Miami Defeated Wake Forest 33-20

The Miami Hurricanes secured a victory over Wake Forest in a game defined by efficient passing and ground production.

Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Football

Expressive sports illustration showing two football players in mid-collision, wearing contrasting orange-and-green and gold-and-black jerseys. — The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 33-20 on Saturday, relying on a balanced passing and rushing offense to secure the win. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Miami defeated Wake Forest 33-20 behind a strong offensive performance. The Hurricanes outperformed the Demon Deacons in both total yardage and rushing efficiency.

Why it matters

The outcome reflects a significant gap in offensive versatility between the two teams. Miami managed to balance its passing attack with a dominant rushing effort while Wake Forest struggled to establish its ground game.

Miami gained 158 rushing yards against Wake Forest's 22 yards. Miami quarterback Mensah completed 30 of 34 passes, while Wake Forest quarterback Lopez finished 29 of 47.

The players

Mensah

Mensah is the starting quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes.

Lopez

Lopez is the starting quarterback for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

The details

Miami scoring drives featured four passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, supplemented by a field goal and a safety. Wake Forest struggled with discipline, committing 13 penalties for 122 yards compared to Miami's 7 penalties for 75 yards.

The game between Miami and Wake Forest occurred on September 18, 2026.

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Season Trajectory

This win positions Miami favorably within the conference standings early in the season. Conversely, the loss forces Wake Forest to reassess its defensive discipline to remain competitive in future matchups.

Miami controlled the clock for 33:24, significantly limiting the opportunities for Wake Forest to mount a comeback. The high penalty count for Wake Forest indicates a recurring issue with pre-snap discipline that may affect their performance in upcoming games.

The takeaway

Effective time management and a balanced rushing attack proved to be the deciding factors in this contest. Teams that can maintain disciplined play while minimizing costly penalties are better positioned to sustain success throughout the season.