Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Quarterback Gio Lopez Named Manning Award Star of the Week
9/8/2026 10:57:00 AM | Football
The redshirt junior quarterback threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns in his Wake Forest debut against Akron.
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, following his performance in the Demon Deacons' 38-16 season-opening win over Akron on Thursday, Sept. 3.
Lopez completed 21-of-32 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns while adding 39 yards on the ground against the Zips. It marked his first three-touchdown performance since Nov. 23, 2024, and his 350 passing yards were his most since a career-high 432-yard outing against North Texas on Aug. 31, 2024.
The Madison, Ala., native's night included a 78-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Carlos Hernandez in the second quarter — the longest pass of his collegiate career — along with scoring connections to Kam Shanks and Antonio Meeks.
Lopez became the first Wake Forest quarterback to throw for 350 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions in a game since Sam Hartman did so in 2021, and just the fifth Demon Deacon to accomplish the feat since 1996, joining Hartman, John Wolford, Riley Skinner and Jamie Newman.
Wake Forest tallied 559 yards of total offense in the win, its fourth-straight game with more than 300 passing yards — the longest active streak in the nation dating back to last season.
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 completed 21-of-32 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns while adding 39 yards on the ground against the Zips. It marked his first three-touchdown performance since Nov. 23, 2024, and his 350 passing yards were his most since a career-high 432-yard outing against North Texas on Aug. 31, 2024.
The Madison, Ala., native's night included a 78-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Carlos Hernandez in the second quarter — the longest pass of his collegiate career — along with scoring connections to Kam Shanks and Antonio Meeks.
Lopez became the first Wake Forest quarterback to throw for 350 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions in a game since Sam Hartman did so in 2021, and just the fifth Demon Deacon to accomplish the feat since 1996, joining Hartman, John Wolford, Riley Skinner and Jamie Newman.
Wake Forest tallied 559 yards of total offense in the win, its fourth-straight game with more than 300 passing yards — the longest active streak in the nation dating back to last season.
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
Tuesday, September 08
Monday, September 07
Monday, September 07
Thursday, September 03