Wake Forest’s path to staying hot on Halloween starts with the same thing that has powered its season all along: clean execution. The No.
14 Demon Deacons enter the 3:45 p.m. game at Allegacy Financial Stadium at 6-1 overall and 4-1 in ACC play, riding a four-game winning streak. Virginia comes in at 4-4 and 2-3 in the conference, but the Cavaliers’ last two losses by a combined 13 points hint at a team capable of making this one uncomfortable.
At the center of Wake’s offense is Gio Lopez, who has been efficient in the best possible way. He has thrown for 1,947 yards and 17 touchdowns, and he has been picked off only once. Even more impressive, he has not thrown an interception during Wake’s four straight wins, a stretch in which he has piled up 10 touchdown passes.
Virginia’s secondary is built to challenge that kind of rhythm. The Cavaliers lead the ACC in pass-efficiency defense with a 111.17 rating, rank 16th nationally in that category, and have grabbed eight interceptions. That puts the spotlight squarely on Lopez’s decision-making, patience, and ability to find the right matchup instead of forcing the issue.
Wake will want to keep things moving without leaning on low-percentage deep shots. If the Deacons can run the ball and hit the shorter throws, they can stretch Virginia’s defense and open up bigger opportunities later in the playbook. Carlos Hernandez is still the big name to track on the receiving end, averaging 102.9 yards per game, but if Virginia loads up on him, Wake’s other pass-catchers have to answer.
The bigger question for Wake’s offense may be whether Lopez always has a trustworthy second option. Protection and poise matter here just as much as another splash play.
On the other side of the ball, Wake’s run defense has given the team a sturdy base. The Deacons are allowing just 92.4 rushing yards per game, and holding that line would put more pressure on Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula to keep drives alive through the air.
That won’t be simple. Pribula ran for 66 yards against Duke, and Jekail Middlebrook added a career-high 117 yards and a touchdown.
Together, they showed why Wake can’t devote all its attention to one runner.
The Deacons’ front has to stay disciplined, squeezing running lanes while also keeping Pribula from slipping out and creating a play with his legs. A pass rush only matters if the quarterback can’t turn it into an escape route.
Short-yardage downs could be a real swing point, too. Virginia has gone for it 24 times on fourth down and has converted about 67% of those tries.
Wake, meanwhile, ranks fourth nationally in fourth-down defense. That sets up a crucial test if the Cavaliers decide to keep the chains moving aggressively.
Third down matters just as much. Wake converts 48.9% of its third downs, while Virginia holds opponents to a 33% conversion rate. Whichever side wins those snaps could control the flow of the game.
It starts before third down, though. Wake’s offense needs efficient first and second downs to stay ahead of the sticks and avoid walking into Virginia’s coverage strength. Penalties and negative plays would make life much harder and tilt the matchup toward the Cavaliers.
And once drives reach scoring range, the finish matters. Virginia allows 19.6 points per game and has held opponents to no more than two touchdowns from scrimmage in regulation in 10 of its past 13 games. For Wake, the difference between touchdowns and field goals could decide whether this turns into a comfortable night or a tight finish.
The numbers to watch are simple: third-down distance, red-zone results, and whether Wake can keep stringing together drives that end in seven instead of three.
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Tony Elliott Faces A Virginia Question That Suddenly Feels Urgent
After a 51-7 loss to Wake Forest, Tony Elliott spent his postgame comments trying to steady a Virginia program that suddenly has very little margin left. He addressed the play at quarterback, talked through the defensive problems that helped the game get away, and made clear that the next stretch is about more than one bad afternoon. With California, North Carolina and Virginia Tech still ahead, the Cavaliers are entering a stretch where every detail matters.
Elliott said the staff will spend the next two weeks evaluating everything, from coaching to the choices the team is making on the field, as Virginia tries to turn the page quickly. The urgency is obvious now, because the Cavaliers need better results fast if they want to keep their bowl hopes alive. For a team that has already taken a hard hit, the remaining schedule leaves little room for another slip. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia's Defense Is Unraveling In A Brutal First Half Hole
Wake Forest spent the first half putting Virginia on its heels, piling up more than 250 yards of offense and turning that production into a steady stream of points. The Cavaliers did manage a few defensive bright spots, including an interception and some resistance on fourth down, but the overall picture was bleak as the game moved through the opening 30 minutes.
Gio Lopez helped keep the pressure on, and Ty Clark III was especially effective on the ground, finishing drives and giving Wake Forest a cushion Virginia never seemed close to erasing. Even with the defense getting a couple of key stops, the Cavaliers were left trying to dig out of a hole that kept getting deeper, and the question became whether they could finally slow Wake Forest long enough to change the tone. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Faces One Big Fear Against Surging Wake Forest
Virginia heads into a difficult ACC matchup with No. 14 Wake Forest carrying plenty of concern on the offensive side. The Cavaliers have been dealing with injuries and recent struggles that have made it hard to find any rhythm, while Wake Forest arrives on a strong run in conference play and with the kind of momentum that can expose a team still searching for answers.
The matchup leaves Virginia needing a cleaner, more productive showing than it has managed lately, especially against a Demon Deacons defense that has been part of the reason for the win streak. Wake Forest is favored, and the broader question for the Cavaliers is whether they can keep the game competitive long enough to give themselves a chance, or whether the gap between the two teams shows up early and often. [Read more 🡒]