By Rollo
Miami faces its first real test against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Miami is looking to go on the road and win its second ACC game against a team that will test the Canes’ defense.
What will be the key for the Canes to come out victorious?
Darian Mensah
Mensah has been marvelous. He has more touchdown passes than incompletions, with eight touchdown passes to just four incompletions. He has a 91.1% passing accuracy and is a top-three Heisman candidate. Right now, he is easily playing like the top quarterback in the nation.
Expect Mensah to light up Wake Forest’s defense, which allowed 16 points to Akron and 36 points to Purdue, respectively.
Wide Receivers
Malachi Toney is the best player in college football and already has 330 yards and four touchdowns in five quarters. But you also have Cooper Barkate, who has two touchdown receptions. In fact, the Canes have already thrown touchdown passes to seven different receivers this year.
A lot of the younger guys, like Joshua Moore and SomourianWingo, are averaging over 20 yards per catch. Those numbers might be skewed because of the level of competition, but what is clear is that Miami has uber-talented receivers beyond Toney who, when given the opportunity, can make big plays.
Running Backs
We know that Mark Fletcher is a championship-caliber back. But the revelation of the FAMU game was seeing Javion Mallory completely take over.
A talented back in the 2026 class, Mallory was not as heralded as some other top players, like Derek Cooper. But Mallory has proven early on to be a steal for the Canes and looks like a future starter.
Mallory exploded for 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries against FAMU in a game where he drew comparisons to Canes legend Frank Gore. Mallory is too good not to continue getting carries, despite the fact that Miami’s running back room is one of the deepest in the nation.
Secondary
Miami’s secondary will be tested by Wake Forest’s high-powered offense. The Demon Deacons have a solid QB in Gio Lopez, who has already thrown four touchdowns with zero interceptions.
Lopez can also kill you with his legs. He is averaging 4.6 yards per carry and has two rushing touchdowns. Miami’s defense will need to contain Lopez and pressure him because he is a playmaker.
Lopez spreads the ball around well and has thrown touchdowns to four different wide receivers. Like Miami, Wake Forest has dangerous playmakers. Carlos Hernandez and Antonio Meeks are both averaging over 20 yards per catch, with Hernandez totaling 253 receiving yards and Meeks recording 125 yards on just five receptions.
Miami is thin in the secondary. Xavier Lucas, OJ Frederique, and Ja’Boree Antoine have all been ruled out. Miami cannot afford any more injuries in this game, but it also means that Bryce Fitzgerald will continue to get reps at cornerback.
Fitzgerald has demonstrated the ability to be elite in man coverage, and now, with Miami facing Wake Forest on the road, the Canes’ secondary will be tested.
Prediction
I don’t see Miami slowing down against Wake Forest. Wake has had two solid wins, but the Demon Deacons are running into a buzzsaw.
Miami is putting up program-breaking numbers, and it hasn’t even played a full game yet. The Canes will put up a ton more points, and I believe we will see the defense step up this week and hold down the fort.
Easy road win for the good guys, with Miami putting together its best effort of the year on both sides of the ball.
Miami — 52
Wake Forest — 13
