Miami, Florida –Â Checking in at No. 5, the Miami Hurricanes demolished Florida A&M and now prepare for a road trip matchup against Wake Forest Friday night. The Demon Deacons will be a better test in Week 3. Wake Forest is coming off a 38-36 double-overtime win at Purdue. With both teams undefeated at 2-0, some say this is UM’s first trap game. The ACC rival is led by a dual-threat quarterback, complemented by an explosive duo at wide receiver. Miami’s secondary has an early-season opportunity to see where it stands. The Hurricanes will be without OJ Frederique, Xavier Lucas, and Jaboree Antoine; this allows other depth pieces to step up.
WEEK TWO CINEMATIC RECAP 🎬
Watch: https://t.co/KjY3nn9JtO pic.twitter.com/OeDrHIjNFz
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) September 12, 2026
Hired in December 2024, Jake Dickert is entering his second season as Wake Forest’s 33rd head coach. The Demon Deacons finished the regular season 8-4 before capping it off with a 43-29 win over Mississippi State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
Wake Forest
Gio Lopez
Gio Lopez takes it to the end zone for the two-point conversion to seal it for Wake Forest! 💪 pic.twitter.com/BYZG4moRGS
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 12, 2026
The redshirt junior is a threat both in the air and on the ground. Against Purdue, he threw for 225 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 98 yards and two more scores. Lopez has 575 passing yards, four TDs, and zero interceptions for 2026. The Canes’ defense hasn’t recorded an INT heading into the contest, so something’s got to give. Wake Forest’s signal caller showed poise and execution in the win over the Boilermakers, and he’ll need that when playing Miami.
Carlos Hernandez
165 YDs in only ONE half 😱
Carlos Hernandez had 5 REC catches for 165 YDs, including a 78-yard TD@WakeFB | @DemonDeacons | #GoDeacs | @DrPepper pic.twitter.com/0HtEVWBo7Y
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) September 4, 2026
The first of a potent 1-2 punch, Carlos Hernandez caught six passes for 88 yards. For the season, Hernandez tallied 11 receptions for 253 yards and one touchdown. The wide receiver is an explosive asset, averaging a whopping 23 yards per catch. Hernandez’s yards after catch are highly efficient, as he excels in space and has the speed to burn past the secondary. Named to the Hispanic Player of the Year Watchlist, the Preseason Third Team All-American has special teams versatility.
Kam Shanks
The Deacs are BACK 🎩
Gio Lopez finds Kam Shanks for the first TD of the season!
📺 @accnetwork x @WakeFB pic.twitter.com/x936gAIf3K
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) September 3, 2026
Another deep ball playmaker, Kam Shanks has eight receptions for 94 yards and one TD through two games. He was somewhat quiet with Purdue, recording three catches for 39 yards, but make no mistake, Shanks complements Hernandez nicely, offering Lopez the tools to pull off big wins. With his exceptional agility and elusiveness, Shanks is a player opposing defenders must account for.
Miami
JJ Dunnigan
JJ Dunnigan TFL pic.twitter.com/iiqu3rR9aj
— Grant Reacts (@GrantReacts1) September 5, 2026
Look who’s here. JJ Dunnigan made his first career start versus FAMU, and it looks like fans will see more of the former four-star prospect. Dunnigan has earned praise since spring, stepping up with cornerbacks OJ Frederique and Xavier Lucas sidelined because of injury. Known for being physical and a good tackler, the freshman is also versatile, able to play strong safety, nickel, and free safety. With six tackles for the season, the youngster will continue to gather valuable experience.
Zechariah Poyser
Impressive back-end range from Miami S Zechariah Poyser pic.twitter.com/Z7fGCcgRz5
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) September 8, 2026
We’re largely watching the defense for week 3 because of the nature of the opponent. Zechariah Poyser was one of Miami’s top defensive playmakers in the secondary in his first year with the Hurricanes. Coming in fourth on the team with 68 total tackles (42 solo), Poyser and the others are charged with containing Wake Forest if not outright stopping them cold. Effective deep coverage will be key.
Damari Brown
Damari Brown PBU pic.twitter.com/H6UoA0CUBk
— Grant Reacts (@GrantReacts1) November 22, 2025
The redshirt sophomore is taking on a bigger role with the secondary getting hit with injuries. Damari Brown was supposed to be a rotational piece, but all that changed. Brown is gradually settling in after sitting out a chunk of 2025. He has elite size, frame, and technique; the last ingredient is staying healthy, something that’s in high demand early in the campaign. Let’s see if Brown can lock down the Demon Deacons.
Prediction
This contest will be closer. And by closer, I mean Wake Forest will put up points. Regardless, the Miami Hurricanes should have no trouble going 3-0. The defense, particularly the secondary, will assuage some of the concerns fans may have. UM wins 38-17 and the Canes will nab two takeaways.
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