Wake Forest to Play Mississippi State in Duke’s Mayo Bowl

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest University has accepted an invitation to play SEC representative Mississippi State in the 2026 Duke's Mayo Bowl on Jan. 2 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The game will be broadcast on ESPN with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m.

The Demon Deacons' season was spotlighted by wins over Virginia and SMU, who were both ranked in the top 25 earlier in the season.

The Wake Forest football team has made Charlotte a home away from home throughout program history. The Demon Deacons have played more games in the Queen City than any other place away from their home at Allegacy Stadium.

Four of the last 11 bowl games have come inside of Bank of America Stadium.

Wake Forest has played in the Duke's Mayo Bowl one other time, falling to Wisconsin, 42-28, in the 2020 Duke's Mayo Bowl. The Deacs are now 15-12 all-time in neutral site games played in Charlotte. It snapped a three-game winning streak in the Queen City that included 2017 Belk Bowl and 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl wins.

Eight of the Deacs 18 bowl games in program history have come in the last 10 years. Wake Forest holds a 11-6 all-time mark including 5-2 in the College Football Playoff era.

The Duke's Mayo Bowl will serve as Wake Forest's fourth bowl game against an SEC opponent. The Deacons are 3-1 all-time against SEC teams including a memorable 55-52 victory over Texas A&M in the 2017 Belk Bowl in Charlotte.

This also marks the second-consecutive bowl matchup against an SEC team, defeating Missouri, 27-17, in the 2022 Gasparilla Bowl.

Wake Forest's matchup with the Bulldogs marks the second meeting in program history, and the first since the 2011 Music City Bowl.

Wake Forest forced four turnovers, its second-highest total of the season, coming on interceptions by Duran Lowe, the first of his career, and Merrill Noel, along with fumble recoveries by Nikita Whitlock and Kenny Okoro to keep the Deacons within striking distance for the entire contest.

Tanner Price completed 24 of 46 passes, tying a season high for completions, for 214 yards. Pendergrass and Tommy Bohanon supplied the two Demon Deacon touchdowns, both on the ground, coming on rushes of 14 yards and one yard, respectively. Pendergrass was the Deacons' leading rusher on the day with 73 yards on 24 attempts.

Chris Givens caught a career-high nine passes for 54 yards. Noel, Justin Jackson and Scott Betros tied for the Deacon lead with seven tackles each.

Purchase Your Tickets Now
Fans can click here to submit their Wake Forest bowl ticket requests, with the priority request window closing at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Order confirmations and payment notifications will be sent on Wednesday, Dec. 10, with seat assignments completed no later than the end of day on Thursday, Dec. 11. Tickets will be delivered digitally by Friday, Dec. 19.

Additionally, there is no better time to reserve your spot for the much-anticipated 2026 season as season ticket deposits for home games at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium are now available, which includes a limited number of new $99 full-season Built in the Dark ticket plans are available through the Demon Deacons' December bowl game.

Parking Passes
We recommend booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero, the nation's leading parking reservations app.

To reserve your parking spot for the Duke's Mayo Bowl, visit the
Bank of America Stadium SpotHero Parking Page and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up.

What They're Saying

Head Coach Jake Dickert:
- "Earning the opportunity to compete in the Duke's Mayo Bowl is a tremendous honor for our football program. Bowl games are a reward for commitment and consistency, and our players and staff have earned every bit of this moment. We are excited for the challenge against a talented Mississippi State program, and I'm grateful to Will Pitts and his staff for the invitation. We're ready to represent Wake Forest, and we can't wait to see Demon Deacon Nation in Charlotte!"
Vice President & Director of Athletics John Currie:
- "We are excited for Wake Forest Football to be selected for the Duke's Mayo Bowl, one of the truly exceptional postseason events in college athletics. This invitation reflects the remarkable perseverance and competitive spirit Coach Dickert and our student-athletes have demonstrated all year, including signature wins and a relentless commitment to our 'Built in the Dark' identity. Bowl season is always a special time for Demon Deacons everywhere, and we are grateful to Will Pitts and his staff for providing another outstanding opportunity to showcase Wake Forest University on a national stage. I am proud of our team, appreciative of our incredible fan base and supporters, and looking forward to seeing a strong contingent of Deacs in Charlotte."
CEO of Charlotte Sports Foundation Will Pitts:
- "There's no better way to ring in the New Year than by enjoying this year's Duke's Mayo Bowl here in Charlotte. Hosting elite programs from the ACC and SEC is what makes this game special, and we're excited to welcome two outstanding teams in Wake Forest and Mississippi State to continue that legacy this year."

Pregame Events & Travel Information
Wake Forest is currently finalizing details on official events for the 2026 Duke's Mayo Bowl. Details on the pre-game events, including registration and pricing, will be released in the coming days.

Travel information from Winston-Salem and fan hotel opportunities is also being finalized and will be released soon. If you are interested in receiving updated information about the official events or travel options, please click on a form on our bowl central page for more information as it will be posted there as it is finalized.

Most importantly, if you are planning to join the Deacs in Charlotte, buy your tickets now!

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2025 Season Review
The Demon Deacons capped the regular season at 8-4, marking the fifth time in the last nine years — and making Wake Forest one of just four ACC programs (alongside Clemson, Louisville, and NC State) — to post eight or more wins at least five times in that span. This sustained success underscores Wake Forest's position as the winningest Power 4 program in the Carolinas this fall and tied for the most victories among all FBS teams in the region in 2025. This season's Wake Forest highlights include two CFP Top-25 wins: a road victory at No. 12 Virginia — the Cavaliers' only home loss — and a home triumph that snapped SMU's 20-game regular-season conference winning streak.

Defensively, Wake Forest was elite this season. The Deacs ranked sixth in the ACC and 38th nationally in scoring defense, are top-five in the league in total and passing defense, and did not allow a touchdown against either No. 12 Virginia or North Carolina. Additionally, 12 players garnered All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors this afternoon marking the ninth consecutive season the Demon Deacons have had six or more players make the All-ACC teams. With that, the Deacs 74 All-ACC honors is the fifth most overall in the ACC since the 2019 season.

Last Time in the Duke's Mayo Bowl

The Wake Forest football team fell to Wisconsin, 42-28, in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Wednesday afternoon.
The Deacs are now 15-12 all-time in neutral site games played in Charlotte. It snapped a three-game winning streak in the Queen City that included 2017 Belk Bowl and 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl wins.
A four-game winning streak in October highlighted the Demon Deacons' run to a program record fifth-straight bowl appearance. The streak is the third longest in the ACC, trailing just Clemson and Miami (FL).
Redshirt junior wide receiver Jaquarii Roberson continued to cement his season as one of the best in Wake Forest history. The Murfreesboro, N.C. native caught a touchdown on his first three targets in the game, setting a new career best.With 131 yards in the game, he became just the third player in program history to have four consecutive 100-yard receiving games, which also tied a program record. He joined Chris Givens in 2011 and Wayne Baumgardner in 1979 who each had streaks of four in their respective seasons. Despite playing in just nine games this season, Roberson jumped into the top-10 in single season receiving yards. His 926 receiving yards in 2020 is 10th in Wake Forest history. He became the fourth receiver in the last three seasons to crack into the top 10, joining Sage Surratt, Greg Dortch and Kendall Hinton.

Bowl History
The Deacs are 11-6 all-time in bowl games.

1946 Gator Bowl -- January 1, 1946

Wake Forest, 26; South Carolina, 14
- Wake Forest's first-ever postseason appearance came in the inaugural Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., and Coach Peahead Walker's squad made that initial bowl trip a successful one, defeating South Carolina, 26-14. A crowd of more than 10,000 fans was on hand to witness the rematch between the two future ACC members who had played to a 13-13 tie earlier in the season. This time Wake took control at the outset, capping its opening possession with a three-yard run by Nick Sacrinty. A missed extra-point, however, resulted in the Gamecocks taking a 7-6 lead with the only score of the second quarter. The Deacs regained the lead and took control in the second half behind their bruising ground attack. Rock Brinkley finished off two time-consuming drives with short TD runs of five and four yards, then Bob Smathers clinched the verdict with a 20-yard run on a reverse. The 378 yards rushing in the game stood as a Wake Forest single game record for 22 years. The victory culminated a dramatic turnaround season that had started with three straight losses but ended at 5-3-1.

1949 Dixie Bowl -- January 1, 1949

Wake Forest, 7; Baylor, 20
- Three years after competing in the first Gator Bowl, the Demon Deacons were invited to Birmingham, Ala., to compete in the second -- and last -- Dixie Bowl. Unlike that first postseason experience, though, this venture proved unfulfilling from a won-lost standpoint as Wake Forest dropped a hard-fought 20-7 contest to Baylor in what was frequently referred to at the time as the "Battle of the Baptists." A crowd of over 20,000 was in attendance as Baylor jumped out to a 20-0 lead with three touchdowns in the first half, two coming on lengthy drives, the third following a long pass interception. The Deacs of Coach Peahead Walker refused to quit, however, and rallied to pull within striking distance on a TD by Mike Sprock in the third period after recovering a Baylor fumble. Wake went on to control most of the game and held the advantage statistically overall (six more first downs, 63 more yards in total offense), but never could reach paydirt again. The contest marked the first time that a Wake Forest football team had played in a January bowl game. The Demon Deacons finished the season with a 6-4 record.

1979 Tangerine Bowl -- December 22, 1979

Wake Forest, 10; LSU, 34
- After a 30-year absence from the bowl scene, Wake Forest completed one of the most surprising stories in college football in 1979 with a visit to the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Fla. The Demon Deacons earned that trip and a pairing against an emotional LSU squad, playing its final game under veteran coach Charlie McClendon by compiling an 8-3 regular season mark and attaining a national ranking in the top 20. The Tigers seized the momentum early with touchdown drives on their first two possessions. Wake Forest, meanwhile, was struggling offensively and committed three turnovers before Phil Denfeld made the score 24-3 with a field goal as the first half ended. Coach John Mackovic's Deacs came back to play much better after intermission, taking the second half kickoff and scoring their lone TD of the night on an eight-play drive that ended with a 34-yard pass from Jay Venuto to Wayne Baumgardner. Two other drives into LSU territory were halted, though, and the SEC power eventually built its advantage with 10 more points in the final period.

1992 Independence Bowl -- December 31, 1992

Wake Forest, 39; Oregon, 35
- Wake Forest staged a stirring second half rally for a 39-35 victory over Oregon before 31,337 fans and a national television audience on ESPN, concluding a stunning year in appropriate fashion. The Deacons had been 1-3 in September until reeling off six straight wins to climb into the national polls for the first time in 13 years and capture the imagination of college football followers everywhere. Oregon held the upper hand early, taking advantage of four first-half turnovers to build a 22-10 halftime lead, then adding another TD late in the third period that left the Deacs trailing, 29-10, with less than 20 minutes remaining in the game. Ned Moultrie scored on a short run, then Todd Dixon, who was named the game's Most Outstanding Player, exploded with TD receptions of 30 and 61 yards in less than four minutes to give his team a 31-29 edge that it would never relinquish. John Leach, who ran for 116 yards, added what proved to be the deciding score later in the final quarter. Dixon finished with five receptions for 166 yards and two TDs, while veteran coach Bill Dooley completed his outstanding career with victory No. 162.

1999 Aloha Bowl -- December 25, 1999

Wake Forest, 23; Arizona State, 3
- A Wake Forest team anchored by 26 seniors earned the first winning season and first bowl bid in head coach Jim Caldwell's tenure. That veteran leadership helped the Deacs to an impressive 23-3 win over Arizona State in the nationally-televised Jeep Aloha Bowl on Christmas Day. Both teams got off to a slow start offensively, and the score was tied 3-3 at intermission. The Deacs got rolling in the second half, however, blanking ASU 20-0. After another field goal, Wake broke the game open as quarterback Ben Sankey hit Coach's son, Jimmy Caldwell, across the middle, and Caldwell scampered 56 yards into the endzone. The Sun Devils managed just 42 yards of offense after that point, as Morgan Kane's 1-yard TD leap and Matt Burdick's third field goal provided the final margin. Sankey earned Bowl MVP honors, passing for 188 yards and rushing for 56. The Deacon defense was stifling, holding the Sun Devils to just 164 yards of total offense. Adrian Duncan led the defense with eight tackles and a sack, while Fred Robbins collected three sacks.

2002 Seattle Bowl -- December 30, 2002

Wake Forest, 38; Oregon, 17
- In his last game at WFU, James MacPherson passed for a season-high 241 yards and two touchdowns as the Deacons beat Oregon 38-17 in the Seattle Bowl. MacPherson, who also ran for a score, hit Jason Anderson with TD tosses of 57 and 63 yards to earn MVP honors. Wake Forest (7-6) finished with a winning record for the second straight year. The Deacons last had consecutive winning seasons in 1987-88. The second annual Seattle Bowl marked the first meeting between the Ducks and Demon Deacons since Dec. 31, 1992 in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. Wake Forest also won that game, 39-35. Entering the game, Wake Forest was ranked eighth nationally in rushing offense, averaging 239.9 yards a game. The Deacs ran for 256 against Oregon, even with their early emphasis passing. The Ducks opened the game with a 45-yard field goal, but Wake Forest answered with a seven-play, 65-yard drive, topped by Ovie Mughelli's one-yard touchdown run. MacPherson found Anderson for a 57-yard scoring pass early in the second quarter to push Wake's lead to 14-3. MacPherson also added a one-yard touchdown dash just before halftime. MacPherson, who had just six touchdown passes going into the game, closed the third quarter with his 63-yard touchdown pass to Anderson. Chris Barclay added a 12-yard TD run late in the game for the final margin. Anderson caught three passes for a career-best 157 yards.

2007 FedEx Orange Bowl -- January 2, 2007

Wake Forest, 13; Louisville, 24
- No. 15 Wake Forest lost 24-13 to No. 5 Louisville in the Orange Bowl in the Deacons' first BCS appearance. And for a team which made its name on winning the close games, losing one to end the season was tough to take. The Deacons (11-3) entered as 10-point underdogs, and did an effective job of keeping Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm in check during the first half, holding him to 7-of-13 passing for 79 yards at halftime.

2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl -- December 29, 2007

Wake Forest, 24; UConn, 10
- Behind do-it-all receiver Kenneth Moore and a swarming defense full of big plays, Wake Forest rallied to beat fellow upstart Connecticut 24-10 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The Demon Deacons had to come from behind to do it, reeling off the final 24 points after falling behind 10-0 at halftime against the Huskies, who were playing in only their second bowl game. Riley Skinner completed 29 of 38 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, and ACC rookie of the year Josh Adams rushed for 81 yards and a score. Linebacker Stanley Arnoux highlighted a series of big plays for Wake Forest with an interception and two fourth-down stops.

2008 Eaglebank Bowl -- December 20, 2008

Wake Forest, 29; Navy, 19
- Riley Skinner went 11-for-11 and threw the go-ahead touchdown pass to Ben Wooster with 7:52 left, leading Wake Forest to a 29-19 comeback victory over the Midshipmen in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl to open the 2008 bowl season. He finished with 166 yards passing and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. It was a rematch of a September game played at Wake Forest, when Navy took advantage of five turnovers by Skinner--four interceptions and a fumble--to pull off a 24-17 upset.

2011 Music City Bowl -- December 30, 2011

Wake Forest, 17; Mississippi State, 23
- Mississippi State withstood a late Wake Forest rally to down the Demon Deacons 23-17 in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl at LP Field in Nashville. The Deacons (6-7) fell victim to Mississippi State's (7-6) potent rushing attack as Vick Ballard ran for a career-high 180 yards and two touchdowns to head up the Bulldogs' 255 yards on the ground. The loss overshadowed a career day for Wake Forest redshirt sophomore Michael Campanaro who caught 10 passes for 128 yards - both career highs. Wake Forest forced four turnovers, its second-highest total of the season. Two of them came on interceptions by Duran Lowe, the first of his career, and Merrill Noel, along with fumble recoveries by Nikita Whitlock and Kenny Okoro to keep the Deacons within striking distance for the entire contest.

2016 Military Bowl -- December 27, 2016

Wake Forest, 34; Temple, 26
- Wake Forest jumped out to a 31-7 lead and held on to defeat No. 23-ranked Temple, 34-26, to claim the 2016 Military Bowl inside Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, Dec. 27. The victory was the Demon Deacons' first bowl win since 2008, and the first victory over a ranked team since 2011. After the Owls (10-4) cut Wake Forest's (7-6) lead to 31-26 with 3:39 remaining, John Armstrong returned a kickoff 80 yards, leading to a Mike Weaver field goal with 1:59 left. Temple returned the kickoff to its own 47-yard-line and completed a 9-yard pass, but the Deacons' defense held strong with a pass breakup by Thomas Brown and a tackle for loss by Duke Ejiofor, then an incomplete pass for a turnover on downs. Wake Forest entered victory formation and twice took a knee to seal the win. Brown was named the Military Bowl MVP for his efforts on defense. He tied for the team lead with seven tackles, also adding a sack, 2.5 TFLs and a forced fumble, helping the Deacons shut down the Owl rushing game, limited to -20 yards.

2017 Belk Bowl -- December 29, 2017

Wake Forest, 55; Texas A&M, 52
- Wake Forest and Texas A&M engaged in the most entertaining bowl game of the season as the Demon Deacons came away with a 55-52 win over the Aggies on Dec. 29 in the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. The game was a back-and-forth affair all afternoon and wasn't settled until Wake Forest running back Matt Colburn scored on a one-yard run with just 2:18 to play. The Deacon defense then forced the Aggies into a fourth down incompletion with 28 seconds remaining to seal the win. The contest featured five lead changes and over 1,200 yards of total offense. The two teams combined to set NCAA bowl game records for total offense plays (191) and pass completions (74) by both teams. Wake Forest was led by quarterback John Wolford who, in his final college game, completed 32 of 49 passes for 400 yards and four touchdowns. Colburn had 150 yards on 21 carries including an electric 66-yard run. Wide receiver Scotty Washington caught nine passes for 138 yards and a score while tight end Cam Serigne had a touchdown reception to go with nine catches and 112 yards receiving. Linebacker Jaboree Williams led the Deacon defense with 11 tackles and an interception while safety Cam Glenn and linebacker Justin Strnad each had 10 tackles in the contest.

2018 Birmingham Bowl -- December 22, 2018

Wake Forest, 37; Memphis, 34
- Jamie Newman engineered his second last-second comeback victory in four starts as Wake Forest won its third straight bowl game with a 37-34 victory over Memphis in the Jared Birmingham Bowl. Memphis led 34-30 with 1:15 remaining in the game. The Deacons started their final drive of the day at their own 25 as Newman drove them to the one-yard line behind completions of 49 and 20 yards to senior Alex Bachman, the latter giving Wake Forest a first and goal at the Memphis one. Newman scored the final touchdown, his third of the game, on a one-yard run with 34 seconds left to play. Wake Forest had to overcome a 28-10 deficit after the Tigers returned an interception and a kickoff for touchdowns in the second quarter. The Deacons rallied, as they did all season, scoring 20 unanswered points to take a 30-28 lead late in the third quarter behind a pair of Newman touchdown runs of 1 and 17 yards. Newman earned MVP honors while Bachman finished with seven receptions for a career-high 171 yards. Freshman Nick Sciba was perfect on three field goal attempts including a career-long of 49 yards and contributed 13 of Wake Forest's 37 points. Junior Justin Strnad led the defense with 11 tackles and senior Demetrius Kemp recorded Wake Forest's lone interception.

2019 Pinstripe Bowl -- December 27, 2019

Wake Forest, 21; Michigan State, 27
- Wake Forest's record-setting offense started off the New Era Pinstripe Bowl like it started many games in 2019, by scoring on its opening drive. The Deacs scored on a Kendall Hinton 29-yard touchdown reception to grab the early 7-0 lead. Michigan State answered and went ahead 10-7 on a field goal and a tipped-pass interception returned for a touchdown. The Deacons regained the lead in the second quarter when breakout freshman wide receiver Donavon Greene gave Wake Forest a 14-10 lead when he made an acrobatic, one-handed catch in the end zone, a catch that was the No. 7 play of the day on that night's SportsCenter. After MSU went up 17-14 midway through the second quarter, Wake Forest regained the lead when Jack Freudenthal scored on a 44-yard touchdown reception. A late Spartan field goal left the Deacs with a 21-20 halftime advantage. Michigan State regained the lead with a short pass that gave the Spartans a 27-21 advantage early in the third quarter, which would prove to be the final tally of the game. Following a Michigan State missed field goal with three minutes left in the fourth quarter that would have iced the game, there wasn't a soul in Yankee Stadium that didn't believe the Wake Forest offense would engineer another game-winning, last-second drive, just as it did in the 2017 Belk Bowl and 2018 Birmingham Bowl. But the drive stalled and the Deacons' hopes were dashed.

2020 Duke's Mayo Bowl -- Dec. 30, 2020

Wake Forest 28; Wisconsin 42
- The Wake Forest football team fell to Wisconsin, 42-28, in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Wednesday afternoon. The Deacs are now 15-12 all-time in neutral site games played in Charlotte. It snapped a three-game winning streak in the Queen City that included 2017 Belk Bowl and 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl wins. A four-game winning streak in October highlighted the Demon Deacons' run to a program record fifth-straight bowl appearance. The streak is the third longest in the ACC, trailing just Clemson and Miami (FL). Redshirt junior wide receiver Jaquarii Roberson continued to cement his season as one of the best in Wake Forest history. The Murfreesboro, N.C. native caught a touchdown on his first three targets in the game, setting a new career best.With 131 yards in the game, he became just the third player in program history to have four consecutive 100-yard receiving games, which also tied a program record. He joined Chris Givens in 2011 and Wayne Baumgardner in 1979 who each had streaks of four in their respective seasons. Despite playing in just nine games this season, Roberson jumped into the top-10 in single season receiving yards. His 926 receiving yards in 2020 is 10th in Wake Forest history. He became the fourth receiver in the last three seasons to crack into the top 10, joining Sage Surratt, Greg Dortch and Kendall Hinton.

2021 Gator Bowl -- Dec. 31, 2021

Wake Forest 38; Wisconsin 10
- The 2021 Wake Forest football team capped off its historic season on New Year's Eve, defeating Big Ten foe Rutgers in the 77th annual TaxSlayer Gator Bowl 38-10 inside TIAA Bank Field on Friday. No. 17 Wake Forest (11-3, 7-1 ACC) became just the second team in program history to win double-digit games and tied the program record with 11 victories while also setting a program record with seven conference victories and finished the home season with a perfect 6-0 mark. Head Coach Dave Clawson became the first coach in program history to win four bowl games as all four titles have come during the Deacs current six-game bowl appearance streak. This run ranks as the second-longest in the ACC, trailing just Clemson. The Deacs forced Rutgers (5-8, 2-7 Big Ten) to turn the ball over twice as Zion Keith and Gavin Holmes snared their first interceptions of the season. The Deacs limited the Scarlet Knights to just 271 total yards in the game, including 106 yards rushing. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Hartman ended his historic single-season campaign with Gator Bowl MVP honors. The Charlotte, N.C. native tossed three touchdown passes in the game and threw for 304 yards. Fellow redshirt sophomore A.T. Perry collected 10 of Hartman's passes for 127 yards and pulled in his 15th touchdown reception of the season, tied for the fifth most in conference history. Seniors Traveon Redd and Luke Masterson led Wake Forest's defense with seven tackles apiece in their final game in the Old Gold & Black.

2022 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl -- Dec. 23, 2022

Wake Forest 27; Missouri 17
- Wake Forest capped its 2022 season with a 27-17 victory over Missouri in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, powered by MVP Sam Hartman's three-touchdown, 280-yard performance that also included breaking the ACC career passing touchdown record. The win marked the program's fifth bowl victory in the last seven years and gave head coach Dave Clawson his fifth postseason triumph, tying for fifth all-time in ACC history. Hartman became the first Demon Deacon ever to earn two bowl MVPs, while A.T. Perry added 11 receptions for 116 yards, Taylor Morin hauled in two touchdowns, and the Deacs' defense notched 10 tackles for loss along with several key fourth-down stops. Wake Forest, which finished 8-5 for just the 10th eight-win season in program history, continued its offensive excellence with multiple explosive drives and timely defensive stands that preserved the program's seventh-straight bowl appearance and extended its position among the ACC's winningest teams since 2016.

Charlotte - A Home Away from Home
The Wake Forest football team has made Charlotte a home away from home throughout program history.

The Demon Deacons have played more games in the Queen City than any other place away from their home at Allegacy Stadium.

The only opponent Wake Forest has played more there has been South Carolina. The Deacs have played the Gamecocks 11 times in the Queen City, holding an 8-3 record in those games.

Three of the last 10 bowl games have come inside of Bank of America Stadium, claiming wins in the 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl over Connecticut and in the 2017 Belk Bowl over Texas A&M.

Notable Games in Charlotte
Inaugural Season for the Atlantic Coast Conference – November 26, 1953

Wake Forest 19; South Carolina 13
- 1953 marked the inaugural season for the Atlantic Coast Conference with the near annual finale slated against South Carolina in Charlotte. The Gamecocks came into the game ranked No. 15 in the nation, winning seven of their previous eight games with their only loss coming to No. 2 Maryland. The 19-13 victory helped the Deacs tie for third in the conference standings.

2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl -- December 29, 2007

Wake Forest 24; UConn 10
- Behind do-it-all receiver Kenneth Moore and a swarming defense full of big plays, Wake Forest rallied to beat fellow upstart Connecticut 24-10 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The Demon Deacons had to come from behind to do it, reeling off the final 24 points after falling behind 10-0 at halftime against the Huskies, who were playing in only their second bowl game. Riley Skinner completed 29 of 38 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, and ACC rookie of the year Josh Adams rushed for 81 yards and a score. Linebacker Stanley Arnoux highlighted a series of big plays for Wake Forest with an interception and two fourth-down stops.

2017 Belk Bowl -- December 29, 2017

Wake Forest 55; Texas A&M 52
- Wake Forest and Texas A&M engaged in the most entertaining bowl game of the season as the Demon Deacons came away with a 55-52 win over the Aggies on Dec. 29 in the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. The game was a back-and-forth affair all afternoon and wasn't settled until Wake Forest running back Matt Colburn scored on a one-yard run with just 2:18 to play. The Deacon defense then forced the Aggies into a fourth down incompletion with 28 seconds remaining to seal the win. The contest featured five lead changes and over 1,200 yards of total offense. The two teams combined to set NCAA bowl game records for total offense plays (191) and pass completions (74) by both teams. Wake Forest was led by quarterback John Wolford who, in his final college game, completed 32 of 49 passes for 400 yards and four touchdowns. Colburn had 150 yards on 21 carries including an electric 66-yard run. Wide receiver Scotty Washington caught nine passes for 138 yards and a score while tight end Cam Serigne had a touchdown reception to go with nine catches and 112 yards receiving. Linebacker Jaboree Williams led the Deacon defense with 11 tackles and an interception while safety Cam Glenn and linebacker Justin Strnad each had 10 tackles in the contest.

Neutral Site Results in Charlotte
Date     Opponent            Result
Oct. 8, 1932     South Carolina     W, 6-0
Nov. 4, 1933     Clemson      L, 0-13
Nov. 30, 1933     Davidson      L, 13-20
Oct. 18, 1935     Furman      L, 0-9
Sept. 26, 1936      North Carolina     L, 7-14
Nov. 25, 1937     Davidson      W, 19-7
Nov. 24, 1938     Davidson      W, 21-0
Nov. 30, 1939     Davidson      W, 46-7
Nov. 28, 1940     South Carolina     W, 7-6
Nov. 29, 1941     Texas Tech     L, 6-35
Nov. 26, 1942     South Carolina     W, 33-14
Nov. 25, 1943     South Carolina     L, 2-13
Nov. 23, 1944     South Carolina     W, 19-13
Jan. 1, 1946      South Carolina     W 26-14
Nov. 28, 1946     South Carolina     W, 35-0
Nov. 27, 1947     South Carolina     L, 0-6
Nov. 26, 1953     No. 15 South Carolina W 19-13
Oct. 30, 1954     Clemson      L, 20-32
Nov. 22, 1956     South Carolina     L, 0-13
Nov. 28, 1959     South Carolina     W, 43-20
Dec. 29, 2007     Connecticut      W, 24-10
Dec. 29, 2017     Texas A&M     W, 55-52
Dec. 30, 2020 Wisconsin      L, 28-42
Dec. 4, 2021      No. 15 Pitt       L, 45-21
Neutral site record in Charlotte: 13-11

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