Wake Forest made Miami work after halftime, but the damage from the first 30 minutes proved too much to erase in a 24-7 hole against the fifth-ranked Hurricanes.
The Demon Deacons opened the game by trading touchdowns on the first two drives, but Miami seized control after that and stacked three straight touchdown drives on its way to a 24-7 halftime lead. By the break, the Hurricanes had rolled up 303 yards of total offense and looked fully in command.
Then Wake Forest finally started to change the feel of the game. The Deacs scored to open the second half, forced four straight three-and-outs, and even blocked a 54-yard field goal attempt. On the other side of the ball, Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, who had completed his first 24 passes, began to look less comfortable as Wake’s defense tightened.
Coach Dickert said after the game that finishing tackles was a huge point of emphasis going into the second half, and that adjustment showed up immediately. The bigger question was how much of the turnaround came from Wake’s own defensive work and how much came from Miami easing off the gas. Either way, the Deacs found a way to make the Hurricanes less efficient after intermission.
Wake’s biggest problem was self-inflicted. The Demon Deacons were flagged 13 times for 137 yards, and several of those penalties came at brutal moments.
Two Carlos Hernandez punt returns that could have brought Wake closer in the second half were wiped out by holding calls. Personal fouls also helped Miami keep drives alive in the first half.
Even with the mistakes, Wake’s offense kept moving. The Deacs put up 246 yards in the second half and Gio Lopez finished with more than 300 passing yards and three touchdowns, despite Wake managing only 22 rushing yards for the game. But the Miami defensive line caused enough disruption to keep the comeback from fully taking shape.
Wake Forest didn’t get the result it wanted, but it did show real fight after halftime. The challenge now is carrying that edge forward without the penalties and missed opportunities that made the comeback chase so difficult.
In Other News...
Miami's Wake Forest Win Came With A Brutal Price
Miamis win over Wake Forest did more than keep the Hurricanes moving forward in the schedule. It also left the depth chart thinner, with coach Mario Cristobal confirming that running back Marty Brown suffered a season-ending knee injury in the game. Wide receiver Josh Moore will also be out for the rest of the year after an upper-body injury, while linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin Jr. is expected to miss several weeks.
The timing makes the injuries especially painful for a Miami team trying to stay steady through the grind of the season. Cristobal did offer a few useful updates beyond the bad news, and Jordan Lyle is available to play again after serving consequences tied to a legal issue. For Miami, the challenge now is not just replacing production, but doing it without letting one tough afternoon reshape the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Miami's Injury Problem Just Got Worse Before Central Michigan
Mario Cristobals postgame injury update after Miamis win over Wake Forest brought a sharper edge to what had already been a physical stretch for the Hurricanes. CharMar Brown and Josh Moore are done for the season, and Eezekiel Marcelin is expected to miss a few weeks with a lower-body injury, leaving Miami to sort through another round of personnel hits on both sides of the ball.
The timing is hardly ideal with Central Michigan next on the schedule, especially with Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher Jr. also dealing with bumps but still projected to be available. Miami has managed to keep moving forward, but the injury list is starting to touch enough key spots that each practice rep matters a little more than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Suddenly Has A Big Offensive Depth Question
Miamis offense took another hit this week when Mario Cristobal confirmed that running back CharMar Marty Brown and wide receiver Joshua Moore are both done for the rest of the 2026 season because of injuries. Browns setback came on a right knee hyperextension against Wake Forest, while Moore is dealing with an upper-body injury, leaving the Hurricanes to sort through another round of personnel changes at two spots where depth matters.
For a team trying to keep its offense on track, the timing is especially tough because these are the kinds of injuries that force younger players into bigger roles before they may be fully ready. Miami now has to lean on the next wave in the room, and the coming weeks will show how well the Hurricanes can absorb those losses without letting the depth chart become a bigger issue than the injuries themselves. [Read more 🡒]