Wake Forest Football’s Year Two Challenge: Can They Handle Success?
After a breakout nine-win season and a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory, Wake Forest football enters 2026 with heightened expectations. But at ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, head coach Jake Dickert and his players delivered a sobering message: Year Two might be harder than Year One.
The Demon Deacons exceeded all predictions in Dickert’s debut campaign, topping SEC opponent Mississippi State in the bowl game. Yet the coach warned that success brings its own set of challenges. “I’m just a big believer that Year 2 is always harder than Year 1,” Dickert told reporters, citing his own experience at Washington State where a strong first year was followed by a “very average” second season.
Defensive back Devaughn Patterson echoed that sentiment, saying the biggest challenge is keeping players humble and preventing them from getting too comfortable after “a little bit of success.” Dickert pointed to last season’s win over SMU, which was followed by a “dud” against Florida State, as a cautionary tale.
Why Year Two Could Be Tougher Than Year One
The core issue, according to Dickert, is that teams must learn how to handle success, not just failure. Last year, it took Wake several weeks to establish its identity. A prime example was the Week 3 game against NC State: the Deacs took the opening kickoff for a touchdown, led 24-14 at halftime, but went scoreless in the second half and lost 34-24.
“We have to know who we are before Game 1 than we did last year,” Dickert said. The grace period, he implied, is over. With a roster returning significant defensive experience and a new quarterback at the helm, the pressure is on to hit the ground running.
Gio Lopez: The New Quarterback Already Leading the Offense
One of the biggest offseason questions was how quickly transfer quarterback Gio Lopez could take command. The answer, based on conversations at ACC Kickoff, is that he already has. Lopez, who transferred from North Carolina after a season in Chapel Hill, reunited with his former South Alabama quarterbacks coach Rob Ezell, now Wake’s offensive coordinator.
According to Dickert and the players, Lopez isn’t just learning the offense—he’s helping teach it. Patterson said competing against Lopez in practice has forced him to work on disguising defensive looks. “After practice, Gio will tell me he knew I was blitzing or recognized what I was trying to disguise,” Patterson said. Dickert described Lopez as “comfortable and in control,” adding that his presence allows Wake to play more of a drop-back passing style.
Defensive Continuity Could Be the Key
Defensive lineman Langston Hardy believes the defense’s edge is connection. “I can look to my right, see a teammate, and communicate what we’re going to do through eye contact,” he said. Hardy doubled his sack total from his UConn days to Wake, crediting his understanding of how to play off the strengths of the linemen around him.
Patterson added that the defense doesn’t need reinvention—it needs refinement. His focus for fall camp is on eliminating penalties, avoiding pass interference, offsides, and roughing the passer calls. “Clean up the small details,” he said. The belief is that continuity, communication, and cleaner execution can produce improvement without dramatic change.
What’s Next for Wake Forest Football
Fall camp begins in a few weeks. Wake Forest opens the 2026 season on Thursday, September 3, hosting the Akron Zips at 7 p.m. ET at Allegacy Stadium. The question now is whether the Demon Deacons can build on last year’s success or if the weight of expectations will prove heavier than the challenge of rebuilding.
For a program that prides itself on resilience, the answer may come down to one thing: how well they handle the spotlight.