Wake Forest sent the biggest message of any ACC team on Saturday, dismantling SMU 49-7 in Dallas and strengthening its case for a College Football Playoff berth.
It was directed toward Miami and the rest of the conference: The Demon Deacons are no longer simply trying to establish themselves as the ACC's second-best team. They intend to challenge the Hurricanes for the conference championship.
Wake Forest delivers a huge statement and Miami wins by 11
The contrast between the ACC's top two teams is difficult to ignore. Miami improved to 9-1 with a 36-25 victory over Duke, but the Hurricanes led just 13-10 at halftime and 22-17 after three quarters before pulling away in the fourth. Wake Forest, on the other hand, built a staggering 42-0 halftime lead over an SMU team that entered the game with a 7-2 record and legitimate ACC championship aspirations.
The Demon Deacons scored six touchdowns on their first seven possessions, overwhelming the Mustangs on both sides of the ball. Wake Forest finished with 535 yards of offense, including 286 rushing yards, while holding SMU to 275 total yards and forcing three turnovers.
Quarterback Gio Lopez threw for 201 yards and a touchdown while adding 34 rushing yards and two scores. Wide receiver Carlos Hernandez caught six passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.
SMU entered the matchup unbeaten in 12 ACC home games since joining the conference in 2024. Under coach Rhett Lashlee, the Mustangs had gone 27-4 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, with none of those defeats coming by more than eight points.
Wake Forest is making a compelling CFP case
Wake Forest has won seven consecutive games since suffering its only loss of the season, a 33-20 defeat against Miami on Sept. 18. During its last six games, Wake Forest has outscored opponents 313-38, including blowout ACC victories over Stanford, NC State, California, Virginia and SMU.
The Demon Deacons have also become the first team since Alabama in 2013 to score at least 20 points while shutting out their opponent in the first half of four consecutive games. They have outscored those four opponents 145-0 before halftime.
Wake Forest is currently ranked No. 13, just outside the projected 12-team playoff field. The Demon Deacons should have an excellent argument for moving up after dominating a quality ACC opponent on the road, although the size of that jump will depend on other Saturday results and how the committee evaluates the entire field.
Wake Forest is closing the gap
The Hurricanes still have something the Demon Deacons cannot overcome through style points: a head-to-head victory. But a potential rematch could be dangerous for Miami.
The Hurricanes finish the regular season at home against Virginia Tech and Boston College, while the Demon Deacons travel to Georgia Tech before hosting Duke. If both teams win their remaining games, they will meet again in the ACC championship game on Dec. 5.
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