Wake Forest vs Miami football preview
- Wake Forest's offense is built around counter and gap runs with Gio Lopez, Ty Clark III and Deuce Lawrence. At Purdue, its three first-half possessions consumed a combined 15:29 and produced 17 points. The preview presents sustained rushing drives as a way to limit Miami's possessions; it does not establish a fixed pace or guarantee the same ball control.
- Jake Dickert wants Wake Forest to force passing situations, disrupt Darien Mensah's timing and vary the defensive picture against Miami's RPO and deep-shot game. The preview notes Miami's rebuilt offensive line struggled with nontraditional fronts against Stanford. Disguised looks offer a possible pressure route, but Wake still has to finish those opportunities.
- The preview reports Miami missing three of its top five corners, including starters OJ Frederique and Xavier Lucas. Wake Forest's Gio Lopez has completed 10 of 17 pressured passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns, with no turnover-worthy play per PFF. Softer Miami coverage and quick Wake timing routes are the writer's conditional projection, not an announced scheme change.
- Wake Forest has scored touchdowns on only 40% of red-zone trips, ranking 125th in the preview, a meaningful finishing concern against Miami. Penalties fell from 11 against Akron to four against Purdue. Both are early-season observations; improved discipline does not by itself resolve the red-zone execution issue.
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No. 5 Miami Travels to Wake Forest for Key ACC Matchup
- Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez has 575 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, 98 rushing yards and two rushing scores through two games. Miami coordinator Corey Hetherman highlights his scrambling, designed-run impact and quick perimeter distribution; containing broken plays is a central defensive concern for Miami.
- Wake Forest's supporting weapons include Carlos Hernandez, with more than 700 receiving yards across his last five games dating to last season, and Ty Clark III, averaging 7.4 yards per carry in the first two games of 2026. Hernandez's yardage spans two seasons; Clark's rushing figure is a small current-season sample.
- Wake Forest's defense has 15 tackles for loss and five sacks but allows 380 yards per game after facing Akron and Purdue. Miami's Ryan Rodriguez describes four returning senior defensive-line starters and veteran linebackers, making protection a priority. The experienced front has created disruption without yet establishing dominant yardage prevention.
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