The 2025 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Demon Deacons are led by Jake Dickert in his first year as the head coach.[1] The Demon Deacons play their home games at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Offseason
Transfers
Outgoing
Incoming
[2][3][4]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|
| 7:00 p.m. | Kennesaw State* | | ACCN | W 10–9 | 30,789 |
| September 6 | 2:00 p.m. | Western Carolina* | - Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
- Winston-Salem, NC
| ACCNX/ESPN+ | W 42–10 | 28,239 |
| 7:30 p.m. | NC State | - Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
- Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry)
| ESPN | L 24–34 | 29,043 |
| September 27 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 16 Georgia Tech | - Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
- Winston-Salem, NC
| ESPN | L 29–30 OT | 30,264 |
| October 4 | 1:00 p.m. | at Virginia Tech | | The CW | W 30–23 | 65,632 |
| October 11 | 3:30 p.m. | at Oregon State* | | The CW | W 39–14 | 29,710 |
| October 25 | 12:00 p.m. | SMU | - Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
- Winston-Salem, NC
| The CW | W 13–12 | 28,358 |
| November 1 | 7:30 p.m. | at Florida State | | ACCN | L 7–42 | 63,677 |
| November 8 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 14 Virginia | | ESPN | W 16–9 | 55,568 |
| November 15 | 4:30 p.m. | North Carolina | - Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
- Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry)
| The CW | W 28–12 | 32,390 |
| November 22 | 12:00 p.m. | Delaware* | - Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
- Winston-Salem, NC
| ACCN | W 52–14 | 26,950 |
| November 29 | 3:30 p.m. | at Duke | | ACCN | L 32–49 | 21,045 |
| 8:00 p.m. | vs. Mississippi State* | | ESPN | | |
|
[5]
Game summaries
vs Kennesaw State
Game One – Kennesaw State Owls (0–0) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0–0) – Game summary
at Allegacy Stadium • Winston-Salem, NC
- Date: Friday August 29, 2025
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C)
- Game attendance: 30,789
- Referee: Nate Black
- TV announcers (ACCN): Chuckie Kempf (play-by-play), Darius Walker (analyst), and Ashley Stroehlein (sideline)
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- (7:58) WAKE – Robby Ashford 5 yard run, Connor Calvert kick (Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 7:02; WAKE 7–0)
- (4:38) KENN – Coleman Bennett 19 yard run (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:17; WAKE 7–6)
- Second quarter
No scoring plays
- Third quarter
- (9:45) KENN – Daniel Kinney 29 yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 64 yards, 5:15; KENN 9–7)
- (3:05) WAKE – Connor Calvert 22 yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 60 yards, 2:32; WAKE 10–9)
- Fourth quarter
No scoring plays
|
| Statistics |
KENN |
WAKE
|
| First downs |
18 |
20
|
| Total yards |
307 |
348
|
| Rushing yards |
158 |
130
|
| Passing yards |
149 |
218
|
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int |
12–33–0 |
20–28–0
|
| Time of possession |
24:59 |
35:01
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| Kennesaw State |
Passing |
Dexter Williams II |
12/33, 149 yards
|
| Rushing |
Coleman Bennett |
17 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD
|
| Receiving |
Gabriel Benyard |
5 receptions, 103 yards
|
| Wake Forest |
Passing |
Robby Ashford |
20/28, 218 yards
|
| Rushing |
Robby Ashford |
18 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD
|
| Receiving |
Eni Falayi |
4 receptions, 52 yards
|
vs Western Carolina (FCS)
Western Carolina Catamounts (FCS) (0–1) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1–0) – Game summary
at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Date:
- Game time: 2:00 p.m.
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 28,239
- Referee: Garrett Dickerson
- TV announcers (ACCNX/ESPN+): Doug Sherman (play-by-play) and Reggie Walker (analyst)
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- WAKE – Robby Ashford 41-yard run (Connor Calvert kick), 5:57. Demon Deacons 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards, 0:57.
- WAKE – Demond Claiborne 33-yard run (pass failed), 2:59. Demon Deacons 13–0. Drive: 2 plays, 73 yards, 0:42.
- WAKE – Demond Claiborne 27-yard run (pass failed), 2:47. Demon Deacons 19–0. Drive: 1 play, 27 yards, 0:05.
- WAKE Team Safety, 0:27. Demon Deacons 21–0.
- Second quarter
- WCU – Christian Lowery 23-yard field goal, 5:46. Demon Deacons 21–3. Drive: 17 plays, 74 yards, 9:10.
- Third quarter
- WAKE – Demond Claiborne 85-yard run (Connor Calvert kick), 12:29. Demon Deacons 28–3. Drive: 2 plays, 83 yards, 0:42.
- WAKE – Sterling Berkhalter 51-yard pass from Robby Ashford (Connor Calvert kick), 7:16. Demon Deacons 35–3. Drive: 2 plays, 93 yards, 0:37.
- WAKE – Jeremiah Melvin 27-yard pass from Deshawn Purdie (Connor Calvert kick), 1:52. Demon Deacons 42–3. Drive: 3 plays, 30 yards, 0:41.
- Fourth quarter
- WCU – Markel Townsend 1-yard run (Marcus Trout kick), 6:49. Demon Deacons 42–10. Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 10:03.
|
| Statistics |
WCU |
WAKE
|
| First downs |
17 |
21
|
| Plays–yards |
76–238 |
57–542
|
| Rushes–yards |
33–34 |
31–273
|
| Passing yards |
204 |
269
|
| Passing: comp–att–int |
26–43–1 |
16–26–1
|
| Turnovers |
2 |
3
|
| Time of possession |
35:58 |
24:02
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| Western Carolina
|
Passing
|
Bennett Judy
|
18/32, 155 yards, INT
|
| Rushing
|
Isaac Lee
|
5 carries, 40 yards
|
| Receiving
|
Malik Knight
|
5 receptions, 56 yards
|
| Wake Forest
|
Passing
|
Robby Ashford
|
13/22, 227 yards, TD, INT
|
| Rushing
|
Demond Claiborne
|
10 carries, 193 yards, 3 TD
|
| Receiving
|
Chris Barnes
|
6 receptions, 149 yards
|
vs NC State (rivalry)
NC State Wolfpack (2–0) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2–0) – Game summary
at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Date:
- Game time: 7:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Clear, 73 °F (23 °C), SE 3mph
- Game attendance: 29,043
- Referee: Tim Hedgepeth
- TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst) and Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline)
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics |
NCSU |
WAKE
|
| First downs |
24 |
12
|
| Plays–yards |
76–406 |
57–311
|
| Rushes–yards |
44–205 |
22–59
|
| Passing yards |
32–201 |
35–252
|
| Passing: comp–att–int |
23–32–0 |
21–35–0
|
| Turnovers |
0 |
2
|
| Time of possession |
38:05 |
21:55
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| NC State
|
Passing
|
CJ Bailey
|
23/32, 201 yards, 3 TD
|
| Rushing
|
Hollywood Smothers
|
24 carries, 164 yards
|
| Receiving
|
Noah Rogers
|
4 receptions, 52 yards
|
| Wake Forest
|
Passing
|
Robby Ashford
|
21/35, 252 yards, 2 INT
|
| Rushing
|
Demond Claiborne
|
12 carries, 35 yards, 1 TD
|
| Receiving
|
Chris Barnes
|
3 receptions, 76 yards
|
vs No. 16 Georgia Tech
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics |
GT |
WAKE
|
| First downs |
27 |
20
|
| Plays–yards |
85-411 |
71-445
|
| Rushes–yards |
42-163 |
39-212
|
| Passing yards |
248 |
233
|
| Passing: comp–att–int |
29-43-0 |
14-31-0
|
| Turnovers |
1 |
0
|
| Time of possession |
32:46 |
27:14
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| Georgia Tech
|
Passing
|
Haynes King
|
28/42, 243 yards, TD
|
| Rushing
|
21 carries, 106 yards, 2 TD
|
| Receiving
|
Eric Rivers
|
8 receptions, 77 yards, TD
|
| Wake Forest
|
Passing
|
Robby Ashford
|
13/28, 219 yards
|
| Rushing
|
Demond Claiborne
|
21 carries, 119 yards
|
| Receiving
|
Micah Mays Jr.
|
2 receptions, 65 yards
|
at Virginia Tech
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics |
WAKE |
VT
|
| First downs |
|
|
| Plays–yards |
|
|
| Rushes–yards |
|
|
| Passing yards |
|
|
| Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
| Turnovers |
|
|
| Time of possession |
|
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| Wake Forest
|
Passing
|
|
|
| Rushing
|
|
|
| Receiving
|
|
|
| Virginia Tech
|
Passing
|
|
|
| Rushing
|
|
|
| Receiving
|
|
|
at Oregon State
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics |
WAKE |
ORST
|
| First downs |
|
|
| Plays–yards |
|
|
| Rushes–yards |
|
|
| Passing yards |
|
|
| Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
| Turnovers |
|
|
| Time of possession |
|
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| Wake Forest
|
Passing
|
|
|
| Rushing
|
|
|
| Receiving
|
|
|
| Oregon State
|
Passing
|
|
|
| Rushing
|
|
|
| Receiving
|
|
|
vs SMU
SMU Mustangs (5–2) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4–2) – Game summary
at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Date:
- Game time: 12:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Temperature: 58 °F (14 °C) • Wind: NE @ 4 mph • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 28,358
- Referee: Justin Elliott
- TV announcers (The CW): Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Will Blackmon (analyst) and Wes Bryant (sideline)
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- (4:59) WAKE – Connor Calvert 25 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 12 yards, 3:12; Wake Forest 3–0)
- Second quarter
- (11:53) SMU – Sam Keltner 36 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 52 yards, 4:51; Tied 3–3)
- (10:09) WAKE – Eni Falayi 12 yard pass from Robby Ashford, Connor Calvert kick (Drive: 2 plays, 14 yards, 0:41; Wake Forest 10–3)
- (3:53) SMU – Sam Keltner 35 yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 2:49; Wake Forest 10–6)
- Third quarter
- (2:58) SMU – Shaadie Clayton-Johnson 6 yard run, Sam Keltner PAT blocked (Drive: 6 plays, 41 yards, 2:54; SMU 12–10)
- Fourth quarter
- (0:00) WAKE – Connor Calvert 50 yard field goal (Drive: 3 plays, 25 yards, 0:12; Wake Forest 13–12)
|
| Statistics |
SMU |
WAKE
|
| First downs |
8 |
17
|
| Plays–yards |
67–246 |
72–301
|
| Rushes–yards |
28–75 |
35–85
|
| Passing yards |
171 |
216
|
| Passing: comp–att–int |
21–39–1 |
18–37–2
|
| Turnovers |
3 |
5
|
| Time of possession |
27:38 |
32:22
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| SMU
|
Passing
|
Kevin Jennings
|
21/39, 171 yards, INT
|
| Rushing
|
Chris Johnson Jr.
|
8 carries, 29 yards
|
| Receiving
|
RJ Maryland
|
2 receptions, 51 yards
|
| Wake Forest
|
Passing
|
Deshawn Purdie
|
14/26, 183 yards, 2 INT
|
| Rushing
|
Demond Claiborne
|
23 carries, 73 yards
|
| Receiving
|
Chris Barnes
|
5 receptions, 66 yards
|
at Florida State
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5–2) at Florida State Seminoles (3–4) – Game summary
at Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida
- Date:
- Game time: 7:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 63 °F (17 °C) • Wind: SE at 3 mph
- Game attendance: 63,677
- Referee: Riley Johnson
- TV announcers (ACCN): Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Rodney McLeod (analyst), and Victoria Arlen (sideline reporter)
- Box score, Recap
| Game information
|
- First quarter
No scoring
- Second quarter
- FSU - Castellanos,Tommy 6 yd run (Weinberg,Jake kick), 6 plays, 80 yards
- FSU - Singleton Jr.,Samuel 10 yd run (Weinberg,Jake kick), 7 plays, 72 yards
- Third quarter
- FSU - Sawchuk,Gavin 1 yd run (Weinberg,Jake kick), 7 plays, 47 yards
- FSU - Sawchuk,Gavin 1 yd run (Weinberg,Jake kick), 2 plays, 40 yards
- Fourth quarter
- FSU - Pittman Jr.,Randy 7 yd run (Weinberg,Jake kick), 4 plays, 20 yards
- FSU - Robinson,Duce 11 yd pass from Castellanos,Tommy (Weinberg,Jake kick) 4 plays, 78 yards
- WF - Mays Jr.,Micah 6 yd pass from Purdie,Deshawn (Calvert,Connor kick) 4 plays, 19 yards
|
| Statistics |
WAKE |
FSU
|
| First downs |
19 |
18
|
| Plays–yards |
71–247 |
57–421
|
| Rushes–yards |
40–85 |
40–150
|
| Passing yards |
162 |
271
|
| Passing: comp–att–int |
18–31–1 |
12–17–0
|
| Time of possession |
34:24 |
25:36
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| Wake Forest
|
Passing
|
Robby Ashford
|
93 yards
|
| Rushing
|
Robby Ashford
|
59 yards
|
| Receiving
|
Micah Mays, Jr.
|
51 yards
|
| Florida State
|
Passing
|
Tommy Castellanos
|
271 yards
|
| Rushing
|
Samuel Singleton Jr.
|
91 yards
|
| Receiving
|
Duce Robinson
|
148 yards
|
at No. 14 Virginia
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5–3) at No. 14 Virginia Cavaliers (8–1) – Game summary
at Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, Virginia
- Date:
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers (ESPN): Mark Jones (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), and Quint Kessenich (sideline)
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics |
WAKE |
UVA
|
| First downs |
12 |
13
|
| Plays–yards |
64–203 |
64–327
|
| Rushes–yards |
41–139 |
30–163
|
| Passing yards |
64 |
164
|
| Passing: comp–att–int |
9–23–0 |
21–34–0
|
| Turnovers |
0 |
3
|
| Time of possession |
31:42 |
28:18
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| Wake Forest
|
Passing
|
Robby Ashford
|
7/16, 46 yards
|
| Rushing
|
Demond Claiborne
|
25 carries, 75 yards
|
| Receiving
|
Ty Clark
|
1 catch, 22 yards
|
| Virginia
|
Passing
|
Daniel Kaelin
|
18/28, 145 yards
|
| Rushing
|
J'Mari Taylor
|
19 carries, 98 yards
|
| Receiving
|
Trell Harris
|
6 catches, 60 yards
|
vs North Carolina (rivalry)
North Carolina Tar Heels (0–0) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0–0) – Game summary
at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Date:
- Game time: 4:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers (The CW): Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Will Blackmon (analyst) and Wes Bryant (sideline)
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics |
UNC |
WAKE
|
| First downs |
|
|
| Plays–yards |
|
|
| Rushes–yards |
|
|
| Passing yards |
|
|
| Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
| Turnovers |
|
|
| Time of possession |
|
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| North Carolina
|
Passing
|
|
|
| Rushing
|
|
|
| Receiving
|
|
|
| Wake Forest
|
Passing
|
|
|
| Rushing
|
|
|
| Receiving
|
|
|
vs Delaware
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (5-5) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-3) – Game summary
at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Date:
- Game time: 12:00 p.m.
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers (ACCN): Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Rodney McLeod (analyst) and Victoria Arlen (sideline)
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics |
DEL |
WAKE
|
| First downs |
|
|
| Plays–yards |
|
|
| Rushes–yards |
|
|
| Passing yards |
|
|
| Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
| Turnovers |
|
|
| Time of possession |
|
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| Delaware
|
Passing
|
|
|
| Rushing
|
|
|
| Receiving
|
|
|
| Wake Forest
|
Passing
|
|
|
| Rushing
|
|
|
| Receiving
|
|
|
at Duke (rivalry)
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics |
WAKE |
DUKE
|
| First downs |
|
|
| Plays–yards |
|
|
| Rushes–yards |
|
|
| Passing yards |
|
|
| Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
| Turnovers |
|
|
| Time of possession |
|
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| Wake Forest
|
Passing
|
|
|
| Rushing
|
|
|
| Receiving
|
|
|
| Duke
|
Passing
|
|
|
| Rushing
|
|
|
| Receiving
|
|
|
vs. Mississippi State (Duke's Mayo Bowl)
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics |
WF |
MSST
|
| First downs |
|
|
| Total yards |
|
|
| Rushing yards |
|
|
| Passing yards |
|
|
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int |
|
|
| Time of possession |
|
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| Wake Forest |
Passing |
|
|
| Rushing |
|
|
| Receiving |
|
|
| Mississippi State |
Passing |
|
|
| Rushing |
|
|
| Receiving |
|
|
References
|
|---|
| Venues | |
|---|
| Bowls & rivalries | |
|---|
| Culture & lore | |
|---|
| People | |
|---|
| Seasons | |
|---|