Wake Forest QB Gio Lopez Earns Second Manning Award Star of the Week Honor
Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez continues to make his mark during the 2026 college football season, earning his second Manning Award Star of the Week selection after leading the Demon Deacons to a commanding 38-14 victory over NC State.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl announced the honor Monday, recognizing the redshirt junior for his performance in Week 6. Lopez previously earned the distinction following Wake Forest’s season-opening win over Akron in Week 1.
Photo: Wake Forest Athletics
Gio Lopez Leads Wake Forest to Historic Road Victory
Lopez delivered a four-touchdown performance against NC State, helping Wake Forest secure its largest road win over the Wolfpack in Raleigh in 83 years.
The Madison, Alabama, native completed 26 of 33 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Carlos Hernandez, Jack Foley and Matthew Lusardi for scores. He also added a rushing touchdown on a fourth-down play to cap an impressive offensive outing.
After a competitive opening stretch, Lopez and the Demon Deacons took control in the second half, scoring 31 unanswered points to pull away from NC State.
Lopez was especially efficient after halftime, completing 15 of 16 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns while adding his rushing score. His performance helped Wake Forest turn a close contest into a decisive road victory.
Lopez Among Week 6’s Top Quarterbacks
Lopez was one of only two quarterbacks in Week 6 to record at least 300 passing yards, four total touchdowns and zero interceptions. Louisiana Tech’s Blake Baker was the other quarterback to reach those marks.
His production has also been consistent over the past two weeks. Lopez has accounted for nine touchdowns during that span, including five passing touchdowns and four rushing scores. According to Wake Forest, that total was the most by a Power Four quarterback over those two weeks.
The latest Manning Award recognition adds to an impressive stretch for the redshirt junior, who has helped lead the Demon Deacons’ offense with his passing efficiency and ability to make plays on the ground.
What Is the Manning Award?
Established by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2004, the Manning Award recognizes the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning.
The award is unique among major college quarterback honors because its voting process takes bowl-game performances into account. Throughout the regular season, the Manning Award selects a group of Stars of the Week based on standout quarterback performances.
Fans can then vote through the award’s social media channels, @ManningAward, to determine the overall Quarterback of the Week.
With two Manning Award Star of the Week selections already this season, Lopez continues to build his résumé as Wake Forest moves deeper into its 2026 campaign.
Source: Wake Forest Athletics.
