Louisville’s win over SMU turned plenty of heads, but it may also have set up a tricky spot for the Cardinals when Wake Forest visits town.
The Cardinals have opened strong, knocking off SMU by double digits just a couple of weeks after battling Ole Miss to the wire. That’s a sharp start for a team many had already penciled in as Miami’s clear second-tier challenger in the ACC. But that kind of breakthrough can come with baggage, and this matchup has the feel of a classic letdown opportunity.
Part of the concern sits on Louisville’s defense. The Cardinals have already allowed significant points against both Ole Miss and SMU, and while that doesn’t knock them out of the serious-squad category, it does open the door for an offense like Wake Forest’s to make this interesting.
And this is not your daddy’s Wake Forest offense.
Last season, the Demon Deacons were more of an ACC nuisance than a true scoring threat. Virginia, SMU, Florida State - heck, even Kennesaw State - all kept the 2025 Wake Forest offense under 17 points.
This year, though, the unit looks different. The biggest reason is the pairing of transfer quarterback Gio Lopez and returning star receiver Carlos Hernandez.
That connection has driven Wake’s attack through 38-point outings against Akron and Purdue, and it also powered what many called a “ quality loss ” to then-No. 5 Miami.
Wake fans know the Cardinals have been a problem for their team before, but this version of the Demon Deacons comes in with more punch. With Louisville riding the high of a statement win and both teams showing offensive juice alongside defensive issues, this one has the ingredients to become one of Week 4’s most intriguing games.
In Other News...
Wake Forest's ACC Standing Looks Clearer Heading Into A Bigger Test
Wake Forests place in the ACC picture is getting a little easier to read after another round of conference power rankings from the editorial staff, which again sorted the league into tiered groupings based on recent play and votes from 10 writers. Miami stayed a unanimous No. 1, Louisville climbed to No. 2 after its latest win, and the Demon Deacons held steady at No. 8 even after the loss to Miami.
For Wake Forest, that kind of stability matters more than it might seem in late September. Sitting in the top half of the league keeps the Deacons in the conversation as the ACC season starts to separate into clearer layers, but the margin for moving up is still thin with a bigger test looming. The rankings suggest Wake Forest has earned enough respect to stay put for now, while still leaving plenty to prove against the teams ahead of it. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forest Faces A Louisville Test Built On Pressure And Mistakes
Louisville arrives as a useful measuring stick for Wake Forest, with the conversation around the Cardinals centered on how they are trying to clean up the same things that tend to decide these kinds of games. In a recent Q&A, Louisville football writer Matt McGavic pointed to the importance of key offensive and defensive contributors, including running back Keyjuan Brown and quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, while also noting that the Cardinals have shown progress at tight end.
For Wake Forest, the bigger takeaway is familiar: pressure and mistakes can tilt a matchup quickly, and Louisvilles recent film has provided a clear list of areas that still need polishing. Limiting big plays and avoiding penalties remain priorities for a team trying to keep its footing, and the Deacons will have to sort through a Louisville group that looks capable of making them pay if those issues linger. [Read more 🡒]