gave Duke six ACC wins for the first time since 2013 and marked just the fourth time in program history the Blue Devils have reached that conference win total.

Quarterback Darian Mensah made history in the third quarter, throwing his 27th touchdown pass of the season to set a new Duke single-season record. The sophomore connected with Sahmir Hagans on a 30-yard scoring strike to extend the lead to 28-17 with 9:45 remaining in the third period.

Running back Nate Sheppard had a breakout performance, rushing for 75 yards and two touchdowns while establishing new Duke freshman records. His 13-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter was his ninth rushing touchdown of the season, breaking the previous freshman mark of eight. The performance also pushed Sheppard to 865 rushing yards for the year, another freshman program record.

Anderson Castle complemented Sheppard's ground game with two short touchdown runs, giving him 11 rushing scores on the season. That total ties for eighth-most in a single season in Duke program history. Castle finished with 21 yards on 12 carries.

Wake Forest (8-4, 4-4 ACC) quarterback Robby Ashford completed 27 of 43 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns, adding a rushing score as well. However, the Demon Deacons were plagued by turnovers, losing three fumbles while Ashford threw one interception.

Duke established control early, taking a 7-0 lead on its opening drive when Sheppard scored from five yards out. The 75-yard march marked the fourth time in five games the Blue Devils had scored on their first possession.

The Demon Deacons responded with a 42-yard Connor Calvert field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3, but Mensah answered on the final play of the first quarter with a four-yard touchdown run for a 14-3 Duke advantage. The score was Mensah's first rushing touchdown as a Blue Devil and second of his career.

Wake Forest's Sawyer Racanelli caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Ashford early in the second quarter to make it 14-10, but Duke responded after stopping the Demon Deacons on fourth down at their own 36-yard line. Castle's one-yard touchdown plunge with 1:38 left in the half extended the lead to 21-10.

Ashford connected with Karate Brenson on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds remaining in the half to bring Wake Forest within 21-17 at the break.

The third quarter proved decisive for Duke. After both teams punted on their opening possessions, Mensah found Hagans for the record-breaking touchdown pass. Ashford answered with a 10-yard rushing touchdown and successful two-point conversion on the final play of the quarter to cut the deficit to 35-25.

Hagans provided the game's most explosive play moments later, returning the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the Wake Forest 13-yard line. Sheppard capped the short drive with his record-setting ninth touchdown run, pushing the lead to 42-25 with 13:57 remaining.

Wake Forest's Ty Clark scored on a one-yard run to make it 42-32 with 11:13 left, but Duke's defense took control down the stretch. The Blue Devils forced fumbles on consecutive Wake Forest possessions, with linebacker Luke Mergott recovering two of them.

Mensah sealed the victory with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Hasley with 23 seconds remaining. The sophomore finished 24 of 35 for 268 yards and two touchdowns through the air while adding the rushing score.

Cooper Barkate led Duke's receiving corps with eight catches for 83 yards, while Sheppard added five receptions for 60 yards to complement his rushing performance.

For Wake Forest, Racanelli hauled in seven catches for 123 yards and a touchdown, while Carlos Hernandez added six receptions for 93 yards. Running back Demond Claiborne rushed for 58 yards on 13 carries.

The victory improved Duke's four-year ACC win total to 20, the second-most in program history behind only the 21 conference victories from 1960-63. The senior class tied the program record for most wins in a four-year span with 33.

Both teams will learn their bowl destinations on Dec. 7.

WINSTON-SALEM – Wake Forest used a balanced offensive attack and a stifling defensive effort to defeat North Carolina 28-12 on Saturday night at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, improving to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in conference play.

The Demon Deacons rushed for 223 yards on 39 carries while holding the Tar Heels to just 56 yards on the ground. Wake Forest quarterback Robby Ashford contributed both through the air and on the ground, throwing for 191 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 52 yards and another score.

Carlos Hernandez proved to be the game's most dynamic player, accounting for 181 all-purpose yards. He rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown on a single carry, caught six passes for 100 yards and another score, and added 30 yards on kick and punt returns. His 70-yard touchdown reception from Ashford in the third quarter extended Wake Forest's lead to 21-9 and effectively put the game out of reach.

Demond Claiborne anchored the Wake Forest ground game with 98 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. He scored from 12 yards out late in the second quarter to give the Demon Deacons a 14-3 halftime advantage.

North Carolina relied almost exclusively on kicker Rece Verhoff for its scoring. The Tar Heels made four field goals but never reached the end zone, settling for kicks of 40, 57, 42, and 47 yards. Verhoff also had two attempts blocked, including a 39-yarder in the second quarter and a 45-yarder at the end of the third quarter.

The Tar Heels managed just 257 total yards compared to Wake Forest's 414. North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez completed 21 of 36 passes for 201 yards but was sacked twice and struggled to sustain drives in the red zone. The Tar Heels converted just one of three red zone opportunities into points, settling for Verhoff's 40-yard field goal on their first scoring drive.

Wake Forest opened the scoring on its first possession, taking just 1:49 to march 75 yards in five plays. The drive culminated in Hernandez's 9-yard rushing touchdown, though the score came in unusual fashion. Ashford fumbled after a 9-yard rush, but Hernandez recovered the loose ball and raced 51 yards to the end zone with 13:11 remaining in the first quarter.

The Tar Heels (4-6, 2-4) showed brief signs of life in the first half. After Gavin Gibson forced and recovered a Claiborne fumble at the Wake Forest 31-yard line early in the second quarter, North Carolina drove to the 21-yard line before Verhoff's 39-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Nick Andersen.

Wake Forest capitalized on the momentum shift, driving 79 yards in 13 plays over 5:40 to extend its lead to 14-3. The drive featured several key conversions, including a fourth-and-one that Ashford converted with a quarterback sneak after an official review confirmed the first down.

North Carolina managed a 57-yard field goal from Verhoff as time expired in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 14-6 at halftime. The kick followed a drive aided by a 15-yard personal foul penalty against Wake Forest defensive back Aiden Hall.

The third quarter proved decisive. After the Tar Heels kicked a 42-yard field goal to make it 14-9, Wake Forest responded immediately. Ashford hit Hernandez in stride on a crossing route, and the versatile playmaker outran the North Carolina defense for a 70-yard touchdown just 52 seconds later.

North Carolina's offense struggled with third-down efficiency, converting just four of 14 attempts. The Tar Heels also lost the time of possession battle 29:58 to 30:02, despite appearing to control tempo for stretches of the third quarter when they held the ball for 10:20.

Wake Forest's defense recorded six tackles for loss and two sacks while breaking up six passes. Aiden Hall led all tacklers with nine stops. The Demon Deacons held North Carolina to an average of just 4.2 yards per play.

Ashford sealed the victory with a 2-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-two with 22 seconds remaining. The 10-play, 55-yard drive consumed the final 4:59 of game time and featured several crucial third-down conversions.

Jake Johnson led North Carolina receivers with five catches for 54 yards, while Demon June rushed for 32 yards on nine carries. Khmori House paced the Tar Heels defense with nine tackles, including a sack.

The loss dropped North Carolina to 4-6 overall, putting bowl eligibility in jeopardy with just two regular-season games remaining. Wake Forest has now won three of its last four games.

Top Performers:

• Carlos Hernandez, WF: 181 all-purpose yards, 2 TDs (1 rushing, 1 receiving)
• Demond Claiborne, WF: 98 rushing yards, 1 TD on 23 carries
• Robby Ashford, WF: 191 passing yards, 1 TD; 52 rushing yards, 1 TD
• Rece Verhoff, UNC: 4-of-6 on field goals, including 57-yarder
• Aiden Hall, WF: 9 tackles, 1 TFL

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Wake Forest earned its highest-ranked road victory in more than four decades Saturday, relying on defense and special teams to defeat No. 12 Virginia 16-9 at Scott Stadium.

Junior Carlos Hernandez broke open a defensive battle late in the second quarter with an 88-yard punt return touchdown, the second-longest in program history and the only touchdown of the night. Redshirt freshman kicker Connor Calvert added field goals from 39, 50, and 49 yards as Wake Forest improved to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the ACC, clinching bowl eligibility in head coach Jake Dickert’s first season.

Early defensive stands and a special teams spark

Virginia struck first after blocking a Wake Forest punt on the opening series and converting a short field into a 34-yard field goal by Will Bettridge. The Cavaliers extended their lead to 6-0 midway through the second quarter following a 91-yard drive that stalled at the Wake Forest 4-yard line.

Wake Forest’s offense moved inside the Virginia 10 on its next possession but turned the ball over on downs at the 5 after four straight running plays. The Deacon defense held, and Hernandez’s return flipped the game moments later. Fielding a punt near his own 12, Hernandez weaved through traffic down the left sideline for Wake’s first punt return touchdown since 2023, giving the visitors a 7-6 lead with 1:33 remaining in the half.

Less than a minute later, Wake Forest’s defense forced a fumble when defensive lineman Dallas Afalava sacked Virginia quarterback Daniel Kaelin and Langston Hardy recovered at the Cavalier 31. Calvert converted the takeaway into a 39-yard field goal to send the Deacs into halftime ahead 10-6.

Defense preserves the lead

Virginia opened the third quarter with its third field goal of the game, trimming the deficit to 10-9. The Cavaliers had success moving the ball, finishing with 327 total yards to Wake’s 203, but turnovers and red-zone stops proved decisive.

On Virginia’s next series, defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth stripped Kaelin, and linebacker Dylan Hazen recovered at midfield. Calvert’s 50-yard field goal extended the lead to 13-9. Wake’s offense managed only 139 rushing yards and 64 through the air, but its defense forced three fumbles, recovered all of them, and recorded two sacks.

The Deacs used their longest drive of the night, a 16-play, 48-yard march that consumed more than nine minutes, to add Calvert’s final 49-yard kick with 3:53 left in the fourth quarter.

Virginia’s last two possessions ended with turnovers on downs, the final one coming at the Wake Forest 5-yard line in the closing seconds.

Numbers tell the story

Wake Forest converted five of 17 third downs but was 4-for-6 after halftime, keeping the ball for nearly 11 minutes in the fourth quarter. Hazen led the defense with seven tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and 1.5 tackles for loss. Afalava and Gatkuoth each added sacks and forced fumbles.

Virginia outgained Wake Forest 327-203, led by running back J’Mari Taylor’s 98 rushing yards and 30 receiving yards. Kaelin completed 18 of 28 passes for 145 yards before finishing with two lost fumbles. Trell Harris caught six passes for 60 yards.

For Wake Forest, running back Demond Claiborne carried 25 times for 75 yards and added two receptions. Quarterback Robby Ashford completed 7 of 16 passes for 46 yards and rushed for 57 more.

The win marked Wake Forest’s sixth over Virginia in the last seven meetings and its third straight victory in Charlottesville. It also marked the first time since 1964 that the Deacs have beaten both Virginia and Virginia Tech on the road in the same season.

Top performers:

• Carlos Hernandez: 3 punt returns, 124 yards, 1 TD
• Connor Calvert: 3-for-3 FGs (long of 50)
• Dylan Hazen: 7 tackles, 2 FR, 1 FF
• Demond Claiborne: 25 rushes, 75 yards
• J’Mari Taylor (UVA): 19 carries, 98 yards; 7 catches, 30 yards

WINSTON-SALEM – Connor Calvert's 50-yard field goal as time expired lifted Wake Forest to a 13-12 victory over SMU on Saturday at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, capping a defensive struggle that featured nine turnovers and persistent offensive frustration for both teams.

The Demon Deacons (5-2, 2-2) squandered two red zone opportunities in the second half but found redemption when their defense forced a punt with 12 seconds remaining. Wake Forest took over at its own 42-yard line and used three quick plays to set up Calvert's game-winner, which came after he had missed a 54-yarder at the end of the first half.

SMU (5-3, 3-1) took its only lead of the game late in the third quarter on a 6-yard touchdown run by Shaadie Clayton-Johnson, but a failed extra point left the Mustangs ahead just 12-10. That two-point margin proved critical when Wake Forest's final drive set up the winning kick.

The game featured relentless defensive pressure and sloppy ball security. Wake Forest fumbled six times, losing three, while SMU coughed it up twice and lost both. The teams combined for three interceptions, with SMU's defense recording two picks and returning them for 27 yards.

Wake Forest's offense managed just 301 total yards but converted on key third downs, finishing 6-of-18. The Demon Deacons held a significant advantage in possession time, controlling the ball for 32:22 compared to SMU's 27:38. That time advantage proved crucial in a low-scoring affair where field position and ball control determined the outcome.

Demond Claiborne carried Wake Forest's rushing attack with 23 carries for 73 yards, absorbing contact and moving the chains on critical downs. The senior running back also fumbled twice but lost only one, continuing to handle the bulk of the workload despite the turnover issues. Ty Clark added 12 yards on four carries, providing a change-of-pace option.

Wake Forest used two quarterbacks in a rotating system that produced mixed results. Deshawn Purdie completed 14 of 26 passes for 183 yards but threw two interceptions. Robby Ashford appeared in short-yardage and scoring situations, going 4-of-10 for 33 yards with one touchdown. The Demon Deacons also attempted one team pass that fell incomplete.

The receiving corps spread the production around. Chris Barnes hauled in five catches for 66 yards, leading all receivers in the game. Sam Berkhalter matched Barnes with five receptions, totaling 58 yards. Eni Falayi caught the game's only touchdown pass from Ashford, a 12-yard connection in the second quarter that put Wake Forest ahead 10-3.

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings completed 21 of 39 passes for 171 yards and one interception while being sacked once. The Mustangs struggled to establish any rhythm offensively, converting just 4 of 17 third-down attempts. SMU's longest play from scrimmage was a 49-yard completion to RJ Maryland, but the Mustangs failed to turn that big gain into points.

The SMU rushing attack proved equally ineffective. Chris Johnson Jr. led the team with 29 yards on eight carries, while Tyler Harden gained 25 yards on 13 attempts. Clayton-Johnson provided the lone bright spot with his touchdown run, finishing with 12 yards on three carries. The Mustangs averaged just 2.7 yards per carry as a team.

Wake Forest seized the early momentum when Calvert connected on a 25-yard field goal with 4:59 remaining in the first quarter. That drive covered 12 plays and 12 yards after SMU punter Wade McSparron pinned the Demon Deacons deep in their own territory.

SMU responded with its best drive of the game early in the second quarter. The Mustangs marched 52 yards on 12 plays, with Sam Keltner tying the game at 3-3 on a 36-yard field goal. The drive consumed 4:51 and featured a balanced attack that moved SMU from its own 29-yard line into scoring range.

Wake Forest answered immediately when SMU fumbled after the ensuing kickoff. The Mustangs lost possession at their own 14-yard line, and two plays later Ashford found Falayi in the end zone. Calvert's extra point gave Wake Forest a 10-3 advantage with 10:09 left in the second quarter.

SMU cut the deficit to 10-6 before halftime when Keltner converted from 35 yards. The drive covered 69 yards on eight plays, keeping the Mustangs within striking distance. Wake Forest had a chance to extend its lead before the break, but Calvert's 54-yard attempt fell short as the clock expired.

The third quarter belonged to SMU's defense, which forced a Wake Forest turnover and set up the Mustangs' go-ahead score. Starting at Wake Forest's 41-yard line after a turnover on downs, SMU drove 41 yards on six plays. Clayton-Johnson punched it in from 6 yards out, but Keltner's extra point attempt failed, leaving SMU ahead 12-10 with 2:58 remaining in the third quarter.

Wake Forest's defense stiffened in the fourth quarter despite two costly fumbles that gave SMU favorable field position. The Demon Deacons forced a punt with 1:52 remaining but immediately fumbled the ball back to SMU at their own 6-yard line. Wake Forest's defense responded again, forcing another punt with 12 seconds left.

The special teams battle featured solid punting from both teams. McSparron averaged 38.9 yards on nine punts for SMU, including two kicks of 50-plus yards. Wake Forest's C. Joseph averaged 39.9 yards on eight punts and placed five inside the 20-yard line, providing crucial field position advantages throughout the game.

Defensively, SMU's Isaiah Nwokobia led all players with 12 tackles while also recording an interception. Terry Webb registered eight tackles with two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss, providing consistent pressure on Wake Forest's quarterbacks. Marcellus Barnes Jr. added eight tackles and recovered a fumble.

Wake Forest's defensive effort was led by Nick Andersen, who finished with eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Davaughn Patterson recorded seven tackles and forced a fumble while breaking up three passes. The Demon Deacons' defense recorded eight tackles for loss as a team, disrupting SMU's offensive rhythm throughout the afternoon.

The final drive epitomized Wake Forest's ability to respond under pressure after spending much of the game struggling to protect the football. Three plays covered 25 yards and set up Calvert's redemptive kick, which split the uprights as the clock hit zeroes.

Top Performers:

Wake Forest:

• Connor Calvert: 2-of-3 field goals, including game-winner from 50 yards
• Chris Barnes: 5 receptions, 66 yards
• Demond Claiborne: 23 rushes, 73 yards
• Nick Andersen: 8 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss

SMU:

• Isaiah Nwokobia: 12 tackles, 1 interception
• Terry Webb: 8 tackles, 2 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss
• Kevin Jennings: 21-of-39 passing, 171 yards