The Wake Forest Demon Deacons pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the college football season Saturday, taking down No. 16 Louisville 30-27 on the road.
Wake Forest entered the game looking to bounce back after a loss to No. 5 Miami, while Louisville came in riding a two-game winning streak. Instead, the Demon Deacons walked into L&N Stadium and delivered a statement victory.
The win moves Wake Forest to 3-1 on the season and gives the program another major ACC victory.
Hernandez Leads the Way
Carlos Hernandez was a major difference-maker for Wake Forest, putting together an incredible afternoon through the air.
Hernandez finished with nine receptions for 194 yards, including a spectacular 77-yard touchdown reception. His big-play ability gave the Demon Deacons a consistent weapon against the Louisville defense.
Quarterback Gio Lopez also played an important role, completing 12 of 19 passes for 225 yards. Ty Clark II added two rushing touchdowns as Wake Forest found multiple ways to keep the Cardinals’ defense under pressure.
Wake Forest Holds On Late
Louisville had opportunities to tie the game late, but the Demon Deacons’ defense came through when it mattered most.
Connor Calvert’s 32-yard field goal with 6:20 remaining gave Wake Forest a 30-27 lead. Louisville then had two chances to tie the game with field goals but couldn’t convert.
The Cardinals’ final opportunity came with just 22 seconds remaining. Louisville lined up for a 57-yard field-goal attempt, but Wake Forest blocked the kick to preserve the upset.
A Huge ACC Statement
The victory gives Wake Forest another impressive result against a ranked opponent after the Demon Deacons faced No. 5 Miami just one week ago.
Wake Forest has now shown that it can compete in difficult ACC environments, and Saturday’s win gives the team plenty of momentum heading into the next part of the schedule.
For Louisville, the loss drops the Cardinals to 2-2 after they entered the game ranked No. 16 and coming off a 41-31 win over then-No. 16 SMU.
Wake Forest now returns home next week to face Stanford, while Louisville will look to regroup after watching a late comeback opportunity disappear.
The Demon Deacons came into Louisville looking for a bounce-back win.
They left with one of the biggest wins of their season.
