Wake Forest didn’t get the result it wanted Friday night at home against Miami, but Gio Lopez still came out of the game with plenty to show for his night.
The Demon Deacons were overmatched by one of the best teams in the nation, and the offense never found a consistent run game. That put the burden squarely on Lopez, and he still found ways to keep drives alive.
Early on, he helped Wake Forest answer Miami’s opening touchdown by working against the deep zone looks the Hurricanes were using. He took what was available underneath, hitting the flats and seams on the right side of the field, and he showed real poise when pressure came.
Lopez stepped up, absorbed a hard hit, and delivered throws into tight windows.
That said, the game was never going to be a fair fight for him alone. Wake Forest’s offensive line had a rough night, whether it was penalties wiping out momentum or the pocket breaking down almost immediately.
The sacks were part of the story, but the bigger issue was the constant stress Lopez was under. Even with that chaos around him, his pocket feel and ability to escape pressure stood out.
Wake Forest finally got a spark midway through the third quarter, then followed that with another strong stretch before the fourth quarter ended. The best throw of the night came on a back-shoulder ball to Carlos Hernandez.
Dot 🎯 https://t.co/hu6Bzq6o0h pic.twitter.com/vdswbAuA2g
Even after accounting for the interception late, Lopez put together the kind of performance a Wake Forest fan can live with, and then some. The grade he carries now remains an A, and there wasn’t anything in this game that suggests it needs to change before Louisville.
The Deacons head into that road matchup looking for a big win, and Lopez’s performance against Miami at least gave them something solid to build on.
In Other News...
Wake Forest Just Added A Frontcourt Piece Fans Will Notice Fast
Wake Forest has added another frontcourt option for the 2026-27 roster, bringing in graduate transfer Justin Abson as the Demon Deacons continue to stock up on length and defensive presence. The 6-foot-9 big man arrives with a sturdy resume built over stops at Georgia and Appalachian State, and his calling card is the kind of rim protection that tends to show up quickly once the games start.
Abson spent two seasons at Georgia and two at Appalachian State, where he earned recognition as the 2024 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. He also has international experience with Jamaica and graduated from Georgia with a degree in sport management, giving Wake Forest a veteran piece who brings both experience and a clear defensive identity to the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forest Found An Encouraging Passing Game Spark Before Louisville
Wake Forests loss to Miami was tough to absorb, especially after the Hurricanes ripped off three straight early touchdowns and put the game in a hole before the Demon Deacons could settle in. Still, there were a few bright spots buried in the grading, and the defense got useful snaps from Davaughn Patterson, Langston Hardy and freshman cornerback Somad Eaddy as the unit tried to steady itself.
The clearest offensive encouragement came from Jack Foley, whose six catches for 118 yards and a touchdown stood out as a real step forward for the redshirt freshman receiver. After a slow start to the season, Foley gave Wake Forest a passing-game spark that can matter a lot with Louisville next, even if the rest of the offense is still searching for more consistency. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forest Just Got A Frontcourt Boost Fans Needed To See
Wake Forests frontcourt got an important lift this week when center Justin Abson was cleared to compete after a Monroe County Circuit Court judge issued a preliminary injunction in a broader lawsuit involving 97 student-athletes. The ruling means Abson can do more than just practice under the current NCAA rules, giving Steve Forbes another body up front at a time when depth in the paint always matters.
Forbes confirmed Absons addition to the roster and said Wake Forest is following NCAA rules while the case works its way forward. The NCAA plans to appeal the decision, so the situation is not fully settled, but for now the Deacons have a usable piece in the frontcourt and a little more flexibility as they sort out their rotation. [Read more 🡒]