Wake Forest University will kick off its 2026 football season on September 3 with a first‑ever matchup against Akron at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston‑Salem, the first college football game in North Carolina slated for the Labor Day weekend.
Coach Dickert’s Impact
Jake Dickert, appointed as the Demon Deacons’ head coach this offseason, guided the program to a 9‑4 record in his inaugural year, the highest win total ever recorded for a first‑year coach in school history.
Returning quarterback Gio Lopez, who transferred from rival North Carolina before earning the starting position, will lead the offense into the new campaign, adding experience and continuity to the backfield.
Wake Forest has established a pronounced opener tradition, winning its last five season‑opening games and ten of the past eleven, a testament to the program’s consistency at the start of each campaign.
The contest will be broadcast on the ACC Network and represents the inaugural football meeting between Wake Forest and Akron, marking a notable milestone for both programs.