Wake Forest handed No. 12 Virginia its first Atlantic Coast Conference loss of the season, 16-9 on Saturday night.
The Cavaliers (8-2, 5-1 ACC) played most of the game without starting quarterback Chandler Morris, who was injured in the second quarter. This makes no more perfect teams in the ACC and one crazy tiebreaker. However, the Cavaliers’ best start in 35 years will likely have them making a trip to Charlotte at the end of the season.
Connor Calvert made three field goals for the Demon Deacons (6-3, 3-3), including kicks from 50 and 49 yards in the second half. Carlos Hernandez returned a punt 88 yards in the third quarter for the game’s only touchdown.
Virginia outgained Wake Forest 327-203 but failed to reach the end zone for the first time since 2022. Backup quarterback Daniel Kaelin, who replaced Morris, went 18-of-28 for 145 yards but lost two fumbles. His fourth-down pass from the Wake Forest 5-yard line sailed over Jahmal Edrine’s head in the end zone on the Cavaliers’ final drive.
J’Mari Taylor added 98 rushing yards for Virginia but also lost a costly fumble. Demond Claiborne carried 25 times for 75 yards for Wake Forest, which managed just 64 passing yards but played turnover-free football.
The Demon Deacons became bowl-eligible in Jake Dickert’s first season as coach.
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