Wake Forest offense is biggest test for Miami defensively this season

Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Gio Lopez (3). IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Wake Forest offense is biggest test for Miami defensively this season

By Alan Rubenstein | Last updated Sep 17, 2026 8:35 PM ET

The Miami Hurricanes' defense has its biggest test defensively this season against a potent Wake Forest offense on Friday night. Wake Forest is tied for 42nd nationally averging 38.0 points per game and 30th in the Football Bowl Subdivision, posting 485.0 yards per game. Miami is fifth, allowing 6.5 PPG and 11th, permitting 203.0 YPG.

Wake Forest opened the season with a 38-16 win over Army and won 38-36 in double overtime at Purdue in week two. The Demon Deacons had 559 total yards in the win over Army and gained 411 at Purdue. Wake Forest is averging 194.5 rushing YPG and 290.5 passing YPG.

Miami has allowed 115 rushing yards, 2.6 yards per attempt and 291 passing yards combined in its first two games. Miami's numbers were helped significantly by holding Football Championship Subdivision Florida A&M to 37 yards rushing and 70 passing in a 77-7 win on September 10.

In their only game against an FBS team this season, Miami held Stanford to 78 yards rushing and 221 passing in a 45-6 season-opening win on September 4. Edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot is leading Miami defensively with 11 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack.

No changes to the Hurricanes’ availability report tonight.

Wake Forest downgraded (ex-Miami) wide receiver to out. pic.twitter.com/ZiuV4u9N6T
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) September 17, 2026

Wake Forest offensive players to watch

Former South Alabama and North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez leads the Wake Forest offense. Lopez has completed 62.7 percent of his pass attempts for 575 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, with 97 yards rushing on 21 carries and another two scores.

Wake Forest has split the carries in the backfield, with Ty Clark rushing for 141 yards on 19 carries and one TD and Deuce Lawrence tying Lopez for second on the Demon Deacons with 97 yards on 25 carries and one score. Clark has no receptions in the first two games and Lawrence has three catches for nine yards.

Carlos Hernandez will test the Miami with cornerbacks Ja'Boree Antoine, OJ Frederique and Xavier Lucas listed as out on the injury report. Hernandez has 11 receptions for 253 yards and one TD in 2026. Antonio Meeks has five receptions for 125 yards and a TD and Kameron Shanks has eight catches for 94 yards and a score.

Miami will need productive games from Damari Brown, Ethan O'Connor and the younger CBs on the roster, with Antoine, Frederique and Lucas out on Friday. Wake Forest is the best team Miami has faced offensively in 2026 entering week three.

Alan Rubenstein

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