The No. 5 Miami Hurricanes will take a 2-0 record into a Friday night ACC matchup against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Allegacy Field in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Miami is 1-0 in conference play after opening the season with wins over Stanford and Florida A&M. The game is scheduled for Friday night, Sept. 18, 2026.
Miami has outscored its opponents 122-13 through two games, and its defense has not allowed a touchdown. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are also 2-0 after wins over Akron and Purdue, but they have not yet played an ACC game. The matchup will bring together two unbeaten teams with different challenges for the opposing defenses.
Gio Lopez leads Wake Forest offense
Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez is one of the central matchups for Miami. The redshirt junior has accounted for six touchdowns through two games, including two rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown against Purdue. Lopez also scored the game-winning two-point conversion in Wake Forest’s double-overtime victory over Purdue.
Lopez has thrown for 575 yards and four touchdowns while adding 98 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He joined the Demon Deacons after playing at South Alabama and North Carolina, where he threw for 1,747 yards and 10 touchdowns as a starter last season. Miami expects his mobility and ability to extend plays to create a demanding test.
“Watching him, he’s a very intense, explosive guy,” Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Armondo Blount said of Lopez. “We just have to be very detailed in our work, very detailed in our steps, things like that. He’s a shifty guy in the open field. He’ll take gaps. He can scramble from any window and throw from any window. That’s what I noticed about him.”
Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman said the Hurricanes have studied Lopez’s previous work at South Alabama and North Carolina along with his first two games at Wake Forest. “The quarterback makes a lot happen,” Hetherman said. “Going all the way back, we’ve been watching South Alabama stuff, we’re watching the North Carolina stuff and obviously, we’re watching the first two games this year. He extends plays. He makes guys miss. He makes a lot of things happen in the run game. He gets the ball up in the perimeter fast. … I think he’s a very dynamic player and I think he makes them very good on offense.”
Wake Forest also has production around its quarterback. Wide receiver Carlos Hernandez has totaled more than 700 receiving yards in his last five games dating back to last season, while running back Ty Clark III is averaging 7.4 yards per carry through two games.
Wake Forest is allowing 380.0 yards per game and has recorded 15 tackles for loss and five sacks through two games. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal described the Demon Deacons as a fast, physical and experienced team, noting that 17 of their 22 starters are upperclassmen. “They’re just a really tough, physical team that plays really, really hard and plays with an edge,” Cristobal said.
Miami offense faces experienced front
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah enters the matchup as the national leader in completion percentage at 91.1 percent. He has completed 41 of 45 passes and thrown for 653 yards and eight touchdowns through two games. With Mensah at quarterback, Miami is averaging 702.5 yards per game.
Wide receiver Malachi Toney has caught 16 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns through two games. Toney also set a Miami single-game receiving-yards record against Stanford in the season opener. Freshman running back Javian Mallory leads the Hurricanes with 173 rushing yards and has scored two touchdowns.
Miami offensive lineman Ryan Rodriguez said Wake Forest’s front seven will challenge the Hurricanes’ protection. “Their front seven is very experienced,” Rodriguez said. “Their starting four d-linemen are all seniors. They’ve all played last year. They’re returning. Their linebackers are veterans. They’ve been there and they’re all experienced and they know what to do. They play hard, they play physical and it’s going to be a great challenge.”
Mensah said Miami must be prepared for both Wake Forest’s defensive line and secondary. “Their d-line is really, really legit and so, coaches hit on this,” Mensah said. “We’ve got to be legit with our protections and their DBs are also very solid, too. It’s definitely going to be a test for us, and we’ve got to be mentally prepared.”
Friday night ACC matchup in Winston-Salem
Cristobal said Miami has studied Wake Forest’s offense and defense closely, including the work of offensive coordinator Rob Ezell and defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton. He said the Demon Deacons “chase and finish” and play with a high motor and an edge. The Hurricanes will face a Wake Forest team that has already won twice but is entering its first ACC game.
Miami’s defense will try to contain Lopez’s running ability and play extension, while the Hurricanes’ offense faces a defense that has produced 15 tackles for loss and five sacks. The result could turn on Miami’s protection against Wake Forest’s veteran front and the Hurricanes’ ability to sustain their offensive efficiency. The game is scheduled for Friday night at Allegacy Field.
FSB Take
Miami has controlled the opening two games, outscoring its opponents 122-13 and keeping them out of the end zone. Wake Forest offers a more challenging road test because Lopez can create in the run game and outside the pocket, while the Demon Deacons’ defense has shown an ability to generate negative plays.
The matchup gives the Hurricanes an early ACC opportunity against another unbeaten team. Miami’s protection, its handling of Lopez and its ability to maintain its passing efficiency will be central to the Friday night game in Winston-Salem.
Source: Original report