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Wake Forest future football schedules: Akron added to ’26 slate

Deacs have fill most non-conference openings through 2029

Published

July 16, 2024

Wake Forest will play a mix of FBS and in-state FCS opponents through the rest of the decade. Stadium photo courtesy WFU athletics.

Wake Forest has added some “MAC-tion” to its future football schedules.

FBSchedules.com is reporting that the Demon Deacons will host Akron during the first weekend of September in 2026. The Deacs and Zips, from the Mid-American Conference, have never met on the gridiron. The game could be played on either a Thursday, Friday or Saturday. (The MAC is known for its Tuesday and Wednesday night ESPN games in October/November).

Wake Forest has filled up most of its non-conference openings through the next five years. The Demon Deacons have scheduled the maximum of four non-league opponents in 2025, 2027 and 2028, and three for 2026 and 2029.

Wake will play East Carolina in Greenville in 2027 and at home in 2028. The Deacs will host in-state FCS opponents this season (NC A&T), Western Carolina (2025), Campbell (2027) and 2028 (Elon). An FCS foe is likely to be WFU’s fourth opponent in 2026.

The 2030-31 seasons will bring a renewal of a former ACC rivalry with Maryland, with a home-and-home. Notre Dame appears in 2029, 2032 and 2037. Other future opponents include Ole Miss, Purdue, Army, Delaware, Kennesaw State, Tulane, UConn, Georgia State and Norfolk State.

Wake Forest fans could have an abundance of home games to savor in 2028. All four non-conference games that season are set for Allegacy Stadium in Winston-Salem over four consecutive weeks in September.

Wake Forest Future Non-Conference Opponents

2025: Kennesaw State (Aug. 28, 29 or 30), Western Carolina (Sept. 6), at Ole Miss (Sept. 13), Delaware (Nov. 22)
2026: Akron (Sept. 3, 4 or 5), at Purdue (Sept. 12), Army (Nov. 14)
2027: Campbell (Sept. 2, 3 or 4), at East Carolina (Sept. 11), Tulane (Sept. 18), Notre Dame (TBA)
2028: Elon (Aug. 31, Sept. 1 or 2), Purdue (Sept. 9), UConn (Sept. 16), East Carolina (Sept. 23)
2029: Norfolk State (Aug. 30), Georgia State (Sept. 15), at Notre Dame (TBA)
2030: Maryland (Sept. 7), at Georgia State (Sept. 14)
2031: at Maryland (Sept. 6)
2032: at Notre Dame (TBA)
2037: Notre Dame (TBA)