Gio Lopez’s second act for Wake Forest looked a lot like the first in one crucial way: he kept the Demon Deacons alive when the pressure kept coming.
On the road against Purdue, Wake Forest got a much tougher test than it saw against Akron, and Lopez answered it with a composed, dual-threat showing. The offensive line had its hands full with the Boilermakers’ front, but Lopez found ways to keep the offense moving and the Deacs in range throughout the game.
He did damage through the air, too. Lopez finished with 225 passing yards and a touchdown, and Carlos Hernandez remained his go-to target, piling up 88 receiving yards.
But this wasn’t just a passing performance. Lopez also led Wake Forest on the ground with 59 rushing yards, turning pocket escapes into a key part of the offense when protection broke down.
He added two rushing touchdowns as well.
The biggest moment came when the game tightened and the pressure spiked. Lopez was frustrated on the final drive, but he didn’t unravel. On a critical 4th and 15, he dropped a dime to Carlos Hernandez to help Wake Forest move the chains.
That kind of control is a big reason Lopez keeps his season grade at an A heading into Friday’s matchup with Miami. His poise, his decision-making, and his ability to win in the moment have defined the start of his year.
Wake Forest’s next challenge is a serious one. Miami has looked dangerous, and this Hurricane team wants to get back to the Big Game again. For the Demon Deacons to have a shot, Lopez will need to keep playing at the level he has shown so far.
In Other News...
Gio Lopez Just Gave Wake Forest A Reason To Believe
Gio Lopez gave Wake Forest something it has been searching for early in the season: a quarterback performance that could travel. In the double-overtime win at Purdue, the redshirt junior did plenty through the air and even more with his legs, accounting for three touchdowns and steering the Demon Deacons through one of those September games that can define a teams mood for weeks.
The ACC took notice, naming Lopez its Week 2 Quarterback of the Week, and the numbers behind the honor only added to the appeal. He hit several statistical milestones for Wake Forest quarterbacks and stood out nationally among ACC passers through the first two weeks, but the part that will linger most in Winston-Salem is the late-game finish that helped turn belief into an actual road victory. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forests New-Look Roster Gets Another Early Test Before Opening Night
Wake Forests rebuilt mens basketball roster is getting plenty of early run before the games start counting, and the next stop brings another familiar Southeastern challenge. After opening its preseason with a trip to Georgetown, the Demon Deacons are set for another exhibition tune-up in mid-October, a useful measuring stick for a team still blending returning pieces with new additions as it works toward the regular season.
South Carolina offers a similar chance to see where the lineup stands, especially with both rosters still taking shape for 2026-27. For Wake Forest, these exhibition dates are less about the final score than about how quickly the new-look group can settle in, find roles and build some momentum before the opener arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Faces Its First Real Test As Darian Mensah Stays Red Hot
Wake Forest heads into Week 3 with the kind of unbeaten start that forces people to pay attention, even if the bigger spotlight belongs to Miami. The Hurricanes have rolled through the first two weeks, but the Demon Deacons have done enough to put themselves in a rare early-season position: undefeated, still believing they can make noise, and now staring at a far more polished opponent that has already looked every bit like a contender.
Darian Mensah has been central to that buzz, with the Miami quarterback drawing Heisman Trophy attention as the Hurricanes keep piling up points. Still, this matchup gives Wake Forest a chance to measure itself against a team that has separated from the pack quickly, and the Deacons defense will be under real pressure to prove it can hold up when the talent level rises. [Read more 🡒]