Wake Forest Athletics
.jpg&height=300&type=webp)
10/28/2026 3:00:00 PM | General
It’s GO TIME, Deacon Nation!
We are setting the table for a November to Remember in our quest for Goal No. 4 – Win Championships, as the final week of October has FOUR Demon Deacon teams in the top three of their respective ACC regular-season races!
With football (No. 14 nationally, tied for second in the ACC), women’s soccer (No. 4, tied for second), men’s soccer (No. 16, third) and field hockey (No. 7, tied for second) all looking ahead to massive Halloween weekend opportunities, I’ll make the quick up-and-back drive to Blacksburg early Friday morning to watch All-American Rocky Hansen and his cross country teammates race for ACC championships, with the men at 10 a.m. and the women at 11 a.m. (live on ACCNX), before returning for President Rodriguez’s inauguration on campus that afternoon.
And while Coach Dickert and company are staying focused on our Built in the Dark mantra, the national spotlight is brightening on the Deacons. ACC Huddle and ESPN’s Bussin’ & Pate on Campus are both coming to town for our Halloween matchup with Virginia, which kicks off at 3:45 p.m. on ESPN2.
As of this morning, fewer than 900 tickets remain for the big game against the Wahoos… let’s all make a few more calls to old friends, fraternity brothers and sorority sisters, neighbors and co-workers, apply some positive peer pressure and get them to Allegacy Financial Stadium this weekend to make noise for Coach Dickert, Gio Lopez and our entire squad!
Our Fan Experience team has put together an awesome array of Halloween activities for kids of all ages, so come early in costume! Check out the full DEACTOWN Halloween schedule!
DEACTOWN Halloween: Virginia Comes to Town
The Deacs are 6-1, bowl eligible and ranked No. 14. Here’s what you need to know:
- Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 31, at 3:45 p.m. on ESPN2. Limited tickets are still available, so get yours here before they’re gone!
- Golden Knights Parachute Team Jumping In! Arrive early as the U.S. Army’s famous Golden Knights are scheduled to be parachuting into Allegacy Financial Stadium by 3:30 p.m. as part of our Salute to Service game theme.
- Celebrate Halloween with the Deacs: Parking lots open at 10:45 a.m. The Lowes Fan Zone opens at 12:45 p.m. with Halloween inflatables, other live games on the big screen, and a live band. Catch the Deacon Walk at 1:30 p.m. See the full lineup of events here.
- The Grounds Greenway Path: An easy way to get to the game is to utilize the new campus pedestrian gate at Faculty Drive and the new University Parkway/Cherry Street crosswalk onto the spectacular Grounds Path along refurbished Silas Creek. This Saturday the Grounds Path gate will swing open at 10:45 a.m. and close 90 minutes after the game.
- Trick or Treat Inside the stadium: Gates open at 2:15 p.m. Starting at 3 p.m., kids can trick-or-treat and meet Demon Deacon student-athletes from our women’s golf, women’s basketball, baseball, and track and field teams at tables inside Gate 5. Then be in your seats early for a pregame show featuring the Golden Knights parachute team landing on the field.
- Costume contest: Fans who dress to impress may be invited onto the field for a crowd-judged costume contest, and the Spirit of the Old Gold and Black will perform “Thriller” at halftime with participants from the Jr. Spirit clinic.
- Answer the Call: Now that we’re bowl eligible, see where the Deacs could play this postseason, from the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte to bowl and College Football Playoff sites. Then join our postseason interest list for the latest updates and exclusive presale access to tickets. Specific information will be shared over the next few weeks as our postseason options start to become more clear. Of course, loyal season ticket holders and Deacon Club members will receive priority access!
Midseason Accolades Elevating Attention for Multiple Demon Deacons!
Led by Coach Dickert’s selection to both the Bobby Dodd and Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year watchlists, the Demon Deacons have received national recognition at the midpoint of the season. Redshirt junior quarterback Gio Lopez’s incredible season so far, in which he’s totaled 23 touchdowns to just one turnover, has garnered recognition nationally including being named to the Manning and Maxwell Award watchlists and earned a league-high three ACC Quarterback of the Week selections. He was also recently invited to be a guest on the Heisman Trophy’s podcast which is a great listen for all Demon Deacon fans! Additionally, senior wide receiver Carlos Hernandez was a midseason addition to the Biletnikoff Award watchlist, given annually to the top wideout in the country. The Athletic also recently featured Lopez and offensive coordinator Rob Ezell, a national story that’s well worth a read for Demon Deacon fans!
There are only three more opportunities to catch your No. 14 Demon Deacons at Allegacy Financial Stadium this season, beginning with Saturday’s showdown with the Virginia Cavaliers. You can purchase tickets through GoDeacs.com/tickets, by calling (336) 758-3322 or by visiting the Wake Forest Athletic Ticket Office located at Bridger Field House behind the north end zone of Allegacy Financial Stadium.
Live From Campus: Three National Shows Come to Wake Forest This Weekend
The fun and pageantry of college athletics includes free opportunities for fans to participate in live national broadcasts, and this weekend we’ll have three of them right here on Manchester Plaza, in front of Johnson and Bostwick Residence Halls! ESPN’s Bussin’ & Pate on Campus kicks things off Friday from 2-3 p.m., as Josh Pate, Taylor Lewan and Will Compton welcome Coach Dickert live at 2:30 p.m., followed by ACC PM from 5-6 p.m. Then on Saturday morning, host Taylor Tannebaum and analysts Jimbo Fisher, Eric Mac Lain and Eddie Royal bring ACC Huddle to campus from 10 a.m.-noon, with Coach Dickert on set at 10:30 a.m. The Spirit of the Old Gold and Black, our cheerleaders and the Demon Deacon will be there so bring your energy and show the country what Deacon Nation is all about!
Parking on campus will be extremely limited Friday afternoon due to the inauguration and other activities. Fans can park at 2400 Reynolda Road and take the shuttle to campus, or park in Lots Z4 and Z5 across Polo Road for a short walk. For ACC Huddle on Saturday morning, fans are welcome to park on campus where available. Remember it’s easy to walk from main campus to Allegacy via the Faculty Drive pedestrian gate!
More Fall Sports Home Action On Deck for Inauguration Weekend
Home competition heats up Friday. Looking for a fourth straight win, No. 7 field hockey hosts Louisville at Kentner Stadium at 5 p.m. for senior night, our final ACC regular-season match before the ACC Championships next week in Chapel Hill. Steps away inside Varsity Arena, volleyball welcomes No. 2 Pitt at 6:30 p.m. (ACCNX), with pre-match trick-or-treating for the kids. Volleyball is back home Sunday at 1 p.m. (ACCNX) against No. 5 SMU.
Battling for High Tournament Seeds, Both Soccer Teams Face Friday Road Tests
Coach Tony da Luz’s No. 4 women’s soccer team has two ACC matches left to shape its postseason seed. The Deacs visit Pitt this Friday at 7 p.m., then return home on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 5 p.m. against Clemson in front of a national television audience (ESPNU) for their final regular-season match at Spry Stadium. Come out to Spry and cheer them on!
Meanwhile, Coach Bobby Muuss’ No. 16 Deacs are unbeaten in their last four and sit third in the ACC, one point behind Clemson, as they head south on I-85 to battle the Tigers Friday at 7 p.m. at Historic Riggs Field (ACCNX), with second place in the standings at stake. No matter Friday’s result, the Deacs have already clinched a home match in the first round of the ACC Championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. at Spry Stadium, with seed and opponent to be determined.
Basketball Opening Night Doubleheader at the Joel
The basketball regular season tips off next Monday, Nov. 2, and you can catch both of our teams in one night at the Joel! Coach Megan Gebbia’s women’s basketball team opens against USC Upstate at 5 p.m. (ACCNX), and Coach Steve Forbes’ men’s team follows at 8 p.m. against Maryland Eastern Shore before heading to No. 24 Vanderbilt on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m. on ESPN2. Make the Joel your Monday night home, and get your tickets here.
Beating the Tar Heels Never Gets Old
Our football team touched down at Piedmont Triad International around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, after our triumphant late-night (early-morning!) victory at Cal-Berkeley. That gave me plenty of time to get cleaned up and catch the end of a dominant field hockey win over Davidson... and then the main event, a 3-1 women’s soccer victory over then-No. 1 North Carolina at Spry Stadium. Fittingly, the week wrapped up Friday night with a thrilling 4-3 field hockey win over the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. The Deacs are rolling, and beating the Tar Heels never gets old... no matter what the sport!
No. 1 Women’s Golf Wraps the Fall as Runner-Up at Landfall
Our top-ranked women’s golf team closed its fall season by tying for second at the Landfall Tradition, led by senior Macy Pate’s runner-up individual finish. Coach Kim Lewellen’s group now turns its attention to the spring... Go Low Deacs!
For every game, time and TV listing across all of our sports, check out our composite athletics calendar. Remember that godeacs.com and all our social media channels are great ways to keep up with all the action, including volleyball’s 3-1 win over NC State this past Sunday and women’s tennis student-athlete Claire Hill’s trip to ITA Sectionals Nov. 5-8. And check ESPN+ and ACCNX from wherever you are for home and away soccer, volleyball and field hockey.
Deacon Club’s Momentum Fueling Scholarships, Victories - How You Can Give from IRA’s
Coming off a record-shattering year, the Deacon Club is ahead of pace again thanks to the generosity of donors coast-to-coast. As the end of the calendar year approaches, many donors who are 70½ or older choose to make tax-smart gifts from their IRAs using a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), satisfying all or part of their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) — and supporting their favorite Demon Deacon Excellence Fund. We are grateful to Deacon Club donors whose generosity gives Wake student-athletes and coaches the resources they need to compete and thrive at Wake Forest. As always, the Deacon Club staff is happy to help and is easy to reach at deacclub@wfu.edu or 336.758.5626.
Deacs on Tour: A Big Month for Wake Forest Golf Alumni
I’m always proud to watch former Demon Deacon student-athletes thrive in the professional ranks and our golf alums gave us plenty to cheer about this month. Michael Brennan (’24) won the Baycurrent Classic in Japan, his third PGA Tour win in 12 months! Rachel Kuehn (’24) earned her LPGA Tour card through the Epson Tour. And Emilia Migliaccio Doran (’21) was named the ANNIKA Inspiration Award recipient, a fitting honor for someone who gives so much back to the game as a broadcaster with Golf Channel and NBC Sports and through her mentorship programs for young girls in golf. Arnold Palmer would be proud... and so are we!
An Update on the Deacon Baseball Program
As shared recently, our head baseball coach Tom Walter is currently away from the team on leave, and assistant coach Eric Niesen is leading the program for the time being. I understand that our inability to answer questions or share additional information, in accordance with standard University policy, can raise concerns. I am proud of our players and coaching staff for remaining focused on concluding our fall training programs – including a 13-3 win on Sunday versus West Virginia to conclude their fall schedule – and buckling down for the stretch run of the academic semester. Thank you for your understanding and continued support for the Diamond Deacs.
From the Quad Big 3
- Join me in celebrating President Rodriguez’s inauguration this Friday! You can watch the 3 p.m. ceremony in Wait Chapel live from wherever you are. Everyone is invited to the free community-wide celebration on Hearn Plaza at 6:30 p.m., culminating in the traditional night-before-the-game fireworks show over the chapel. Check out President Rodriguez’s recent conversation with WFDD on the value of a college degree!
- There’s nothing quite like Homecoming at Wake Forest, and we’ve got a 3:30 p.m. kickoff as the Deacs host Merrimack on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Allegacy Financial Stadium, live on ACC Network. Get your tickets here and bring the whole family to cheer on Gio Lopez and the Deacs.
- As The Grounds continues to rise ahead of its mid-2027 Phase I opening, it is exciting to witness the reaction of visitors to the area as they see the progress each week! Having $300 million in construction also requires a little patience and flexibility with new traffic patterns and other temporary inconveniences – and I appreciate the resilience of all Wake fans in this regard. Stay tuned for ongoing updates about traffic and parking options.
That’s it for today! Let me know your favorite Halloween costume at the stadium, and if you see anything around our games that you especially like or that we need to tweak, send your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to me at wfuad@wfu.edu.
