Wake Forest gets its biggest test of the young season Friday night when the undefeated Demon Deacons welcome No. 5 Miami to Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium.
Both teams enter the ACC matchup at 2-0. Wake Forest is coming off a 38-36 double-overtime road victory over Purdue, while Miami has overwhelmed its first two opponents and arrives in Winston-Salem as a three-touchdown favorite.
Here’s everything to know about Miami at Wake Forest, including kickoff time, TV information, latest lines, injuries, stats and more.
🔄 Last Updated: September 15, 2026 6:05 pm
🏟️ Miami Hurricanes (2-0) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-0)
Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium (Winston Salem, NC)
Weather Forecast: Warm and humid with a 30-60% chance of storms
TV/Stream: ESPN
TV Announcers: Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), Dana Boyle (sideline)
Wake Forest Radio: Flagship WBRF 98.1 FM and affiliates for the Wake Forest Sports Network
Radio Announcers: Stan Cotten (play-by-play), Lary Sorensen (color), Dave Goren (sideline)
📊 Latest Lines
Opening Spread: Miami -19.5
Current Spread: Miami -21
Opening Over/Under Total: 51.5 points
Current Over/Under Total: 55.5 points
Moneyline: Miami -1800 | Wake Forest +1000
Lines via DraftKings Sportsbook. Updated Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m. ET.
🩹 Injury Updates
Miami will be without three of its regular cornerbacks for the game, per CBS Sports: Xavier Lucas, O.J. Frederique and Ja’Boree Antoine.
Wake Forest: No official injury information was available as of Tuesday afternoon. This section will be updated as additional information becomes available.
⏪ Last Time Out
Miami 77, Florida A&M 7 (Sept. 10) – The Hurricanes gained a school-record 856 total yards and scored a touchdown on their first 11 possessions en route to an easy win over the Rattlers from the FCS. Javian Mallory (142 yards, 2 TDs) and Mark Fletcher Jr. (105 yards, 2 TDs) paced a rushing attack that finished with 430 yards.
Wake Forest 38, Purdue 36 (Sept. 12) – Gio Lopez rushed for a two-yard touchdown and then ran in the two-point conversion in the second overtime to lead the Demon Deacons to a road victory in Big Ten Country. Lopez accounted for 225 passing yards, 59 rushing yards and three total touchdowns.
🔍 What to Know About Miami at Wake Forest football
The starting quarterbacks played for different ACC teams in 2025
Gio Lopez (Wake Forest) and Darian Mensah (Miami) faced off last season but in a completely different ACC contest. Lopez was the starting quarterback for the UNC Tar Heels, while Mensah directed the Duke offensive attack. Mensah got the upper hand in that meeting, with the Blue Devils topping the Heels 32-25.
Both Mensah and Lopez have stepped into their new roles seamlessly. Mensah has completed 41-of-45 passes (91.1 percent) in two lopsided wins, leading the ACC with a passer rating of 271.7.
Lopez has accounted for six touchdowns in his first two starts with the undefeated Deacs. He was named the ACC’s quarterback of the week following the Purdue win.
Miami enters Winston-Salem as a national title contender
Wake Forest has more ACC titles (1) since Miami (0) joined the league in 2004. But the Hurricanes finally seem to be building a powerhouse program under Mario Cristobal that many expected them to have from the start.
Miami made the national title game a year ago despite not even qualifying for the ACC championship in Charlotte, beating Ohio State, Texas A&M and Ole Miss along the way. The Hurricanes have a deep and explosive roster in 2026 and will carry a No. 5 national ranking into Friday’s game.
Wake Forest has overachieved expectations so far in the Jake Dickert era
Jake Dickert came from Washington State to Wake Forest in late 2024, promising a “Built in the Dark” approach in Winston-Salem – “the effort no one sees creates the moments no one forgets.” He’s focused on long-term development but has had instant success too, forging the Deacs into a nine-win team in 2025 and has Wake out to a 2-0 start this season.
The 38-36 double-overtime win over Purdue last weekend is a prime example of “Jake Forest” football, staying close through gritty play and then finding ways to win in the end.
It has been awhile since Wake Forest beat a Top 5 football team
Wake Forest is a three-touchdown underdog against the Hurricanes and will be looking for its second-ever win against a Top 5 opponent. The first came on Oct. 26, 1946 when Wake Forest knocked off No. 4 Tennessee by a 19-6 tally in Knoxville.
Wake Forest is asking fans to Wear Black
Wake Forest is expecting a big-game atmosphere for Friday night’s nationally televised matchup. The Miami game has been designated as the Demon Deacons’ annual Wear Black game, with fans encouraged to fill Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in black.
The matchup also is part of Wake Forest’s Unrivaled Weekend, with former Demon Deacons basketball star and 11-year NBA veteran Al-Farouq Aminu serving as the game’s Open the Gate honoree.
📊 Miami at Wake Forest Stats and Trends
📈 Team Stats
| Statistical Category | Miami | Wake Forest |
| Points/Game | 61 | 38 |
| Total Offense/Game | 702.5 | 485 |
| Yards/Play | 10 | 7.1 |
| Rush Yards/Game | 275.5 | 194.5 |
| Yards/Rush | 7.3 | 5.3 |
| Pass Yards/Game | 427 | 290.5 |
| Third Down | 64.3% (9-14) | 46.2% (12-26) |
| Points Allowed/Game | 6.5 | 26 |
| Total Defense/Game | 203 | 380 |
| Rush Yards Allowed/Game | 57.5 | 137.5 |
| Pass Yards Allowed/Game | 145.5 | 242.5 |
| Yards/Play Allowed | 3.6 | 5 |
| Third Down Allowed | 20.7% (6-29) | 48.1% (13-27) |
| Sacks | 3 | 5 |
| Turnovers Lost | 2 | 0 |
| Time of Possession | 34:42:00 | 28:36:00 |
⭐ Individual Leaders
| Category | Miami | Wake Forest |
| Passing | Darian Mensah — 41-45, 653 yards, 8 TD, 0 INT | Gio Lopez — 37-59, 575 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT |
| Rushing | Javian Mallory — 13 carries, 173 yards, 2 TD | Ty Clark — 19 carries, 141 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Malachi Toney — 16 catches, 330 yards, 4 TD | Carlos Hernandez — 11 catches, 253 yards, 1 TD |
| Tackles | Marquise Lightfoot — 11 | Vincent Firenze — 20 |
| Sacks | Lightfoot/Blount/Scroggins — 1 each | Johnson/L. Hardy/Kirschke/Dembele — 1 each* |
| Field Goals | Jake Weinberg — 1-1, long 46 | Connor Calvert — 6-7, long 44 |
What the Numbers Say
- Miami’s offensive numbers are almost cartoonish. The Hurricanes are averaging 702.5 yards per game and exactly 10.0 yards per play, with 427.0 passing yards and 275.5 rushing yards per game. Even in their lower-output opener at Stanford, they produced 549 yards and 8.2 yards per play.
- Miami has been just as dominant defensively. The Hurricanes have allowed 406 total yards in two games, or 203.0 per game, and only 115 rushing yards. Neither Stanford nor Florida A&M scored an offensive touchdown against Miami — opponents have zero rushing TDs and zero passing TDs.
- Darian Mensah’s efficiency might be the craziest number on the page. He’s completed 91.1% of his passes with eight touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer efficiency rating is 271.7.
- Wake Forest has been explosive in its own right. The Deacons average 485.0 yards and 7.1 yards per play, including 194.5 rushing yards per game. They’ve scored exactly 38 points in both victories.
- Wake hasn’t turned the ball over. Gio Lopez has thrown no interceptions and although Wake has fumbled three times, it has recovered all three. Miami, meanwhile, has lost a fumble and thrown one interception — although Mensah wasn’t responsible for the pick.
- Third down presents a massive matchup contrast. Miami’s offense has converted 9 of 14 (64.3%), while its defense has allowed only 6 of 29 (20.7%). Wake has converted 12 of 26 (46.2%) offensively but has allowed opponents to convert 13 of 27 (48.1%).
- Wake’s kicking game could matter if the Deacons can keep this close. Connor Calvert is already 6-for-7 on field goals, including 4-for-4 from 20-29 yards and a 44-yarder. Miami has attempted only one field goal.
- Miami opponents have punted 20 times in two games. Miami has punted twice.
📚 Series History
- Miami leads the all-time series vs Wake Forest 9-3
- Last Meeting: Miami 42, Wake Forest 14 (Nov. 23, 2024)
- First Meeting: Wake Forest 13, Miami 6 (Dec. 25, 1928)
- Wake Forest and Miami have only played six times since the Hurricanes joined the ACC in 2004 and did not meet at all between 2013-2024.
- Miami has won all six meetings since joining the ACC, holding Wake Forest to an average of 16.0 points per game.
- Wake Forest’s three series victories came in 1928, 1939 and 1944. The Demon Deacons have never beaten Miami at home.
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