Ranking Wake Forest's Football Opponents from Easiest to Hardest

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons' 2026 schedule presents the team with some challenges.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A little over five months remain until the 2026 college football season begins, which gives us ample time to assess and evaluate Wake Forest's prospects for success. Wake Forest's 2026 schedule is a mix of 'easy' games and some other contests that are downright difficult. We're going to rank the Demon Deacons' schedule from easiest to hardest, looking at which games could give the team trouble and which ones won't.

Why it matters

Analyzing a team's schedule is crucial to understanding their chances of success in the upcoming season. An easy schedule can provide a team with opportunities for growth and development, while a difficult schedule can present significant challenges that test a team's resilience and capabilities.

The details

The 'Easy' Games include Merrimack and Akron, which should provide Wake Forest with opportunities to stretch their legs before facing tougher opponents. The 'These Could Go Either Way But Are Also Still Extremely Manageable' Games include Stanford, Purdue, and Virginia, which present potential challenges but are still manageable for the Demon Deacons. The 'I Could See These Going Either Way' Games include NC State, California, Georgia Tech, and Duke, which could go either way and will test Wake Forest's abilities. The 'SMU, Louisville and Miami Trio of Death' Games against SMU, Louisville, and Miami are undoubtedly the toughest on the schedule, and winning just one of those contests would be a welcome surprise for the Demon Deacons.

  • The 2026 college football season begins in September 2026.
  • Wake Forest's season opener against Akron is on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
  • Wake Forest's game against Merrimack is on Saturday, November 7, 2026, which is the team's homecoming game.

The players

Jake Dickert

The head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team.

Chandler Morris

The former quarterback for the Virginia Cavaliers, who is now out the door.

Tosh Lupoi

The former Oregon defensive coordinator who is now the head coach of the California Golden Bears.

Brent Key

The head coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Manny Diaz

The head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, the reigning ACC champions.

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What’s next

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons will need to prepare for a challenging 2026 season, with a mix of 'easy' games and some tough matchups against the likes of SMU, Louisville, and Miami. The team's performance in these key games will be crucial in determining their success and potential for a deep postseason run.

The takeaway

Wake Forest's 2026 schedule presents the team with a mix of opportunities and challenges. While they have some 'easy' games that should allow them to build momentum, they also face a trio of tough opponents in SMU, Louisville, and Miami that will truly test their abilities. The Demon Deacons will need to be at their best to navigate this schedule and potentially contend for a conference championship.