Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest's Gio Lopez Named to Davey O'Brien Great 8 for Week 6
10/12/2026 11:59:00 AM | Football
This is the second-straight week that Lopez has been named to the Davey O’Brien Great 8 list for national recognition.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – Wake Forest redshirt junior quarterback Gio Lopez has been named to the Davey O'Brien Great 8 for Week 6, the Davey O'Brien Foundation announced on Monday. This is the second consecutive week that he has been named to the Davey O'Brien Great 8.
Lopez led Wake Forest to its largest road win at NC State in 83 years, as he threw for three touchdown passes along with a rushing score in the Demon Deacons' 38-14 victory on Saturday.
Through the air, Lopez went 26-of-33 for 303 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers while also adding 10 rushing yards and a fourth down touchdown run. The Madison, Ala., native came alive in the second half to help Wake Forest score 31 unanswered points, as he went 15-of-16 in the final 30 minutes for 218 yards and two passing touchdowns along with his rushing score.
He was one of only two quarterbacks in Week 6 action to record 300-plus passing yards, four total touchdowns and zero interceptions alongside Louisiana Tech's Blake Baker.
All quarterbacks who are named to the Great 8 during the first nine weeks of the season officially join the Davey O'Brien Midseason Watch List.
The Davey O'Brien Foundation was created in 1977 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary season this year. The National Quarterback Award, the oldest and most prestigious college quarterback award, was first issued in 1981.
Over its time, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has given away more than $1.4 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life.
In 1938, O'Brien, who wore No. 8 as a star quarterback for TCU, became the first player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award in the same year. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.
Lopez led Wake Forest to its largest road win at NC State in 83 years, as he threw for three touchdown passes along with a rushing score in the Demon Deacons' 38-14 victory on Saturday.
Through the air, Lopez went 26-of-33 for 303 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers while also adding 10 rushing yards and a fourth down touchdown run. The Madison, Ala., native came alive in the second half to help Wake Forest score 31 unanswered points, as he went 15-of-16 in the final 30 minutes for 218 yards and two passing touchdowns along with his rushing score.
He was one of only two quarterbacks in Week 6 action to record 300-plus passing yards, four total touchdowns and zero interceptions alongside Louisiana Tech's Blake Baker.
All quarterbacks who are named to the Great 8 during the first nine weeks of the season officially join the Davey O'Brien Midseason Watch List.
The Davey O'Brien Foundation was created in 1977 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary season this year. The National Quarterback Award, the oldest and most prestigious college quarterback award, was first issued in 1981.
Over its time, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has given away more than $1.4 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life.
In 1938, O'Brien, who wore No. 8 as a star quarterback for TCU, became the first player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award in the same year. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.
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