Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Wake Forest is No. 22 of 138 in the model after week 6 (5-1, 3-1 in conference play). Its projected final record is 9.5-2.5, with a 19% chance to win out and a 16% chance to make the playoff. The AP poll has Wake Forest at No. 21.
2026 at a glance
- #22in the model (▲16 from last week)
- 9.5-2.5projected final record
- +10.4points vs. an average FBS team, neutral field
- 16%chance to make the playoff
Scouting report: Wake Forest's best unit is its run defense (No. 15 in FBS); its weakest is its rush offense (No. 52). Overall, the offense ranks No. 32 and the defense No. 27, adjusted for opponents. These ranks rest on 6 games, so expect them to move week to week.
Résumé: No. 13, by wins above what a typical top-25 team would expect against Wake Forest's schedule. That measures what the record is worth; the power rank (No. 22) measures how good the team is.
Deserved wins: playing the way it has, Wake Forest would usually have won 4.4 games; it has won 5.
Postseason odds: 14% to win the ACC, 16% to make the 12-team playoff, <1% to earn a first-round bye and <1% to win the national title. >99% to reach 6 wins. (Model estimates; how the playoff odds work.)
Season stats
- 36.8points per game
- 21.5points allowed per game
- 48%offensive success rate
- 43%success rate allowed
Leaders
- Passing: Giovanni Lopez, 1,680 yards, 13 TD, 1 INT
- Rushing: Deuce Lawrence, 281 yards on 55 carries, 3 TD
- Receiving: Carlos Hernandez, 49 catches, 720 yards, 4 TD
Schedule and win odds
| Week | Opponent | Result or win chance | Played like |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vs Akron | W 38-16 | 99% win |
| 2 | at Purdue | W 38-36 | 49% win |
| 3 | vs No. 4 Miami | L 20-33 | 7% win |
| 4 | at Louisville | W 30-27 | 93% win |
| 5 | vs Stanford | W 57-3 | 100% win |
| 6 | at NC State | W 38-14 | 98% win |
| 7 | at California | 75% to win | |
| 9 | vs Virginia | 77% to win | |
| 10 | vs Merrimack | 99% to win | |
| 11 | at SMU | 61% to win | |
| 12 | at Georgia Tech | 75% to win | |
| 13 | vs Duke | 67% to win |
ACC in the model
| # | Team | Record | Conf. | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Miami | 5-0 | 3-0 | 10.6-1.4 |
| 22 | Wake Forest | 5-1 | 3-1 | 9.5-2.5 |
| 32 | Louisville | 3-3 | 2-2 | 6.7-5.3 |
| 36 | Pittsburgh | 5-1 | 2-1 | 8.5-3.5 |
| 39 | Duke | 4-1 | 1-1 | 7.8-4.2 |
| 43 | North Carolina | 3-2 | 1-1 | 6.7-5.3 |
| 44 | Florida State | 3-3 | 1-2 | 6.1-5.9 |
| 50 | SMU | 4-1 | 2-1 | 7.7-4.3 |
| 52 | Clemson | 3-2 | 2-1 | 7.0-5.0 |
| 53 | Virginia Tech | 4-2 | 1-2 | 7.1-4.9 |
| 59 | Virginia | 4-2 | 2-1 | 6.6-5.4 |
| 72 | Syracuse | 2-3 | 0-3 | 4.7-7.3 |
| 79 | California | 3-3 | 2-1 | 5.4-6.6 |
| 84 | Georgia Tech | 2-3 | 1-1 | 4.1-7.9 |
| 91 | NC State | 3-3 | 1-2 | 5.4-6.6 |
| 110 | Boston College | 2-3 | 0-2 | 3.3-8.7 |
| 112 | Stanford | 2-4 | 1-3 | 4.2-7.8 |
This week's picks and rankings
Every week's top 25, game of the week and picks are in the weekly breakdown. Latest: Week 7 college football picks and power rankings: the model's case for LSU.