A Thursday night opener against Akron. A road trip to Purdue the following week. And Miami visiting for a Friday night showdown before September’s even over. The 2026 Wake Forest Football Schedule front-loads a demanding stretch before settling into a more even middle. Wake Forest Demon Deacons football opens with a short week, a Big Ten road test, and an early high-profile home date against Miami. Here is the complete 2026 Wake Forest Football Schedule with dates, locations, times and television information.
2026 Wake Forest Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | vs Akron ZipsAllegacy Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC | 7:00 PM ETACCN | Win 38-16 | |
| Saturday | at Purdue BoilermakersRoss-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | 12:00 PM ETFS1 | Win 38-36(2OT) | |
| Friday | vs Miami (FL) HurricanesAllegacy Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC | 7:30 PM ETESPN | Loss 33-20 | |
| Saturday | at Louisville CardinalsL&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | 12:00 PM ETESPN/Disney+ | Win 30-27 | |
| Saturday | vs Stanford CardinalAllegacy Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC | 12:00 PM ETACCN | Win 57-3 | |
| Saturday | at NC State WolfpackCarter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC | 12:00 PM ETThe CW | Win 38-14 | |
| Saturday | at California Golden BearsCalifornia Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | vs Virginia CavaliersAllegacy Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs Merrimack WarriorsAllegacy Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | Homecoming | |
| Saturday | at SMU MustangsGerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsBobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs Duke Blue DevilsAllegacy Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs ACC ChampionshipBank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC | 12:00 PM ETABC |
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Short Week and Early National Spotlight
Akron on Thursday, Purdue on the road, Miami under the lights
- Akron at home on a Thursday night
- Purdue in West Lafayette
- Miami on a Friday night
- Louisville on the road
The Wake Forest Football Schedule opens with a Thursday night home game against Akron before an early Big Ten road trip to Purdue. Wake Forest vs Miami 2026 follows on September 18.
Stanford Home Date and Back-to-Back Road Tests
Stanford at home, then NC State and California away
- Stanford at Allegacy Stadium
- NC State on the road
- California on the road
- Bye week
Stanford visits to open October. The Wake Forest ACC schedule 2026 then sends the Demon Deacons on consecutive road games before a bye.
Halloween Home Date and Homecoming
Virginia at home, Merrimack for Homecoming
- Virginia on Halloween
- Merrimack for Homecoming
Virginia visits on October 31. Merrimack arrives for Homecoming the following week.
Late Road Swing and Home Finale
SMU and Georgia Tech away, Duke at home
- SMU in Dallas
- Georgia Tech in Atlanta
- Duke at home
Wake Forest hits the road for SMU and Georgia Tech in consecutive weeks before closing the regular season at home against Duke.
Wake Forest Football Home Games 2026
Six home dates at Allegacy Stadium:
- Akron
- Miami
- Stanford
- Virginia
- Merrimack
- Duke
The 2026 Wake Forest Football Schedule starts hard with a short week, a Big Ten road game, and an early Miami showdown, then settles into a mix of home dates and late-season travel. How the Demon Deacons handle the opening stretch and the October road swing through NC State and California will shape the rest of the year.
FAQ
When does Wake Forest football play its first game in 2026?
Wake Forest opens the 2026 Wake Forest Football Schedule at home against Akron on Thursday, September 3, at Allegacy Stadium.
When is Wake Forest vs Miami 2026?
Wake Forest vs Miami 2026 is set for Friday, September 18, at home at Allegacy Stadium, kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
How many home games does Wake Forest play in 2026?
Wake Forest has six Wake Forest football home games in 2026 at Allegacy Stadium: Akron, Miami, Stanford, Virginia, Merrimack and Duke.
What is Wake Forest’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
The back-to-back road trip to NC State and California — October 10 and October 17 — ranks as the toughest travel stretch on the Wake Forest ACC schedule 2026, alongside the September road trip to Louisville right after the Miami game.
