Wake Forest beats NC State 38-14 after controlling second half
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons secured a 38-14 victory over the NC State Wolfpack on October 10, 2026, at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, moving to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the ACC. The game turned on a dramatic shift in momentum between halves, with NC State dominating the opening two quarters before Wake Forest controlled the second half through decisive offensive execution.
CJ Bailey Sets First-Half Record Before Wake Forest Adjusts
The contest opened with an early miscue when NC State quarterback CJ Bailey fumbled on the game’s first drive at the Wolfpack 30-yard line. Braylon Johnson recovered the ball for Wake Forest and returned it to the 2-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Gio Lopez connected with tight end Matthew Lusardi for a touchdown to put the Demon Deacons on the board.
Following that initial turnover, Bailey orchestrated a dominant first half for the Wolfpack. He completed 16 consecutive passes, establishing a career record for consecutive completions. Bailey finished the first half 16-for-17 for 173 yards and a touchdown. With NC State leading 14-7 late in the second quarter, Wake Forest threatened inside the red zone with a first-and-goal but failed to reach the end zone. Wolfpack kicker Connor Calvert converted a field goal as time expired, sending NC State into halftime with a 14-10 advantage.
Second-Half Offense Propels Demon Deacons to Shutout Victory
Wake Forest seized control immediately after the halftime break, receiving the opening kickoff of the third quarter and orchestrating an 11-play, 73-yard drive that ended with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Lopez to wide receiver Carlos Hernandez. The Demon Deacons scored three touchdowns in the third quarter and added another in the fourth, blanking the Wolfpack entirely over the final two quarters.
Lopez delivered a standout performance in the second half, completing passes with high efficiency. For the game, Lopez finished 26-of-33 passing for 303 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Receiving targets Jack Foley and Hernandez each surpassed the 100-yard mark. Foley caught eight passes on nine targets for 156 yards and a touchdown, while Hernandez hauled in 12 receptions on 14 targets for 156 yards and a score. Deuce Lawrence paced the Wake Forest ground game with 46 rushing yards on eight carries.
“Gio is an elite player,” head coach Jake Dickert said in his postgame press conference. “I’m really happy with the type of player he is.”
Statistical Breakdown at Carter-Finley Stadium
The final statistics reflect the stark contrast between the two halves of play in Raleigh.
| Statistic | Wake Forest | NC State |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 21 | 16 |
| Third Down Efficiency | 7/13 | 7/15 |
| Fourth Down Efficiency | 2/2 | 1/3 |
| Total Yards | 387 | 258 |
| Passing Yards | 303 | 243 |
| Rushing Yards | 84 | 15 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Times Sacked | 1 | 2 |
| Penalties | 6/55 | 5/52 |
Upcoming ACC Matchup Against Cal
With their fifth win secured, the Demon Deacons turn their attention to a cross-country trip. Wake Forest will travel to the West Coast to face the Cal Golden Bears in an ACC After Dark matchup scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 10:30 p.m. ET.