WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Darian Mensah set an Atlantic Coast Conference record with 24 consecutive completions and threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns as No. 5 Miami defeated Wake Forest 33-20 on Friday night at Allegacy Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Mensah finished 30 of 34 without an interception as the Hurricanes improved to 3-0. His 24 straight completions broke the ACC single-game record of 15, and his streak reached 35 consecutive completions dating to Miami’s previous game against Florida A&M.
Mensah, who entered the game with eight touchdowns and had completed 62 of 65 passes on the season, opened Friday night by completing his first nine attempts for 65 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown pass to Josh Moore. Miami drove 93 yards in 14 plays over 7:33 on its opening possession.
The Hurricanes kept the pressure on through the first half. Mensah found tight end Elija Lofton for a wide-open 21-yard touchdown on Miami’s second scoring drive, giving the Hurricanes a 14-7 lead.
Miami then leaned on its running game.
Running backs Mark Fletcher Jr. and Marty Brown helped move the Hurricanes down the field, with Brown breaking through for a 32-yard run to the Wake Forest 1-yard line. Brown appeared to injure his right knee on the play and was later carted from the field. Fletcher scored from a yard out two plays later to make it 21-7.
Mensah continued his record-setting night before halftime, connecting on his 20th straight pass to Malachi Toney. Toney finished the half with 10 catches for 111 yards, while Jake Weinberg added a 27-yard field goal to give Miami a 24-7 lead at halftime.
Wake Forest (2-1) answered Miami’s opening touchdown with a strong first drive of its own. Quarterback Gio Lopez completed four of five passes for 55 yards, finding Kam Shanks and Kamrean Johnson before hitting Johnson for a wide-open 10-yard touchdown.
Lopez finished with three touchdown passes, including a 23-yard score to wide receiver Jack Foley and a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Carlos Hernandez in the third quarter.
Miami’s defense had its share of problems, particularly against the Demon Deacons’ passing game. The Hurricanes entered the game already without starting cornerbacks Xavier Lucas and O.J. Frederique and also briefly lost defensive tackle Ahmad Moten to a left arm injury. Moten later returned, while Keona Davis and Justin Scott filled in along the defensive front during his absence.
Miami’s defense did come up with key plays when it mattered.
Hurricanes EDGE Marquis Lightfoot opened the second half with a sack of Lopez, and Bryce Fitzgerald made a strong open-field tackle on Shanks to force a punt.
Mensah later led another touchdown drive, with several runs by Javian Mallory helping Miami move down the field before Mensah found Toney for a touchdown. The completion was Mensah’s 23rd straight of the game and extended his streak to 31 dating to the previous week.
After 24 consecutive completions, Mensah finally threw an incompletion with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter, ending the ACC-record streak and forcing Miami to punt.
Wake Forest responded with two touchdown drives. Lopez found Foley for a 23-yard score before connecting with Hernandez on a 17-yard slot-fade touchdown to cut Miami’s lead.
Wake Forest moved into Miami territory on its next possession, with Lopez connecting with Foley for a 49-yard gain. But on fourth-and-5, pressure from Miami defensive lineman Damon Wilson forced Lopez to miss Hernandez, and the Hurricanes took over on downs.
The Demon Deacons had another chance late, but Miami’s defense made its biggest play of the night. A holding penalty in the end zone forced by defensive lineman Damon Wilson II resulted in a safety, extending the Hurricanes’ lead to 33-20 with just over 13 minutes remaining.
That proved to be one of the final significant threats as Miami escaped Winston-Salem with the victory.
Mensah has opened the 2026 season with 71 completions on 79 attempts for 873 yards, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. He has thrown just seven incompletions through three games.
Toney finished Friday with 12 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. Fletcher carried 16 times for 85 yards and a score.
The Hurricanes also left the game concerned about Brown, who sustained what appeared to be a serious knee injury on his 32-yard run.
Up next:
Miami (3-0) hosts Central Michigan (1-1) next Saturday.
Wake Forest (1-2) travels to No. 23 Louisville (1-1) next Saturday
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