Wake Forest Demon Deacons News

Breaking down college football's conference title races as postseason beckons

The College Football Playoff might expand to 24 teams next season, potentially ending conference title games at the top level

16 HOURS AGO • Associated Press

2026 ACC Title Game Odds: Miami Favored To Win ACC; Wake Forest Second

Miami is heavily favored to win the ACC, but books see one challenger in the wings. See the odds.

21 HOURS AGO • FOX SPORTS

2026 ACC Title Game Odds: Miami Favored To Win ACC; Wake Forest Second

2026 College Football Playoff Odds: OSU Craters; Are Texas, Utah, UCLA In?

See the latest CFP odds, after big wins for Texas, Utah and UCLA, and a damaging loss for the Buckeyes.

1 DAY AGO • FOX SPORTS

2026 College Football Playoff Odds: OSU Craters; Are Texas, Utah, UCLA In?

Gio Lopez - Optimism for Week 11 Head coach Jake Dickert indicated that he is optimistic Lopez (lower body) will be able to suit up against SMU on Saturday, per Les Johns of 247Sports.com.

Impact Lopez was held out during this past week's matchup against Merrimack due to a lower body injury, but it seems as if he is on the right track for next week's contest. The 6-foot quarterback has been a star for the Demon Deacons this season, throwing for 2,176 yards and 18 touchdowns with just a single interception through eight games while running for 318 yards and six scores on the ground as well. His status will be worth keeping an eye on throughout the week.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Will Loerzel - On track to suit up for Week 11 Head coach Jake Dickert noted that he is hopeful that Loerzel (undisclosed) will be back for Wake Forest's upcoming matchup against SMU, per Les Johns of 247Sports.com.

Impact Loerzel sat out Week 10 against Merrimack due to an undisclosed injury. Dickert also indicated that the tight end was the closest of the team's injured players, including linebacker Aiden Hall, to being fully cleared. Loerzel will look to log practice reps during the week with the goal of suiting up for the Week 11 matchup versus SMU.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

No. 14 Wake Forest rolls to record-setting 77-0 rout of Merrimack behind backup QB Steele Pizzella

Steele Pizzella stepped into the starter’s role and kept No. 14 Wake Forest rolling, throwing for 432 yards and three touchdowns in the first half to lead the Demon Deacons to thei...

1 DAY AGO • Associated Press

Gio Lopez - Officially out Saturday Lopez (lower body) is unavailable for Saturday's contest against Merrimack, Payton Mannie of Fox8 reports.

Impact Lopez was seen in street clothes, indicating he will not be available Saturday. The quarterback was deemed doubtful heading into kickoff, so the decision to hold him out does not come as a surprise. Steele Pizzella will start under center in his absence. It was reported that Lopez will be available to return to action against SMU in Week 11.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Gio Lopez - Status doubtful Week 10, available Week 11 Lopez (lower body) is doubtful for Saturday's game against Merrimack but will be available to start Nov. 14 at SMU, Pete Thamel of ESPN reports.

Impact Lopez is unlikely to play in Week 10, not only because of his doubtful status but because Wake Forest's team has already opted to start Steele Pizzella against non-FBS team Merrimack. Fortunately for Lopez, his likely absence is just a precautionary measure, and he should be able to attempt to continue his positive momentum the following week.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Steele Pizzella - Will start Week 10 Pizzella will start in Saturday's game against Merrimack, Pete Thamel of ESPN reports.

Impact Pizzella has been Gio Lopez's backup all season for Wake Forest in 2026. Lopez (lower body) is out as a precautionary measure, and with the Demon Deacons scheduled against a non-FBS team in Week 10, they will have Pizzella start instead. This gives him a relatively easier opponent for his first-ever start. For the 2026 Demon Deacons, Pizzella has completed six passes for 85 yards, caught a four-yard pass, and rushed 12 times for 52 yards and a touchdown.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Gio Lopez - Doubtful for Week 10 Lopez (lower body) is doubtful for Saturday's game against Merrimack, Pete Nakos of On3 reports.

Impact Lopez's day-to-day status has worsened, and he risks missing his first game of the 2026 season. Without an availability report to clear his status against non-ACC team Merrimack, there will have to be a bit of field monitoring to determine his availability Saturday. Lopez has not committed a turnover since Week 3, registering 87 completions for 1,289 yards and 11 touchdowns with his arm.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Gio Lopez - Listed as day-to-day Lopez is day-to-day due to a lower-body injury and is uncertain to play Saturday against Merrimack, according to Pete Nakos of On3.com.

Impact Lopez completed 13 of 21 passes for 229 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 51-7 victory versus Virginia, but he suffered an apparent leg injury in the third quarter. His status for Week 10 is uncertain, but with Wake Forest playing an out-of-conference, FCS-level opponent in Merrimack, this would be a good game for Lopez to get some rest before the final three games of the regular season against SMU, Georgia Tech and Duke.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ohio State Must Find A Way To Support Freshman Luke Fahey

Ohio State can't put everything on freshman QB Luke Fahey. Brady Quinn explains why the Buckeyes must make key offensive adjustments to get...

5 DAYS AGO • FOX SPORTS

Ohio State Must Find A Way To Support Freshman Luke Fahey

2026 College Football Playoff Rankings: Miami No. 1, Notre Dame Outside Top 10

The first set of College Football Playoff rankings were revealed on Tuesday, with the Miami Hurricanes sitting at No. 1.

5 DAYS AGO • FOX SPORTS

2026 College Football Playoff Rankings: Miami No. 1, Notre Dame Outside Top 10

Miami gets top spot in first CFP rankings, but Tide at 5 and Irish at 11 bring a collective 'Huh?'

The undefeated Miami Hurricanes received top billing in the season’s first College Football Playoff rankings, with Georgia, undefeated Utah and defending national champion Indiana...

6 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Who Will Replace FSU's Mike Norvell? 5 Coaching Candidates To Watch

After Florida State fired Mike Norvell, who could take his place as head coach? Here are five coaching candidates to watch.

6 DAYS AGO • FOX SPORTS

Who Will Replace FSU's Mike Norvell? 5 Coaching Candidates To Watch

AP Top 25 live updates: Ohio State falls out of top 10, UCLA cracks Top 5

Miami holds on to its No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 for the third week after defeating North Carolina

NOVEMBER 1 • Associated Press

Drayden Dickmann - Totals 63 scrimmage yards in limited work Dickmann gathered in their only target for 47 yards during Saturday's 51-7 win over Virginia.

Impact Dickmann had just two touches, but he had a 16-yard run, and a 47-yard reception, so he made the most of the crumbs he saw in the offense. It was a busy afternoon, and a lot of skill position players were eating well. He'll hope for more looks in what should be another favorable matchup against Merrimack of the FCS next Saturday in Winston-Salem.

NOVEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Deuce Lawrence - Disappoints in blowout home win Lawrence totaled five carries for 17 yards during Saturday's 51-7 victory against Virginia.

Impact Fantasy managers were left shaking their collective heads, as Wake Forest won by 44 points, the second-largest deficit in the series with Virginia. It posted 309 rushing yards, 6.1 yards per attempt and five rushing scores, but Lawrence wasn't part of the conga line down the field. He'll look for better production in another favorable matchup against Merrimack of the FCS next Saturday.

NOVEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Ty Clark III - Punches in three touchdowns Clark posted eight carries for 48 yards and three touchdowns during Saturday's 51-7 victory over Virginia.

Impact Clark had just eight total touches, but three of them resulted in rushing touchdowns. He averaged 6.0 yards per attempt, and that was right in line with what Wake Forest did as a whole. The Deacs rolled up 309 rushing yards, five touchdowns and 6.1 rushing yards per attempt. Clark should have another productive game against Merrimack of the FCS.

NOVEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Jamar Searcy - Racks up 78 rushing yards, TD Searcy compiled eight carries for 78 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 51-7 victory versus Virginia.

Impact Searcy paced the Demon Deacons with the 78 rushing yards, and he averaged 9.8 yards per attempt. The Demon Deacons ran roughshod over UVA, posting 309 yards on the ground with 6.1 yards per attempt and five rushing scores. The good times should continue to roll, as Merrimack of the FCS visits the Triad next Saturday.

NOVEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Gio Lopez - Initial reports good for quarterback Lopez (knee) completed 13 of 21 passes for 229 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 51-7 victory versus Virginia. He also had 13 rushes for 64 yards.

Impact Lopez suffered an apparent leg injury in the third quarter, and he was forced to limp off the field. However, the lopsided nature of the game likely contributed to his failing to return. Steele Pizzella steered the car home the rest of the way. The initial reports are good, head coach Jake Dickert told The Associated Press. The Deacs face Merrimack of the FCS next time out, stepping out of conference, so if Lopez needs to rest, he would miss a cupcake on the late-season schedule.

NOVEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Jack Foley - Limited production in blowout Foley caught all two targets for 22 yards during Saturday's 51-7 win over Virginia.

Impact Foley averaged 11.0 yard per reception, which was nice. However, his work in the passing game was limited, as the Demon Deacons kept it on the ground and smashed the ball down Virginia's throats all afternoon for 309 rushing yards and five scores. Foley and the passing game hope to eat a little more in another favorable matchup against Merrimack of the FCS on tap for next Saturday.

NOVEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Carlos Hernandez - Hits triple digits with touchdown Hernandez accrued eight receptions (on nine targets) for 136 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 51-7 win against Virginia.

Impact Hernandez was able to bounce back from an undisclosed ailment, and he showed no ill effects of the injury. He averaged 17.0 yards per reception, while accounting for Wake Forest's only score through the air. Most of the offensive damage was done in the run game. Hernandez will face an undermanned Merrimack team next week, so look for more big production.

NOVEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

No. 14 Wake Forest stretches its winning streak to five games with a 51-7 rout of Virginia

Ty Clark III scored on three short runs, Gio Lopez threw a touchdown pass and Connor Calvert kicked three field goals as No. 14 Wake Forest posted a 51-7 runaway win over Virginia...

OCTOBER 31 • Associated Press

How to watch Wake Forest vs Virginia: Live stream College Football, TV channel The No. 14 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-1) face the Virginia Cavaliers (4-4) at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium on Saturday afternoon...

OCTOBER 31 • THEBIGLEAD.COM

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Breaking down college football's conference title races as postseason beckons

2026 ACC Title Game Odds: Miami Favored To Win ACC; Wake Forest Second

2026 College Football Playoff Odds: OSU Craters; Are Texas, Utah, UCLA In?

No. 14 Wake Forest rolls to record-setting 77-0 rout of Merrimack behind backup QB Steele Pizzella

Ohio State Must Find A Way To Support Freshman Luke Fahey

2026 College Football Playoff Rankings: Miami No. 1, Notre Dame Outside Top 10

Miami gets top spot in first CFP rankings, but Tide at 5 and Irish at 11 bring a collective 'Huh?'

Who Will Replace FSU's Mike Norvell? 5 Coaching Candidates To Watch

AP Top 25 live updates: Ohio State falls out of top 10, UCLA cracks Top 5

No. 14 Wake Forest stretches its winning streak to five games with a 51-7 rout of Virginia