In a game that will be remembered more for its blunders than its brilliance, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons clawed their way to a heart-stopping 13-12 victory over the SMU Mustangs on Saturday afternoon at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. With the clock ticking down to zero and the home crowd holding its collective breath, kicker Connor Calvert drilled a 50-yard field goal as time expired, capping a sloppy, turnover-riddled affair that epitomized the chaos of midseason college football.
What unfolded over four quarters was defensive masterclass marred by offensive incompetence on both sides. The Mustangs, who entered the contest undefeated in ACC play at 3-0, saw their championship dreams take a significant hit, dropping to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in conference.
Wake Forest, meanwhile, improved to 5-2 (2-2 ACC), salvaging a crucial home win against a team that had been projected as a playoff contender. The final score belied the game’s ugliness: eight combined turnovers, 11 penalties totaling over 100 yards, and just 547 total yards of offense between the two teams. Punting mishaps and red-zone failures turned what could have been a shootout into a punter’s nightmare.
Wake Forest vs. SMU 2025 Game Recap
A First Half of Fumbles and Frustration
The opening quarter set the tone for the defensive slugfest.
Wake Forest’s offense sputtered early, but managed to scratch out a 25-yard field goal from Connor Calvert with 4:59 remaining, capping a methodical 12-yard, seven-play drive that chewed up over three minutes of clock. The Demon Deacons’ defense, anchored by a swarming front seven, stonewalled SMU on their ensuing possession, forcing a three-and-out and giving Robby Ashford favorable field position. Yet SMU, making their first road trip in ACC play since joining the league, responded in the second quarter.
Quarterback Kevin Jennings, who had been a dual-threat dynamo in prior outings, orchestrated a 52-yard, 12-play march that ended with kicker Sam Keltner’s 36-yard field goal at the 11:53 mark, knotting the score at 3-3. The drive featured short, conservative passes and a handful of runs from Brashard Smith, but it was a harbinger of the Mustangs’ struggles to sustain momentum.
Wake Forest struck back swiftly. After a defensive stand, Ashford connected with wide receiver Eni Falayi on a 12-yard slant route for a touchdown just 1:44 later, putting the Deacons up 10-3. The quick-strike score–covering 14 yards in two plays–highlighted Ashford’s mobility, as he scrambled for key yards before the throw. However, the half devolved into absurdity from there.
SMU clawed back with a 35-yard Keltner field goal at 3:53, trimming the lead to 10-6, but not before both teams exchanged turnovers like trading cards. In the final 49 seconds of the half alone, Wake Forest forced a muffed punt recovered by SMU’s Link Rhodes, only for Jennings to toss an interception on the next play. The Demon Deacons capitalized with a short field goal attempted (then blocked) and then fumbled it right back. SMU’s Isaiah Nwokobia snagged another interception, but the Mustangs’ drive stalled, leaving the score unchanged at halftime. Each team had committed two turnovers in the period, with Wake holding a slim 74-62 edge in total yards.
Third Quarter Grit: SMU Seizes the Lead, But at What Cost?
The third quarter belonged to SMU’s defense, which suffocated Wake Forest’s ground game and forced yet another turnover. The Mustangs’ front four, led by edge rushers Ahmaad Moses and Marcellus Barnes Jr., harassed Wake Forest into hurried throws, limiting the Deacons to just 22 rushing yards in the frame.
On offense, Jennings found his rhythm briefly, engineering a 41-yard touchdown drive capped by running back Shaadie Clayton-Johnson’s 6-yard plunge with 2:58 left. But disaster struck on the extra point as it was blocked by Wake’s rush, leaving SMU with just a 12-10 lead. This PAT blunder loomed large, as the Mustangs’ defense continued its turnover party.
Isaiah Nwokobia, the junior safety, added a fumble recovery to his earlier interception, while Moses stripped running back Demond Claiborne on a critical third-down carry. Yet, SMU’s offense couldn’t convert these gifts into points. A three-and-out followed the red-zone fumble, and punter Wade McSparron’s 12-yard shank gave Wake Forest prime real estate at midfield. The Deacons drove deep but stalled at the 8-yard line, opting for a field goal that sailed wide right. Halftime adjustments had Wake leading in time of possession (16:11 to 13:49 in the half), but SMU’s opportunistic defense kept them afloat.
Fourth Quarter Heartbreak: Calvert’s Heroics Seal the Deal
If the first three quarters were a defensive standoff, the fourth was pure pandemonium.
The turnovers continued to happen at inopportune times in the game. Especially, when it looked like each team was attempting to put the game a way. After Wake’s defense forced a punt with under two minutes remaining, the offense was able to complete a chunk yardage play to put themselves in reasonable field goal position.
Connor Calvert trotted out for a 50-yard attempt. The snap was true, the hold steady, and the kick – good! As the ball sailed through the uprights with zeros showing, the crowd erupted in excitement.
Turning Points and What-Ifs
Several “what-ifs” haunted SMU post-whistle. The blocked PAT after Clayton-Johnson’s touchdown? That left just a two-point edge instead of three. McSparron’s shank punts? One set up Wake’s second-quarter touchdown drive. And Jennings’ late fumble? It handed the Demon Deacons the keys to the kingdom. For Wake, the upheld fumble call on Claiborne’s bobble may have decided the outcome, as a turnover there would’ve sealed a Mustangs win.
Bigger Picture: ACC Shake-Up
The loss strips SMU of sole control in the ACC title race. With Georgia Tech and Virginia also stumbling, the Mustangs must win out–including a gauntlet against Clemson and Miami–to have a shot at Charlotte, relying on tiebreakers and upsets elsewhere. Bowl eligibility hangs by a thread; one more win gets them there, but momentum is shattered after their worst offensive output of 2025.
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