Wake Forest gets a huge measuring-stick night on Friday when No. 5 Miami rolls into Winston-Salem, and the setup is about as lopsided as it gets on paper.
The Demon Deacons have handled the first two games of the 2026 season nicely enough for Jake Dickert. They opened by blasting Akron at home, then followed with a much more nerve-racking overtime win at Purdue. That result mattered because it was Wake Forest’s first real test of the year, and the Deacons found a way to survive it.
Miami, though, is a different level of problem.
The Hurricanes have looked every bit like a team built for a national title push. They started by overwhelming Stanford, then turned around and buried Florida A&M 77-7. Through two games, Miami has barely been asked to break a sweat.
A big reason for that is Darian Mensah, who should feel familiar to Demon Deacons fans. Mensah spent last season at Duke before transferring to Miami in the offseason, and he arrived with serious expectations after being named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year. He wasted no time living up to that billing in the opener against Stanford.
Miami also has a weapon Wake Forest will need to track on every snap in Malachi Toney. The sophomore has already become one of the most explosive receivers in the sport. Last season, he caught 109 passes for a Miami-record 1,211 yards as a freshman, and he opened 2026 by scoring three touchdowns against Stanford.
The Hurricanes are dangerous beyond the passing game, too. Running back Mark Fletcher is back after earning All-ACC honors last season, and defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. gives Miami another impact presence that Wake Forest has to account for.
That’s why this one is such a tough assignment for the Demon Deacons. Unlike the Purdue game, there’s not much guesswork here. Miami has the more talented roster, the deeper roster, and the resume that says it belongs in the national championship conversation.
Wake Forest does have one clear edge: the game is in Winston-Salem. A loud home crowd can at least make Miami’s first real road test since Stanford a little more uncomfortable. And the Deacons already showed last week that they can handle a tight finish after escaping Purdue in overtime.
Whether that is enough against a team like this is another matter.
Wake Forest will need its best performance of the season just to stay in striking distance deep into the fourth quarter. Still, Friday night college football has a way of getting weird, and Miami has been on the wrong end of that before. For the Demon Deacons, that may be the sliver of hope they’re hanging onto.
In Other News...
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
The Atlantic Coast Conference has already given Miami fans a glimpse at what the 2027 football season could look like, and the early returns suggest a demanding league slate. The Hurricanes schedule includes matchups with Cal, Louisville, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, a group that should keep the conversation around the program centered on depth, travel and how well Mario Cristobals team handles the grind of ACC play.
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 🡒]