Nine wins.
A bowl victory over an SEC opponent.
The best debut season by a head coach in Wake Forest football history.
Now comes the hard part.
Was 2025 simply a momentary program lift that often follows a coaching change, or did Jake Dickert lay the foundation for a sustained run of success with the Demon Deacons?
The answer probably won’t depend on the defense. That side of the ball looks pretty solid. It will depend in large part on whether the Deacons can replace lost playmakers, get transfer quarterback Gio Lopez back to his 2024 form and navigate one of the ACC’s tougher schedules.
Here is our 2026 Wake Forest football preview:
📝 Published: July 11, 2026
🔄 Last Updated: July 11, 2026
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App State | Charlotte | Duke | East Carolina
NC State | UNC | Wake Forest
Wake Forest At A Glance
2025 Record: 9-4 overall
2025 Conference Record: 4-4 ACC
2026 Season Opener: vs. Akron on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026
Head Coach: Jake Dickert
Record at School: 9-4 (1 year)
Career Record: 32-24 (5 years)
Offensive Coordinator: Rob Ezell (2nd year), Dan Enos, co-offensive coordinator (2nd year)
Defensive Coordinator: Scottie Hamilton (2nd year)
2026 NC Football News Prediction: 6-6
Five Things To Know
1. Jake Dickert was a great hire
Bill Belichick-to-UNC got most of the oxygen during the 2024 coaching carousel cycle in our state. But Wake Forest landed the better straight-up “ball coach” suited to the role of coaching a program like the Deacs. Dickert exceeded all expectations in his debut, earning his Duke’s Mayo bath after the bowl win over Mississippi State.
2. Dickert landed one of the best recruiting classes in school history
The Demon Deacons signed 30 high school prospects, and their class peaked at No. 42 nationally in the 247Sports rankings. High school recruiting still matters, and Dickert learned the local landscape quickly after moving across the country from Washington State.
3. Wake Forest got no favors from the ACC schedule-makers.
The Deacs’ 2026 slate is significantly more difficult than 2025. Wake gets projected ACC favorite Miami at home on a Friday night, and will face tough road tests at Louisville, NC State, California, SMU and Georgia Tech. Duke and Virginia, which met in Charlotte in the ACC title game, both visit Wake Forest late in the season.
4. Transfer quarterback Gio Lopez reunites with his offensive coordinator
Lopez had a breakout season at South Alabama in 2024, parlaying that into a Power 4 chance at UNC last fall. But Lopez never looked fully comfortable with the Heels, and he transferred to Wake Forest where he’ll again be under the tutelage of his OC at South Alabama, Rob Ezell. If Ezell can unlock Lopez the way he did in 2024, that will be huge for the Deacons’ fortunes.
5. Wake Forest still gets little respect at the national level
This is nothing new. The Deacons got very little preseason love during the Dave Clawson era even when they were winning seven-plus games regularly and made seven straight bowl appearances.
Athlon, Sporting News, Lindy’s and Phil Steele all picked Wake Forest to finish 12th in the 17-team ACC. A CBS Sports story published in early July predicted a 4-8 record for Wake Forest. Yep, you’ll have to prove yourselves yet again, Demon Deacons. But you already knew this.
What the Experts Think
Wake Forest’s National Ranking (out of 138 teams)
Athlon: 53rd
Phil Steele: 58th
Lindy’s: 60th
CBSSports: 45th
Projected ACC Finish (out of 17 teams)
Athlon: 12th
Phil Steele: 12th
Lindy’s: 12th
Sporting News: 12th
Quotable
“I would tell you that Wake Forest shouldn’t compete for the ACC Championship but they shouldn’t have in 2006 or 2021 either. If Wake can catch Miami on a weird Friday night road game to sleepy Winston-Salem they’ll have a solid path to Charlotte.” – Justin Dottavio, Yahoo Sports, one of the few writers more optimistic about the Deacs in 2026.
“They’re in a really good situation financially. They raised all of this money for new facilities right as NIL was starting to percolate. That’s allowed them to be incredibly competitive with paying guys.” – an opposing ACC assistant coach to Athlon Sports.
Why Wake Forest Could Surprise
- The defense should be first-rate and could grind teams down
- QB Lopez is back with a familiar mentor, his former South Alabama OC
- Transfer portal additions should fill many holes left by departed players
- Dickert and Wake Forest have been a great fit so far. Don’t underestimate the bump that alignment provides
- Clutch kicker Connor Calvert has already won games at the final buzzer
Why Wake Forest Could Struggle
- A tougher schedule includes five ACC road games plus a trip to Purdue from the Big Ten
- Maybe Gio Lopez hit his ceiling in 2024?
- The offensive line lost four starters and the newcomers may take time to gel.
- Did we mention the schedule, where Wake could be the dog in five or six games?
The Number: 1
ACC championships for Wake Forest football since Miami joined the league in 2004 – one more than the Hurricanes have earned.
The Demon Deacons won the 2006 crown and played in the 2021 ACC title game. Miami has just one ACC title-game appearance, a 38-3 loss to Clemson in 2017. Hey, take the bragging rights where you can get them.
Biggest Losses
DL Mateen Ibirogba
ESPN’s top defensive player in the 2026 transfer portal cycle landed at Texas Tech. The former Georgetown starter earned 21 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks and 19 quarterback pressures a year ago.
WRs Sterling Berkhalter, Chris Barnes and Micah Mays
The trio combined for 87 catches, 1,265 yards and 7 TDs. Berkalter transferred to Texas, Barnes to Oregon State and Mays to Florida.
LB Nick Andersen
The prolific tackler started at Wake Forest as a walk-on then progressed to scholarship player, team captain and eventually All-ACC performer. Andersen finished his Wake career with 368 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and eight interceptions.
Who’s Back?
⭐ Returning Starters
Offense: 3
Defense: 7
Special Teams: 1
⭐ Returning Stat Leaders
Passing: n/a
Rushing: Ty Clark – 323 yards, 3 TDs
Receiving: Carlos Hernandez – 40 catches, 611 yards, 3 TDs, long 93
Tackles: Davaughn Patterson – 80 tackles
Tackles-for-Loss: Langston Hardy – 17.0
Sacks: Langston Hardy – 7.0
Interceptions: Dallas Afalava, Zamari Stevenson – 1
👀 Who Can Change Saturdays in Winston-Salem
DL Langston Hardy
Preseason All-ACC player lived in the backfield last season, earning 17.0 tackles-for-loss – one of the highest marks in the ACC.
DB Davaughn Patterson
Has a nose for the football, making 80 tackles – second only to Nick Andersen.
WR Carlos Hernandez
Can be explosive as a wideout (40 catches, 611 yards, 3 TDs last season) and as a kick-returner (punt return score against Virginia).
LB Aiden Hall
Dependable starter – 73 tackles, 8.0 tackles-for loss in 13 games last season – should anchor Wake Forest’s stingy defensive unit.
PK Connor Calvert
The former walk-on hit 18-of-22 field goals last season, including a 50-yard walk-off to upset SMU at home. Calvert booted three FGs in four different games, a huge weapon when points are at a premium.
Athlon Awards 🏆 pic.twitter.com/2ji8EloUcx — Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) July 1, 2026
Recruiting Snapshot
High School Additions: 30
National Class Rank: 50th (247Sports)
Transfer Additions: 24
Transfer Class Rank: 66th (247Sports)
👉 Explore more Wake Forest Football Recruiting, including 2027 commitments and how the 2026 roster has been shaped.
🆕 Newcomers to Know
High School
QB Grant Lawless
The No. 15 ranked prospect in North Carolina and the No. 17 quarterback nationally by 247Sports. Lawless helped East Lincoln High (Denver, NC) to a 10-2 season, throwing for 2,876 yards, 33 TDs and only 4 INTs.
CB A.J. Marks
The former IMG Academy standout was the No. 41 player from Florida and the No. 38 cornerback nationally. Intercepted four passes and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in 2025.
RB Deuce Lawrence
Second-team MaxPreps All-American rushed for 380 yards in the Georgia state championship game (!) and 349 yards in the semifinals. His 2025 season stat line: 236 carries, 2,267 yards, 30 TDs, along with 22 receptions, 401 yards, 7 TDs.
Transfers
QB Gio Lopez
The presumed starter under center had mixed results at UNC in 2025, finishing with 1,747 passing yards, 10 TDs and 5 INTs. He was much more prolific in 2024 at South Alabama: 2,559 passing yards, 18 TDs, 5 INTs.
OT Ethan Calloway
The 6-7 for Lake Norman High standout returns home after a couple of seasons at LSU. The Deacs will need his size and power on the offensive front.
WR Antonio Meeks
The Deacs added six new wideouts through the portal, with Meeks arriving from Louisville with ACC and Power 4 experience.
Games That Could Define the Season
Miami at Wake Forest (Sept. 18)
Why it matters: The projected ACC favorite and national title contending Hurricanes arrive for a Friday night game in mid-December. How Wake Forest stacks up against the league’s perceived top team should reveal where this season is headed.
Wake Forest at NC State (Oct. 10)
Why it matters: Wake Forest has long been one of NC State’s most frustrating opponents, splitting the last 10 meetings despite the Wolfpack’s greater resources and recruiting profile. If the Demon Deacons are serious about proving last season’s nine-win breakthrough wasn’t a one-year spike, winning another road game in Raleigh would be another statement that they belong in the ACC’s upper tier.
Duke at Wake Forest (Nov. 28)
Why it matters: The regular-season finale could carry major ACC implications for both teams. Duke enters the year as the defending conference champion, and Wake Forest has designs on joining that group of legitimate contenders. The outcome could be big in determining the post-season pecking order for North Carolina’s ACC contingent.
Schedule Snapshot
🏠 Home: 6
✈ Away: 6
⭐ Toughest Test: Miami (Sept. 18) didn’t win the ACC last season but did advance to the College Football Playoff championship.
⚠️ Trap Game: Picked at the back of the ACC, Stanford (Oct. 3) comes between tough road trips to Louisville and NC State and may be tempting to overlook.
💥 Best Upset Chances: Will Miami (Sept. 18) overlook an early season Friday night trip to Winston-Salem? Can the Deacs catch the Pack again in Raleigh?
👉 Explore the complete Wake Forest 2026 Football Schedule, including opponents, game dates, kickoff times and results as they happen.
Three Questions Facing Wake Forest
Can Gio get his groove back?
Transfer quarterback Gio Lopez should be more comfortable playing for a familiar offensive coordinator than he was at UNC last season.
What can coach Jake Dickert do for an encore?
Wake Forest’s nine-win season was an unsung part of the 2025 season in our state but avoiding a sophomore slump will be tough against a tricky schedule.
Who will be the playmakers?
The Deacs lost their most prolific performers on both sides of the ball. Dickert attacked the portal hard to replace receivers and linebackers, especially.
Best Case/Worst Case
Best: Wake Forest overachieves yet again, the Deacs beat their in-state rivals NCSU and Duke, and Jake Dickert gets his shot at another bowl victory with his new team.
Worst: A brutal schedule takes its toll, playmakers don’t emerge as hoped and Wake Forest misses a bowl with a losing record.
NC Football News Prediction
Record: 6-6
Conference Finish: 3-6
Bowl: Military Bowl vs. an American Conference opponent
The Final Word
Jake Dickert hasn’t gotten enough credit for the job he did in his debut at Wake Forest a year ago. He came in with a plan, built the Deacs into a formidable defensive team and guided the Old Gold and Black to an expectation-shattering nine wins (including over SMU and Virginia). He was certainly worthy of his runner-up finish in the ACC Coach of the Year balloting.
Wake Forest won’t sneak up on anyone this fall after last season’s breakthrough. Dickert’s challenge now is proving the Deacons have become a program capable of sustaining that success rather than simply producing one memorable season. If the offense comes together quickly, another bowl trip—and perhaps another surprise run through the ACC—is well within reach.
🔗 Wake Forest Football Resources
🏈 2026 Wake Forest Football Schedule
📋 Wake Forest Recruiting Tracker
📰 Latest Wake Forest Football News
🏟️ North Carolina FBS Schedules
📅 2026 North Carolina College Football ‘Master Schedule’ (organized by week)
