Notre Dame vs Wake Forest Series History
Notre Dame hosts Wake Forest on Saturday, and this contest will be the final home game for the Fighting Irish seniors. This senior class has proven to be a resilient bunch, as they overcame the disruption of Covid during the 2020 season and the transition from Brian Kelly to Marcus Freeman after the 2021 season. From 2019-2023, Notre Dame has a record of 48-13 with a CFP appearance in 2020 and two bowl victories over Iowa State and South Carolina in 2019 and 2022, respectively.
Also participating in Senior Day on Saturday against Wake Forest will be former Demon Deacon QB Sam Hartman, who starred at Wake Forest before transferring to Notre Dame for his final season. Even though things have not worked out like Notre Dame or Hartman would have hoped, he has been an ambassador of the program and hopefully has imparted the wisdom of his experience on Steve Angeli and Kenny Minchey, which will help Notre Dame in the coming years.
SERIES HISTORY
Notre Dame and Wake Forest have met 5 times previously, with the Irish holding a 5-0 series advantage. The first matchup between these schools did not take place until 2011, but Saturday’s tilt represents the first contest since 2018. Brian Kelly is the only Notre Dame coach to ever face Wake Forest.
SERIES RESULTS
2018 – Notre Dame 56, Wake Forest 27 (Away)
2017 – Notre Dame 48, Wake Forest 37 (Home)
2015 – Notre Dame 28, Wake Forest 7 (Home)
2012 – Notre Dame 38, Wake Forest 0 (Home)
2011 – Notre Dame 24, Wake Forest 17 (Away)
NOTABLE GAMES
2018 – Notre Dame 56, Wake Forest 27
After Notre Dame struggled offensively with Brandon Wimbush at quarterback in the first three games of the season, the Fighting Irish turned to Ian Book for the Wake Forest game and he did not disappoint. Book outdueled a young Sam Hartman (who went 12-24 for 110 yards) en route to 325 yards passing and 2 touchdowns, while also chipping in 43 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns on the ground. RB Jafar Armstrong also had a big game with 98 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. The win moved Notre Dame to 4-0 on the season and over the next month, Book had one of the best stretches of QB play we’ve seen at Notre Dame in the past decade. The Fighting Irish dominated #7 Stanford 38-17 the following week, setting up an undefeated run to the program’s first berth in the College Football Playoff.
2017 – Notre Dame 48, Wake Forest 37
Notre Dame picked up its 7th straight victory and moved to 8-1 with a 48-37 victory over Wake Forest, but the Irish were sloppy – especially on defense – and showed warning signs that would come to fruition with the 41-8 meltdown in Miami the following weekend. Brandon Wimbush passed for a career-high 280 yards and a touchdown and chipped in 110 yards rushing and 2 scores, and Chase Claypool caught 9 passes for 180 yards and a score. In total, Notre Dame rolled up 710 yards of offense, including 380 yards on the ground, even with Josh Adams limited to just 5 carries. However, the defense surrendered 587 yards to Wake Forest, including 239 yards rushing. As mentioned, Notre Dame lost to Miami the following week and after a close win over Navy, fell in the season finale to Stanford.
2015 – Notre Dame 28, Wake Forest 7
The Fighting Irish moved to 9-1 on the 2015 season with a sloppy 28-7 win over Wake Forest in Notre Dame Stadium. Josh Adams broke loose for a 98-yard touchdown run with 9:59 in the second quarter, which is the longest scoring play in Notre Dame history. That was about the only offensive highlight for the Irish though, as Notre Dame posted just 282 total yards and 15 first downs. The defense made timely plays to limit the Demon Deacons and even chipped in on the scoring, with Andrew Trumbetti returning an interception for a score. Notre Dame defeated Boston College the following weekend at Fenway Park before losing the season finale on a last-second field goal at Stanford, denying the Irish a berth in the College Football Playoff.
2012 – Notre Dame 38, Wake Forest 0
Notre Dame dominated Wake Forest on an emotional Senior Day where Manti Te’o and Tyler Eifert were honored and the program improved to 11-0 for the first time since 1989. Everett Golson threw for 346 yards and 3 touchdowns – his best passing performance of the season – and Cierre Wood rushed for 150 yards and a score, a 68-yard dash on the opening drive of the game. Later that night, Kansas State and Oregon, who were both ranked ahead of Notre Dame in the BCS rankings, each lost, moving the Fighting Irish to #1 in the nation. Notre Dame defeated USC the following weekend in Los Angeles, wrapping up an undefeated regular season and securing a berth in the BCS Championship against Alabama.
2011 – Notre Dame 24, Wake Forest 17
It wasn’t pretty, but Notre Dame pulled out a 24-17 victory at Wake Forest in the first-ever matchup between the programs. Tommy Rees threw touchdown passes to Tyler Eifert and Michael Floyd, and Jonas Gray and Cierre Wood combined for 173 yards rushing and a score. The Irish defense played well, limiting Wake Forest to just 297 total yards and holding the Demon Deacons scoreless in the second half, as the Irish overcame a 17-10 halftime deficit. Notre Dame beat Maryland in the Shamrock Series the following weekend and then outlasted Boston College 16-14 on Senior Day, but a loss to #6 Stanford sent the Irish to the Champs Sports Bowl, where they blew an early lead and fell 18-14 against Florida State.
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