So, the dust has finally settled on what was honestly a wild 2025 season for the Deacs. If you were watching, you saw Jake Dickert basically hit the ground running in his first year, leading Wake Forest to an 8-4 regular season and then capping it off with that 43-29 win over Mississippi State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
Now, we’re staring down the Wake Forest football schedule for 2026, and things are getting a bit weird—in a good way. The ACC is finally pulling the trigger on the nine-game conference schedule. For Wake, that means one less "buy-a-win" non-conference game and one more absolute grind against a league opponent.
Honestly, the 2026 slate looks like a frequent flyer’s dream and a coach’s nightmare. We’re talking about the first-ever trip to California in program history. Yeah, you read that right. Wake is heading to Berkeley to play Cal.
The Non-Conference Breakdown: Akron, Purdue, and Merrimack
Wake Forest isn't exactly loading up on traditional blue bloods for the out-of-conference (OOC) games, but the trip to West Lafayette is the one everyone has circled.
- Akron (September 3): This is the season opener. It’s a Thursday night at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. There’s something special about Thursday night lights in Winston-Salem. It’s usually humid, the students are loud because they haven't started failing midterms yet, and it’s a great chance to see if the rebuilt offensive line—which lost almost everyone to the portal or graduation—can actually block.
- At Purdue (September 12): This is the big "Power Four" OOC test. Purdue is never an easy place to play. It’s a classic Big Ten environment. If Wake wants to prove 2025 wasn't a fluke, they’ve gotta win this one on the road.
- Merrimack (November 7): This was a late addition to the schedule, announced just this past December. It’s an FCS opponent, and it sits right in the middle of the November gauntlet.
Wait, what happened to the East Carolina game?
You might remember there was supposed to be a game against ECU in 2026. Wake actually paid a buyout to get out of that one. It caused a bit of a stir among local fans who love the in-state matchups, but with the move to nine conference games, someone had to go.
The ACC Gauntlet: Nine Games of Chaos
The ACC schedule is where things get truly interesting. Because the conference has 17 teams now (still feels weird saying that), not everyone plays the same number of conference games. Wake is one of the 12 teams moving to a nine-game format.
Home Games at Allegacy Stadium
- Duke: The Big-4 rivalry continues. After losing to the Blue Devils 49-32 at the end of last season, this is a massive revenge game.
- Miami: The Hurricanes are coming off a Playoff run. This will likely be the "big ticket" game of the year in Winston-Salem.
- Stanford: The Cardinal are making the cross-country trek. It’s only their second-ever visit to Allegacy Stadium.
- Virginia: Always a scrappy game. Wake beat them 16-9 in Charlottesville last year, so expect a defensive battle.
Road Trips and New Horizons
- At Cal: This is the history-maker. A trip to the West Coast.
- At SMU: Wake hasn't played in Dallas against SMU since 1949. Think about that. Harry Truman was president.
- At NC State: The cornerstone. The second-longest continuously played rivalry in FBS history. If you’re a Wake fan, this is the one you’re most likely to travel for, even if Raleigh isn't exactly a "destination" like Berkeley.
- At Georgia Tech: First time the Deacs have been to Atlanta since 2017.
- At Louisville: A tough environment where Wake has historically struggled with turnovers.
Why 2026 Feels Different
Look, 2025 was great, but the Wake Forest football schedule for 2026 is a different beast.
Last year, the OOC schedule was widely criticized for being "too easy" with Kennesaw State, Western Carolina, and Delaware. You can't say that this year. Swapping a local FCS team for a trip to a Big Ten stadium and adding a ninth ACC game fundamentally changes how this team has to prepare.
The biggest hurdle? The trenches.
The Demon Deacons are returning just one starter on the offensive line. One. That’s terrifying. They’ve been aggressive in the portal—bringing in guys like Ryan Berger from Oregon State and Will Way from Weber State—but chemistry takes time. If they don't gel by that Purdue game on September 12, it could be a long autumn.
Important Dates to Watch
While we know the opponents, the ACC usually doesn't drop the specific dates and kickoff times for the conference games until late January.
Historically, the NC State game ends up on a primetime slot, and the Duke game usually closes out the season. Expect the Stanford and Cal games to have some "weird" kickoff times to accommodate the TV networks dealing with three different time zones.
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Actionable Steps for Deac Fans
If you’re planning on following the team this year, don't wait.
- Lock in your tickets early: The "Built in the Dark" season ticket package for $99 is usually the best value, but the deadline for priority selection is February 16.
- Book the Dallas/Berkeley flights now: These are "bucket list" road trips for a lot of fans. Since Wake has never been to Cal, those hotel blocks will fill up fast once the official dates are announced in a few weeks.
- Watch the Portal: Spring ball is going to be crucial. With the turnover on the O offensive line and the loss of Melvin Siani to Texas, the coaching staff is still looking for one more veteran tackle.
The 2026 season is basically a test of whether Wake Forest can maintain its status as a consistent winner in the "new" ACC. It’s a tougher road, more travel, and higher stakes. But hey, that’s why we watch, right?