Wake Forest’s 41-7 win over California sent the Demon Deacons into the bye week at 6-1, and the PFF numbers back up just how complete the performance was. From the quarterback spot to the offensive line to the second level on defense, Wake came out of the game with multiple standout grades and a few more players earning league-wide recognition.
Gio Lopez kept stacking big weeks. He landed on the PFF team of the week again, and this time he posted a team-best 91.2 grade. Freshman tight end Dominick Barry wasn’t far behind, finishing with a 90.7 grade in what qualified as an elite-level outing for the offense.
Lopez’s latest performance also pushed him to the top of the national leaderboard. According to PFF, he is now the nation’s highest-graded quarterback, moving ahead of Darian Mensah.
His profile has been built on balance: he owns the fourth-best passing grade and the third-best rushing grade. The rise has been steady, and the production has only climbed as the season has gone on.
The offensive line deserves plenty of credit too. Clinton Richard turned in the strongest outing up front with an 82.9 overall grade and an 87.7 mark in pass blocking, which also earned him a spot on PFF’s team of the week.
Aidan Martin made another noticeable jump, grading out at 86 in pass blocking, while Will Way checked in right behind him at 84.4 in pass protection. The skill players may grab the headlines, but the line’s progress has been a major reason Wake Forest has kept moving forward.
On defense, Vinny Firenze led the way once again. The linebacker posted an 81.1 overall grade and was especially sharp in coverage, where his 81.4 mark was Wake Forest’s best in the game.
He allowed only two catches on four targets and added a stop. That performance earned him a place on the All-ACC PFF team.
Firenze’s season-long numbers make the case for how valuable he’s been. He now has the sixth-best overall grade among all FBS linebackers and the third-best run-defense grade among active linebackers. Week after week, he keeps showing up around the ball, and that consistency has become one of Wake Forest’s quiet strengths.
In Other News...
Wake Forests Next ACC Test Now Carries Extra Halloween Stakes
With Wake Forest on a bye week, the ACC has now put the Demon Deacons' next conference test in plain view: Virginia will come to Allegacy Financial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 31, with a midafternoon kickoff and a national-TV window attached. It gives the program a little extra time to regroup before diving back into league play, and it also adds a bit of seasonal intrigue to a matchup that already carries some familiar ACC weight.
The Cavaliers have been a steady benchmark in this series, and Wake Forest has reason to feel good about how the last meeting unfolded. The Deacons edged Virginia 16-9 in that game, with Carlos Hernandez providing the spark on a punt return touchdown, and now the rematch arrives with both teams looking to make their next move in the conference race. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forests Basketball Pipeline Is Turning Heads Right Now
Wake Forests basketball reach is showing up well beyond the college game as the 2026-27 NBA season gets going. Two former Demon Deacons are on league rosters, and the program also has five alumni active in the NBA G League, a sign that the pipeline from Winston-Salem to the pro ranks is still producing usable depth and steady talent.
The presence of more than 20 former Wake Forest players in international professional leagues adds another layer to that footprint, giving the Deacons a broad and very visible pro network. Back home, the mens team is preparing to open its 2026-27 season on Nov. 2, and the continued success of its alumni offers a timely reminder of what the program is sending into basketball every year. [Read more 🡒]