2025 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team

2025 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Record	6–3 (3–3 ACC)
Head coach	Jake Dickert (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Rob Ezell (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Scottie Hazelton (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
Seasons ←  2024 2026 →

2025 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 16 Georgia Tech		5	–	1					8	–	1
No. 19 Virginia		5	–	1					8	–	2
No. 22 Pittsburgh		5	–	1					7	–	2
SMU		5	–	1					7	–	3
Duke		4	–	1					5	–	4
No. 20 Louisville		4	–	2					7	–	2
No. 15 Miami (FL)		3	–	2					7	–	2
Wake Forest		3	–	3					6	–	3
California		3	–	3					6	–	4
Clemson		3	–	4					4	–	5
NC State		2	–	3					5	–	4
North Carolina		2	–	3					4	–	5
Virginia Tech		2	–	3					3	–	6
Stanford		2	–	5					3	–	7
Florida State		1	–	5					4	–	5
Syracuse		1	–	6					3	–	7
Boston College		0	–	6					1	–	9
Championship: December 6, 2025
As of November 12, 2025 Rankings from CFP Rankings

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

Player	Position	Destination
Horatio Fields	WR	Auburn
Walker Merrill	WR	Austin Peay
Ameir Glenn	DL	Ball State
Chris Marable	DL	Boston College
Antonio Robinson Jr.	CB	Florida Atlantic
Luke Petitbon	OL	Florida State
Nick Ragano	WR	Furman
Harry Lodge	TE	Georgia Tech
Jeremy Hecklinski	QB	Iowa
Demarcus Rankin	DB	Lamar
Tyler Black	K	Liberty
Jamare Glasker	DB	Maryland
Matt Gulbin	OL	Michigan State
Keagen Trost	OL	Missouri
Deuce Alexander	WR	Ole Miss
Luca Puccinelli	TE	Purdue
Charlie Gilliam	QB	Samford
Nick Sharpe	OL	South Carolina
Sam Neely	CB	Stanford
Mitch Griffis	QB	Texas Tech
Donavon Greene	WR	Virginia Tech
Zach Vaughan	OL	Western Michigan
Busbee Phillips	CB	Unknown
Eldrick Robinson II	LB	Unknown
Jaydon Collins	OL	Unknown
Jason Woods	WR	Unknown
Ryan Dupont	TE	Unknown
Kennedy Fauntleroy	RB	Unknown
Tayshaun Burney	CB	Unknown
Trishstin Glass	WR	Unknown
Andrew Hines III	LB	Unknown
Jaydn Girard	WR	Unknown
Bailey Benson	LB	Unknown
AJ Hasson	IOL	Unknown
Demond Claiborne	RB	Withdrawn
Jacob Dennison	OT	Withdrawn

Incoming

Player	Position	Previous school
Deshawn Purdie	QB	Charlotte
Sterling Berkhalter	WR	Cincinnati
Nuer Gatkuoth	DE	Colorado State
Gabe Kirschke	DL	Colorado State
JaMario Clements	RB	Duquesne
Brandon Smiley	DL	Elon
Harry Lodge	TE	Georgia Tech
Dallas Afalava	DL	Idaho
Ja'Marion Kennedy	IOL	Louisiana Tech
Sawyer Racanelli	WR	Montana
Ashaad Williams	CB	North Alabama
Karon Prunty	DB	North Carolina A&T
Jacob Dennison	OL	Ohio
Lardarius Webb Jr.	S	South Alabama
Robby Ashford	QB	South Carolina
Melvin Siani	OL	Temple
Karate Brenson	WR	Tennessee State
Langston Hardy	DE	UConn
Kamrean Johnson	TE	Vanderbilt
Braylon Johnson	CB	Virginia Tech
Reginald Vick Jr.	WR	Virginia Union
Fa'alili Fa'amoe	OL	Washington State
AJ Hasson	OL	Washington State
Chris Barnes	WR	Washington State
Jaylon Edmond	DB	Washington State
Carlos Hernandez	WR	Washington State
Devin Kylany	OL	Washington State
Frank Cusano	LB	Washington State
Rodrick Tialavea	OT	Washington State
Connor Calvert	K	Washington State
Jayden Loving	DL	Western Kentucky
Sascha Garcia	DB	William & Mary

^{[2] [3] [4]}

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 29	7:00 p.m.	Kennesaw State *	Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium Winston-Salem, NC	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
September 11	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	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	The CW	W 30–23	65,632
October 11	3:30 p.m.	at Oregon State *	Reser Stadium Corvallis, OR	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	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL	ACCN	L 7–42	63,677
November 8	7:00 p.m.	at No. 14 Virginia	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	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
November 22	12:00 p.m.	Delaware *	Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium Winston-Salem, NC	ACCN
November 29		at Duke	Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC (rivalry)
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 4) - Released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

^[5]

Game summaries

vs Kennesaw State

See also: 2025 Kennesaw State Owls football team

Game One – Kennesaw State Owls (0–0) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Owls	6	0	3	0	9
Demon Deacons	7	0	3	0	10

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)

See also: 2025 Western Carolina Catamounts football team

Western Carolina Catamounts (FCS) (0–1) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Catamounts (FCS)	0	3	0	7	10
Demon Deacons	21	0	21	0	42

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina

• Date: September 6
• 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)

See also: 2025 NC State Wolfpack football team, NC State–Wake Forest rivalry, and Tobacco Road (rivalry) § Football

NC State Wolfpack (2–0) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wolfpack	14	3	7	10	34
Demon Deacons	14	10	0	0	24

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina

• Date: September 11
• 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

See also: 2025 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

No. 16 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (4–0) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
No. 16 Yellow Jackets	3	0	14	6	7	30
Demon Deacons	0	17	3	3	6	29

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina

• Date: September 27
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.
• Game weather:  
• Game attendance:  
• Referee:  
• TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), and Dawn Davenport (sideline)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	GT	WAKE
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Georgia Tech	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Wake Forest	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Virginia Tech

See also: 2025 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2–2) at Virginia Tech Hokies (2–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Demon Deacons	3	21	3	3	30
Hokies	7	7	9	0	23

at Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia

• Date: October 4
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• 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	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

See also: 2025 Oregon State Beavers football team

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3–2) at Oregon State Beavers (0–6) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Demon Deacons	15	10	7	7	39
Beavers	0	0	0	14	14

at Reser Stadium • Corvallis, Oregon

• Date: October 11
• Game time: 3:30 p.m.
• Game weather:  
• Game attendance:  
• Referee:  
• TV announcers (The CW): Ted Robinson (play-by-play), Ryan Leaf (analyst) and Nigel Burton (sideline)

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

See also: 2025 SMU Mustangs football team

SMU Mustangs (5–2) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Mustangs	0	6	6	0	12
Demon Deacons	3	7	0	3	13

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina

• Date: October 25
• 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

See also: 2025 Florida State Seminoles football team

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5–2) at Florida State Seminoles (3–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Demon Deacons			0
Seminoles			0

at Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida

• Date: November 1
• Game time: 7:30 p.m.
• Game weather:  
• Game attendance:  
• Referee:  
• TV announcers (ACCN): Wes Durham (play-by-play), Steve Addazio (analyst) and Dana Boyle (sideline)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WAKE	FSU
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
Florida State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 14 Virginia

See also: 2025 Virginia Cavaliers football team

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5–3) at No. 14 Virginia Cavaliers (8–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Demon Deacons			0
No. 14 Cavaliers			0

at Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, Virginia

• Date: November 8
• 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
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Wake Forest	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Virginia	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs North Carolina (rivalry)

See also: 2025 North Carolina Tar Heels football team, North Carolina–Wake Forest rivalry, and Tobacco Road (rivalry) § Football

North Carolina Tar Heels (0–0) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Tar Heels			0
Demon Deacons			0

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina

• Date: November 15
• 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

See also: 2025 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (0–0) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Fightin' Blue Hens			0
Demon Deacons			0

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina

• Date: November 22
• Game time:  
• Game weather:  
• Game attendance:  
• Referee:  
• TV announcers ( ):  

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)

See also: 2025 Duke Blue Devils football team, Duke–Wake Forest football rivalry, and Tobacco Road (rivalry) § Football

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0–0) at Duke Blue Devils (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Demon Deacons			0
Blue Devils			0

at Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, North Carolina

• Date: November 29
• Game time:  
• Game weather:  
• Game attendance:  
• Referee:  
• TV announcers ( ):  

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

References

1. Feldman, Bruce; Russo, Ralph D. (December 18, 2024). "Wake Forest hiring Jake Dickert as coach after Dave Clawson's unexpected exit: Sources". The Athletic . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved January 10, 2025.
2. "Wake Forest Football Transfer Portal". ON3.
3. "Wake Forest Demon Deacons 2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247Sports.
4. "2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports. December 16, 2024.
5. "2025 Wake Forest Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 5, 2025.