Wake Forest Football: Year Two Ain't for the Weak – Here's What We Learned
Football season is almost here, and for Wake Forest fans, the drought is over. The ACC Kickoff in Charlotte last week gave us a hard look at what the Demon Deacons are bringing to the gridiron in 2026. Head coach Jake Dickert, defensive lineman Langston Hardy, transfer quarterback Gio Lopez, and defensive back Devaughn Patterson faced the media. And they didn't sugarcoat a thing. This is a team that knows success is a double-edged sword, and they're ready to swing.
Why Year Two Is the Real Test
Last year, Dickert's first in Winston-Salem, the Deacs shocked the skeptics. Nine wins. A Duke's Mayo Bowl victory over SEC powerhouse Mississippi State. But Dickert knows the score. “Year 2 is always harder than Year 1,” he said, pointing to his own experience at Washington State. Patterson echoed that, warning that the biggest challenge is keeping players humble after a taste of victory. Success, Dickert reminded us, can be a trap. Just ask Wake's “dud” against Florida State after a big win over SMU. This isn't a team that's resting on its laurels. It's a team that knows the American dream takes grit, not just glory.
No Time to Find an Identity
Last season, it took Wake weeks to figure out who they were. A halftime lead against NC State evaporated into a loss. Dickert won't let that happen again. “We have to know who we are before Game 1,” he declared. The grace period is over. This team is built for action, not excuses. That's the kind of discipline that wins championships and builds character.
Gio Lopez: The Quarterback Who Runs the Show
There's a new man under center, and he's not just learning the playbook. He's teaching it. Gio Lopez, a transfer from Chapel Hill, has reunited with his former coach Rob Ezell, now Wake's offensive coordinator. Patterson admitted that competing against Lopez in practice has forced the defense to step up. “Gio gives us the ability to play a drop-back passing style,” Dickert said. This isn't a guy waiting for orders. He's a leader who takes command. That's the kind of merit-based hustle that makes America great.
Defense: Connection Over Reinvention
Hardy put it bluntly: “Connection is our edge.” After the bowl win, he looked around the locker room and saw a defense that's returning almost intact. These guys don't need a rebuild. They need refinement. Patterson wants fewer penalties, cleaner execution, and more communication. No fancy schemes. Just hard work and discipline. That's the conservative playbook: stick to the fundamentals, and let the results speak.
What's Next for the Deacs
Fall camp kicks off in weeks. Wake Forest opens the 2026 season on Thursday, September 3, hosting the Akron Zips at 7 pm ET at Allegacy Stadium. The message from Charlotte is clear: this team is hungry, humble, and ready to prove that Year Two isn't a curse. It's a challenge. And real Americans don't back down from a challenge.
Photo: Sports Illustrated