Merrimack at Wake Forest - 2026 Matchup Preview
Merrimack logo Merrimack Warriors at Wake Forest Demon DeaconsWake Forest logo
Saturday, November 7th 2026 (12:00 PM EST)
BB&T Field - Winston-Salem, NC

 
Warriors (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach ( - )
Avg Score : 15 - 24 (15 - 24 on Road)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
WAKE 2nd straight Home Game
Our Line: Wake Forest -8.5  (SP+ WAKE -6)
WAKE Win prob: 71% | Cover: 46%
Demon Deacons (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Jake Dickert (9 - 4)
Avg Score : 28 - 22 (28 - 17 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 8.6 - 4.4 (#37)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
 
Merrimack's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
BYE WEEK
Sat 11/7 Merrimack at Wake Forest+8.5

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Merrimack's Schedule
Wake Forest's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Thu 9/3 Wake Forest vs Akron-24
Sat 9/12 Wake Forest at Purdue-7
Fri 9/18 Wake Forest vs Miami+15
Sat 9/26 Wake Forest at Louisville+7
Sat 10/3 Wake Forest vs Stanford-13.5
Sat 10/10 Wake Forest at NC State+3.5
Sat 10/17 Wake Forest at California-3
BYE WEEK
Sat 10/31 Wake Forest vs Virginia-0
Sat 11/7 Wake Forest vs Merrimack-29.5
Sat 11/14 Wake Forest at SMU+8
Sat 11/21 Wake Forest at Georgia Tech+3.5
Sat 11/28 Wake Forest vs Duke-4.5

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Wake Forest's Schedule
Important Stats (2025)
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
MER0%150%000%000%240%0%0000
WAKE#82 (.15)38% (112)28.140% (100)2.79 (101)15637% (115)2383.23 (113)#6 (.03)35% (8)22.137% (12)33% (7)3.24 (31)69.51.61.2
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
MER0%0%000%000%0%0%0000
WAKE0%0%000%000%0%0%0000



Overall Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
MER Offense215150%00000000%0%0%0%0%
WAKE Defense1322.117.335.1%3.241.2 - - - - - 47%51%37%33%18%.03
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
MER Defense224240%00 - - - - - 0%0%0%0%0%
WAKE Offense1328.128.338.4%3.231.6193941562384.550%49%40%37%16%.15

Additional Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDsAvg Field Pos
Merrimack20:000NAN%0%0000000100
Wake Forest1329:041940%55%7.469.51.61.27.42.3330.7
Run Game Stats (2026)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
MER Offense20%0%000000%0%0
WAKE Defense1347% (34)37% (12) - - - - -.02 (10)2.49 (9)64% (22)12% (11)0.88 (27)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
MER Defense20%0% - - - - 00%0%0
WAKE Offense1350% (61)40% (100)34.8156.24.523 (49).11 (67)2.79 (101)79% (21)9% (71)1.12 (11)

Pass Game Stats (2026)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
MER Offense20%0%000000000%0%0%0
WAKE Defense1351% (102)33% (7) - - - - - - 4 (100).1 (12)1.5 (56)36% (10)25% (13).13 (13)6% (62)2 (60)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
MER Defense20%0% - - - - - - 000%0%0%0
WAKE Offense1349% (73)37% (115)17.831.2237.77.613.318 (106)11 (34).25 (69)1.7 (12)33% (93)28% (95).33 (60)6% (78)2.3 (8)

Merrimack's Power Ratings
Merrimack's Power Rating: NR
Merrimack's Offense Rating: NR
Merrimack's Defense Rating: NR
2026 Talent Rating: NR
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% NR
Merrimack's 2026 Expected Record: -
Merrimack's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: NR
Merrimack's Offense SP+ Rating: NR
Merrimack's Defense SP+ Rating: NR

Average Talent
Average NEC Talent Rating is 0
Average Power Five Talent: 883.28
Average FBS Talent: 705.75

Power Ratings Matchup
Merrimack:    Wake Forest: 8.58

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Merrimack:    Wake Forest: 5.7




Wake Forest's Power Ratings
Wake Forest's Power Rating: 8.58  #36
Wake Forest's Offense Rating: 8.68  #80
Wake Forest's Defense Rating: 7.22  #16
2026 Talent Rating: 854.00  #34
Blue Chip Ratio: 3  #65
Wake Forest's 2026 Expected Record: 8.6 - 4.4
Wake Forest's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: 5.7  #52
Wake Forest's Offense SP+ Rating: 26.6  #70
Wake Forest's Defense SP+ Rating: 20.9  #34

Average Talent
Average ACC Talent Rating is 854.47
Average Power Five Talent: 883.28
Average FBS Talent: 705.75


Merrimack Scoring
Offense: 15 PPG
Offense on Road: 15
Defense: 24 PPG
Defense on Road: 24

Merrimack's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 0 - 0
Projected Score
Wake Forest 26
Merrimack 18

Projected Total Points: 44
Wake Forest Scoring
Offense: 28.1 PPG
Offense at Home: 28.3
Defense: 22.1 PPG
Defense at Home: 17.3

Wake Forest's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record at home: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 0 - 0 - 0


YearDateHomeScoreAwayScoreSpreadCoverTotalO/U
TeamWinsCoversO/U
Wake Forest000 Overs
Merrimack000 Unders

WinsCoversFavsDogs
Home Teams0 - 00 - 00 - 00 - 0
Road Teams0 - 00 - 00 - 00 - 0

(#NR) MER at (#36) WAKE
Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCatMERWAKE
Net PPPPPPNRNR
Power RatePwrNR #36
SP+SP+NR #52
Perf GradeGradeNRNR
OffenseOffNRNR
DefenseDefNRNR
Spec TeamsSTNRNR
TalentTalNR #34
Blue ChipsBC%NR #65
Merrimack on Offense
CategoryCat
MER OffWAKE Def
PPPOffPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerfNRNR
SuccessSucNR #8
ExplosiveExpNR #43
PPAPPANR #6
PowerPwrNR #16
SP+SP+NR #34
Pts POPPONR #31
HavocHavNR #21
Merrimack Run Game
CategoryCat
MER OffWAKE Def
Run GameRunNRNR
Run SuccessRSucNR #12
Run ExplRExpNR #27
PPAExpNR #10
Run BlockR BlkNR -
OL YdsOLYNR #9
Stuff RateStuffNR #4
TackleTak - NR
Merrimack Pass Game
CategoryCat
MER OffWAKE Def
Pass GamePassNRNR
Pass SuccessPSucNR #7
Pass ExplPExlNR #56
PPAExpNR #12
Pass Rush/BlockP BlkNRNR
F7 HavocF7NR #11
DB HavocDBNR #62
Wake Forest on Offense
Balanced offense, Pass: 48%, Run: 50%
CategoryCatWAKE OffMER Def
PPPDefPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerfNRNR
SuccessSuc #112NR
ExplosiveExp #5NR
PPAPPA #82NR
PowerPwr #80NR
SP+SP+ #70NR
Pts POPPO #113NR
HavocHav #70NR
Wake Forest Run Game
Balanced offense, Pass: 48%, Run: 50%
CategoryCat
WAKE OffMER Def
Run GameRunNRNR
Run SuccessRSuc #100NR
Run ExplRExp #11NR
PPAExp #67NR
Run BlockR BlkNR -
OL YdsOLY #101NR
Stuff RateStuff #62NR
TackleTak - NR
Wake Forest Pass Game
Balanced offense, Pass: 48%, Run: 50%
CategoryCatWAKE OffMER Def
Pass GamePassNRNR
Pass SuccessPSuc #115NR
Pass ExplPExl #12NR
PPAExp #69NR
Pass Block/RushP BlkNRNR
F7 HavocF7 #71NR
DB HavocDB #78NR
Program Comparison
WAKE 5 Year Profile: Improving Top G5
'26 Profile: Up to Below Avg P4

MER 5 Year Profile: Consistent Poor G5
'26 Profile: Remains Poor G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in BB&T Field
Conditions:
Temp: 0°
No Matchups Past 4 Years
  
MER's OC ()
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
AJ Hairston (Tr)10721650%957444.4
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Keshawn Brown21005.08
AJ Hairston (Tr)43300.123
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Keshawn Brown683113.823
AJ Hairston (Tr)2-80-4.05

View Merrimack's Full Roster

MER's DC ()
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD

WAKE's OC Rob Ezell (in his second season)
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Giovanni Lopez17026165%17471056.7
Wondame Davis Jr. (Tr)010%0000.0
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Ty Clark III7532334.315
Giovanni Lopez8613331.517
KD Daniels (Tr)2812014.316
JaMario Clements226302.99
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Carlos Hernandez40611315.393
Wondame Davis Jr. (Tr)25604624.275
Drayden Dickmann (Tr)3732338.746
Ty Clark III17209112.362

View Wake Forest's Full Roster

WAKE's DC Scottie Hazelton (in his second season)
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Davaughn Patterson804049
Aiden Hall738023
Langston Hardy6515790
Quincy Bryant572010
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Langston Hardy6515790
Gabe Kirschke379540
Dallas Afalava336481
Bernard Causey III (Tr)192106
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Davaughn Patterson804049
Bernard Causey III (Tr)192106
Braylon Johnson381114