Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest's Gio Lopez Selected as Manning Award Star of the Week
10/12/2026 12:59:00 PM | Football
This is the second time during the 2026 season that Lopez has been named a Manning Award Star of the Week.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest redshirt junior quarterback Gio Lopez has been named a Manning Award Star of the Week, as announced by the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Monday. This is the second time this season that Lopez has earned Manning Award Star of the Week honors, as he also was selected following his Week 1 performance against Akron.
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.
Lopez went 26-of-33 for 303 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers (Carlos Hernandez, Jack Foley and Matthew Lusardi) through the air while also powering through for a fourth down touchdown run.
The redshirt junior was at his best 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.
Over the last two weeks, Lopez has totaled nine touchdowns (five passing, four rushing) – most by a Power 4 quarterback during that span.
About The Manning Award
Established by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2004, the Manning Award honors the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning and is the only quarterback award that factors bowl performances into its balloting. Each week during the season, the Manning Award recognizes a group of "Stars of the Week" for standout quarterback performances, with fans then voting via the award's social media channels (@ManningAward) to select an overall Quarterback of the Week.
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.
Lopez went 26-of-33 for 303 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers (Carlos Hernandez, Jack Foley and Matthew Lusardi) through the air while also powering through for a fourth down touchdown run.
The redshirt junior was at his best 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.
Over the last two weeks, Lopez has totaled nine touchdowns (five passing, four rushing) – most by a Power 4 quarterback during that span.
About The Manning Award
Established by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2004, the Manning Award honors the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning and is the only quarterback award that factors bowl performances into its balloting. Each week during the season, the Manning Award recognizes a group of "Stars of the Week" for standout quarterback performances, with fans then voting via the award's social media channels (@ManningAward) to select an overall Quarterback of the Week.
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, October 07
Wednesday, October 07
Tuesday, October 06
Monday, October 05