Wake Forest Demon Deacons is 1-0 on the season, 0-1 against the spread, and holds a power rating of +4.1. Wake Forest Demon Deacons enters the season with a power rating of +4.1, placing them above average relative to the FBS midpoint. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons head to Purdue next in Week 2. In 2025, Wake Forest Demon Deacons went 9-4 overall, 9-4 against the spread, and 8-5 on totals.
In Week 1 of 2026 the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Power Rating of +4.1 is 4.1 points above the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Wake Forest Demon Deacons have logged 0 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 8,907 miles, ranking 43rd heaviest in the FBS.
Gio Lopez QB, Clinton Richard OL, Carlos Hernandez WR, Ny Carr WR, Chase Tyler WR, Wondame Davis Jr. WR, Kam Shanks WR
Gabe Kirschke EDGE, Langston Hardy EDGE, Davaughn Patterson S, Rushaun Tongue S
Ethan Hyams P, Connor Calvert K
| After | Record | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Week 2 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 0-2 |
| Week 3 | 2-1 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Week 5 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 2-2 |
| Week 6 | 3-2 | 3-2 | 3-2 |
| Week 7 | 4-2 | 4-2 | 4-2 |
| Week 9 | 5-2 | 5-2 | 4-3 |
| Week 10 | 5-3 | 5-3 | 4-4 |
| Week 11 | 6-3 | 6-3 | 4-5 |
| Week 12 | 7-3 | 7-3 | 5-5 |
| Week 13 | 8-3 | 8-3 | 6-5 |
| Week 14 | 8-4 | 8-4 | 7-5 |
| Postseason | 9-4 | 9-4 | 8-5 |
A season record is a record, not a forecast. Blue Chip Analytics' own research finds that beating the closing line repeats at close to zero from one season to the next - see most underrated and overrated teams. Read the table as what happened, not as what is likely to happen next.
Opened -2.3 in the preseason and finished +1.9 after the postseason, a move of +4.2 points. High +3.2 (week 15), low -2.3 (the preseason).
PrePost
SP+ is an independent opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, one of the systems blended into the Blue Chip Analytics power rating rather than a Blue Chip Analytics number itself. Defensive SP+ measures points allowed, so a lower figure is a better defence - the rank beside it already accounts for that.
Source spread is how far apart the independent rating systems are on this team, not a margin of error on our own number. A wide spread means the models disagree, which is itself worth knowing.
The measured and applied home field advantage agree to within 0.1 points here, so smoothing changes little for this venue.
| Opponent | Met | Record | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Louisville | 7 | 3-4 | 3-4 |
| Stanford | 1 | 1-0 | 0-0-1 |
| NC State | 10 | 5-5 | 5-5 |
| California | 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Virginia | 5 | 4-1 | 4-1 |
| SMU | 1 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Georgia Tech | 3 | 0-3 | 1-2 |
| Duke | 9 | 4-5 | 5-4 |
No meeting on record since 2016: Akron, Purdue, Merrimack.
Week 08,907 mi total
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | - | Bye | |
| Week 1 | Akron | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 2 | Purdue | 468 mi | 936 mi |
| Week 3 | Miami | Home | 936 mi |
| Week 4 | Louisville | 336 mi | 1,608 mi |
| Week 5 | Stanford | Home | 1,608 mi |
| Week 6 | NC State | 89 mi | 1,786 mi |
| Week 7 | California | 2,306 mi | 6,398 mi |
| Week 8 | - | Bye | |
| Week 9 | Virginia | Home | 6,398 mi |
| Week 10 | Merrimack | Home | 6,398 mi |
| Week 11 | SMU | 969 mi | 8,336 mi |
| Week 12 | Georgia Tech | 286 mi | 8,907 mi |
| Week 13 | Duke | Home | 8,907 mi |
| Week 14 | - | Bye | |
| Week 15 | - | Bye | |
| Week 16 | - | Bye | |
| Postseason | - | Bye | |
Wake Forest enters 2026 with Gio Lopez under center, a transfer who reunites with offensive coordinator Rob Ezell after a 2024 season at South Alabama where he accounted for over 3,000 total yards and 25 touchdowns. But Lopez struggled badly at North Carolina last year, and the Deacons are betting that Ezell can restore his confidence and production. If Lopez plays like the 2024 version, Wake Forest has a ceiling of another nine-win season or better. If he repeats his erratic 2025 form, the offense could sputter despite the talent around him.
The Deacons' defense was the strength of last year's team and should be again. Both starting ends, Gabe Kirschke and Langston Hardy, return after combining for 12 sacks and 26 tackles for loss in 2025. The interior defensive line and linebacker corps also bring back significant experience. In the secondary, nickel back Davaughn Patterson is emerging as a star, and safety Rushaun Tongue returns from injury to help replace the leadership of departed program pillar Nick Andersen. The main question is at cornerback, where two starters must be replaced, but the roster has both returning options and transfers competing for those spots.
Wake Forest lost nearly all of its receiving production from last season, with only Carlos Hernandez returning among the top wideouts. To fill the void, the Deacons brought in a fleet of transfer receivers: Ny Carr, Chase Tyler, Wondame Davis Jr., and Kam Shanks, all of whom bring speed and potential. At running back, the departure of Demond Claiborne leaves a significant hole, but the coaching staff appears confident in the depth behind him. The offensive line also has work to do, with Clinton Richard as the anchor but the starting five still unsettled. How quickly these new pieces mesh will determine whether the offense can keep pace with the defense.
Jake Dickert's first season at Wake Forest produced nine wins, more than the program had managed in the previous two seasons combined (four each). The program has also invested heavily in facilities and NIL, making it competitive in the transfer portal and allowing it to retain depth. An opposing ACC assistant coach praised Dickert's energy and genuineness, as well as defensive line coach T.J. Hollowell, calling the staff 'as good as they get.' With a favorable home opener against Akron and a defense that can grind out close wins, the Deacons have the pieces to match or exceed last year's success, provided Lopez delivers.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons is 0-1 against the spread in the 2026 season, covering 0% of games.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of +4.1, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons's home field advantage rating is 2.5 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons's consensus regular-season win total for 2026 is 5.5 wins, priced at -125 over and -105 under. This is the betting market's expectation, not a Blue Chip Analytics projection.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons travels 8,907 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 43rd heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons: 1-0 overall, 0-1 ATS, power rating +4.1 (2026 records).
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