WINSTON-SALEM (Interstat) — Darian Mensah threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 5 more yards as Miami defeated Wake Forest 33-20 on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in a Football Bowl Subdivision game at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. The Hurricanes improved to 3-0. The Demon Deacons dropped to 2-1. Attendance was 32,147. Mensah completed 30 of 34 passes and added a 5-yard rushing effort. He was the game’s top star for Miami. The Hurricanes controlled enough of the game to leave with a road victory. Wake Forest moved the ball through the air but could not keep pace. Miami’s defense made key plays and limited the Demon Deacons when it mattered. The win continued Miami’s unbeaten start.

Miami opened the scoring in the first quarter when Mensah found Joshua Moore for a 9-yard touchdown with 7:20 remaining. Jake Weinberg’s extra point gave the Hurricanes an early lead. Wake Forest answered at 1:22 of the first when Gio Lopez connected with Kamrean Johnson for a 10-yard score. Connor Calvert’s kick tied the game. In the second quarter, Mensah hit Elija Lofton for a 21-yard touchdown with 13:07 left. Weinberg added the point. Mark Fletcher Jr. then rushed 1 yard for a touchdown at 8:17. Weinberg’s kick made it a two-score game. Miami led at halftime behind Mensah’s efficient passing and a rushing attack that found short-yardage success. The Hurricanes’ offense mixed quick throws with inside runs and kept the Demon Deacons off balance. Wake Forest stayed within reach by completing passes underneath and outside. The second quarter ended with Miami in front. Miami scored 17 points in the first quarter, 7 in the second, 2 in the third and 7 in the fourth. Wake Forest scored 7 in the first, 6 in the second and 7 in the third.

Wake Forest stayed within reach behind Lopez, who threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns on 29-of-46 passing. Carlos Hernandez caught 10 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown and added 14 punt return yards. Jack Foley had six catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. Kamrean Johnson added two catches for 25 yards and a score. The Demon Deacons also got two catches for 22 yards from Drayden Dickmann, two for 17 from Kam Shanks, and two for nine from Antonio Meeks. Will Loerzel had one catch for 15 yards. Dominick Barry had one catch for six yards. Steele Pizzella recorded one catch for four yards. Ty Clark III ran for 3 yards and caught one pass for 13 yards. KD Daniels had one tackle. Ethan Hyams punted four times for 178 yards. Wake Forest’s defense kept pressure on Miami with Aiden Hall making nine tackles. Zach Lohavichan and Davaughn Patterson each had eight tackles, and Deuce Blades II also had eight. Braylon Johnson added seven stops. Ashaad Williams and Langston Hardy each had six tackles, with Hardy recording a sack. Frank Cusano and Vincent Firenze also had six tackles. Rushaun Tongue and Dallas Afalava each had four tackles, and Afalava added a quarterback hurry. Gabe Kirschke and Somad Eaddy each had three tackles. Myles Turpin and Matt Herron each had two tackles. Camden Hardy, Kadear Dembele, Zamari Stevenson, and KD Daniels each had one tackle. Deuce Dyce recorded one tackle and one quarterback hurry. Patterson added a quarterback hurry. Lohavichan blocked a late 54-yard field goal attempt by Weinberg.

Miami’s passing game spread the ball around. Malachi Toney caught 12 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Elija Lofton had five catches for 39 yards and a score. Daylyn Upshaw added four catches for 22 yards, Joshua Moore had three catches for 16 yards and a touchdown, and Cooper Barkate had four catches for 13 yards. Mark Fletcher Jr. led the rushers with 16 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown. CharMar Brown ran twice for 35 yards and caught one pass for six yards. Javian Mallory carried seven times for 23 yards. Girard Pringle Jr. ran four times for 12 yards, caught one pass for 10 yards, and returned four kickoffs for 67 yards. Defensively, Ethan O’Connor made eight tackles and intercepted a pass. JJ Dunnigan had eight tackles and three quarterback hurries. Justin Scott, Zechariah Poyser, and Bryce Fitzgerald each made four tackles. Chase Smith added four tackles. The Hurricanes’ defense held Wake Forest to 20 points and made enough stops in the second half. Miami’s special teams also contributed, though a late field goal attempt was blocked.

The win continued a strong start for Miami. The Hurricanes opened the season with a 45-6 road win at Stanford on Sept. 4 and followed with a 77-7 home victory over Florida A&M on Sept. 10. Mensah had been sharp in that most recent outing, completing 14 of 15 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns while running for 21 yards. Against Wake Forest, he was nearly as efficient, completing 30 of 34 attempts while guiding Miami to 33 points. Miami’s defense limited Wake Forest’s scoring chances and came up with timely stops. The Hurricanes next host Central Michigan on Sept. 26 before traveling to Clemson on Oct. 3. They also have upcoming games against Florida State, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Duke, Virginia Tech, and Boston College. Miami will look to remain unbeaten as the schedule deepens.

Wake Forest entered having won its first two games. The Demon Deacons beat Akron 38-16 on Sept. 3 and then won 38-36 in overtime at Purdue on Sept. 12. Against Miami, Lopez kept Wake Forest competitive with 312 passing yards and three touchdowns, but the Demon Deacons could not complete a late comeback. Wake Forest will visit Louisville on Sept. 26. The Demon Deacons then host Stanford on Oct. 3 and travel to North Carolina State on Oct. 10. Later games include trips to California, SMU, and Georgia Tech and home dates against Virginia, Merrimack, and Duke. The loss dropped Wake Forest to 2-1, while Miami moved to 3-0. Wake Forest will try to bounce back in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Miami 30, Wake Forest 22. Interstat’s ELO system gave Miami an 83.3 percent probability to win. Wake Forest had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -20.5. The over-under line was 55.5, and the teams combined for 53 points. Miami’s victory came despite the betting line favoring Wake Forest. The result marked another efficient outing for Mensah and the Hurricanes.