No. 5 Miami is headed to Winston-Salem on Friday night to open conference play against a Wake Forest team that has already shown it can make noise.
The Hurricanes have rolled through their first two games, winning both by blowout and outscoring opponents 122-13. That kind of start has Miami sitting as a massive favorite, with ESPN Analytics giving the Canes a 91.7% chance to win and most projections calling for a three-score result.
Still, this is the kind of spot Miami can’t afford to sleepwalk through. Mid-season conference games have been a trouble spot for the Hurricanes in recent years, and Wake Forest arrives unbeaten at 2-0 after a double-overtime win over Purdue.
The headline names for Miami are the ones that have already been driving the early-season hype. Quarterback Darian Mensah and receiver Malachi Toney have both put themselves near the top of the national Heisman conversation. Mensah has been almost spotless through two games, missing on only four passes while piling up 653 passing yards and eight touchdowns.
Toney has been just as electric. In fewer than five total quarters of action, he has 330 receiving yards and four touchdowns, with Miami pulling its starters midway through the third quarter against Stanford and at halftime in the opener against FAMU.
The Hurricanes’ backfield has also been waiting for a chance to show more. Starters Mark Fletcher Jr. and Marty Brown haven’t needed heavy workloads because of the lopsided scores, and that has opened the door for true freshman Javian Mallory. He has already turned 173 yards into a fourth-place spot in the ACC in rushing yards.
Miami’s offense has been the loudest story of the season, but the defense will have its hands full with a Wake Forest attack that put up 411 yards against Purdue.
The Demon Deacons leaned on the ground game in that win, with three players logging double-digit carries. Running back Ty Clark should be featured early, while quarterback Gio Lopez adds another rushing threat. The UNC transfer led Wake Forest with 13 carries against Purdue and ran for two touchdowns.
Lopez has been sharp through the air too, throwing for 575 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 62.7% of his passes. His top target against Miami is expected to be Washington State transfer Carlos Hernandez, a deep threat averaging 23.0 yards per catch. With Miami dealing with injuries in its cornerback room, that matchup figures to be one Wake Forest tries to attack.
The setting should match the stakes. Friday night’s game is expected to draw a sellout crowd in Winston-Salem, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium on ESPN.
Miami will try to keep its dominant start rolling. Wake Forest will try to turn the night into a shocker.
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Miami Heads Into Wake Forest With A Depth Problem Fans Feared
Miamis first ACC availability report for the Wake Forest game arrived with a familiar kind of concern for Mario Cristobals defense, as four Hurricanes were listed out because of injuries. Cornerbacks OJ Frederique Jr. and Xavier Lucas, defensive back JaBoree Antoine and tight end Luka Gilbert all landed on the report, leaving Miami to sort through its depth chart with a road trip looming and a few key spots suddenly thinner than expected.
Cristobal offered injury details and recovery timelines for the injured players, but the bigger immediate question is how Miami adjusts on the back end if it has to go without multiple defensive backs. Wake Forest, meanwhile, appears set to go with Gio Lopez, who is listed as probable and expected to start, so the Hurricanes are heading into the matchup knowing the opposing offense should have its quarterback situation settled while theirs carries a little more uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Kirk Herbstreit Said What Miami Fans Were Already Thinking
Miami fans did not need much convincing that a move away from Adidas would be welcomed, but Kirk Herbstreit went ahead and said the quiet part out loud. The ESPN analyst publicly reacted to Miamis reported $200 million deal with Nike, celebrating the switch in a way that matched the frustration plenty of Hurricanes supporters had already been feeling about the programs look on Saturdays.
Herbstreit had already made his feelings known about Miamis Adidas uniforms, and his latest reaction only added to the sense that the apparel change was overdue. With his platform on ESPN and College GameDay, his voice carries plenty of weight, and the enthusiasm around the new Nike era is now part of the broader buzz surrounding Miami as it keeps trying to sharpen its brand on and off the field. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Fans Just Got An Early Look At A Challenging 2027 ACC Slate
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One date stands out right away: Wake Forest is set for Friday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, giving Miami another primetime spot on a night stage. Cristobal has already talked about the teams preparation and practice schedule, a reminder that even with the calendar still well ahead, the Hurricanes are thinking about how to manage the work required for a schedule that does not look forgiving from the start. [Read more 🡒]