This is a list of seasons completed by the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team. Representing Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the Demon Deacons are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference in the NCAA Division I FBS. They play their home games out of Truist Field, and are currently led by head coach Dave Clawson.
The Demon Deacons began playing football in 1888, competing as an independent for several decades until joining the Southern Conference in 1936. After 17 years in the SoCon, the Deacons joined the ACC as a charter member in 1953, and have competed in the league ever since. Wake Forest won their first ACC championship in 1970, and captured their first Atlantic Division title in 2006, culminating with a victory over Georgia Tech in the 2006 ACC Championship Game. The Demon Deacons have competed in 16 bowl games as of 2021, having won ten, and have currently made a bowl game in six consecutive seasons, which is the longest streak in program history. Wake Forest has finished the season ranked in the AP Poll on five occasions, most recently in the 2021 campaign which was one of the most successful seasons in school history, as Wake posted an 11–3 mark and was the ACC runner-up.
| Season | Team | Head coach | Conference | Division | Regular season results | Postseason results | Final ranking[2] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Conference[3] | Bowl game/Playoff result | Coaches' Poll | |||||||||||
| Win | Loss | Tie | Win | Loss | Tie | Finish | ||||||||
| Wake Forest Demon Deacons | ||||||||||||||
| 1888 | 1888 | W. C. Dowd | Independent | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1889 | 1889 | W. C. Riddick | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1890 | 1890 | No team | No team | |||||||||||
| 1891 | 1891 | E. Walter Sikes | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1892 | 1892 | 4 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1893 | 1893 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1894 | 1894 | No team | No team | |||||||||||
| 1895 | 1895 | Unknown | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1908 | 1908 | A. P. Hall Jr. | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1909 | 1909 | A. T. Myers | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1910 | 1910 | Reddy Rowe | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1911 | 1911 | Frank Thompson | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1912 | 1912 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1913 | 1913 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1914 | 1914 | Wilbur C. Smith | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1915 | 1915 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1916 | 1916 | G. M. Billings | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1917 | 1917 | E. T. MacDonnell | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1918 | 1918 | Harry Rabenhorst | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1919 | 1919 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1920 | 1920 | James L. White | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1921 | 1921 | 2 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1922 | 1922 | George Levene | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1923 | 1923 | Hank Garrity | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1924 | 1924 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1925 | 1925 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1926 | 1926 | James A. Baldwin | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1927 | 1927 | 2 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1928 | 1928 | Stan Cofall | 2 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1929 | 1929 | Pat Miller | 6 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1930 | 1930 | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1931 | 1931 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1932 | 1932 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1933 | 1933 | Jim Weaver | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1934 | 1934 | 3 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1935 | 1935 | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1936 | 1936 | Southern | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 10th | — | — | — | ||
| 1937 | 1937 | D. C. Walker | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | T-13th | — | — | — | ||
| 1938 | 1938 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 9th | — | — | — | |||
| 1939 | 1939 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | T-7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1940 | 1940 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3rd | — | — | — | |||
| 1941 | 1941 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1942 | 1942 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3rd | — | — | — | |||
| 1943 | 1943 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1944 | 1944 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2nd | — | — | — | |||
| 1945 | 1945 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2nd | Won 1946 Gator Bowl against South Carolina, 26–14 ^ | 19 | — | |||
| 1946 | 1946 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | T-11th | — | — | — | |||
| 1947 | 1947 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 10th | — | — | — | |||
| 1948 | 1948 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5th | Lost 1949 Dixie Bowl against Baylor, 7–20 ^ | 20 | — | |||
| 1949 | 1949 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | T-9th | — | — | — | |||
| 1950 | 1950 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1951 | 1951 | Tom Rogers | 6 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | T-7th | — | — | — | ||
| 1952 | 1952 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | T-2nd | — | — | — | |||
| 1953 | 1953 | ACC | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | T-3rd | — | — | — | ||
| 1954 | 1954 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6th | — | — | — | |||
| 1955 | 1955 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | T-4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1956 | 1956 | Paul Amen | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 7th | — | — | — | ||
| 1957 | 1957 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — | |||
| 1958 | 1958 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — | |||
| 1959 | 1959 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | T-4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1960 | 1960 | Billy Hildebrand | 2 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | T-6th | — | — | — | ||
| 1961 | 1961 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | T-5th | — | — | — | |||
| 1962 | 1962 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — | |||
| 1963 | 1963 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1964 | 1964 | Bill Tate | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | T-3rd | — | — | — | ||
| 1965 | 1965 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — | |||
| 1966 | 1966 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — | |||
| 1967 | 1967 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5th | — | — | — | |||
| 1968 | 1968 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6th | — | — | — | |||
| 1969 | 1969 | Cal Stoll | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — | ||
| 1970 | 1970† | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1st† | — | — | — | |||
| 1971 | 1971 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | T-3rd | — | — | — | |||
| 1972 | 1972 | Tom Harper | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | T-6th | — | — | — | ||
| 1973 | 1973 | Chuck Mills | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 7th | — | — | — | ||
| 1974 | 1974 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1975 | 1975 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1976 | 1976 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3rd | — | — | — | |||
| 1977 | 1977 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1978 | 1978 | John Mackovic | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — | ||
| 1979 | 1979 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | T-2nd | Lost 1979 Tangerine Bowl against LSU, 10–34 ^ | — | — | |||
| 1980 | 1980 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | T-4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1981 | 1981 | Al Groh | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — | ||
| 1982 | 1982 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1983 | 1983 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | T-6th | — | — | — | |||
| 1984 | 1984 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1985 | 1985 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — | |||
| 1986 | 1986 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — | |||
| 1987 | 1987 | Bill Dooley | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | T-3rd | — | — | — | ||
| 1988 | 1988 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | T-4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1989 | 1989 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1990 | 1990 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — | |||
| 1991 | 1991 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | T-7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1992 | 1992 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | T-4th | Won 1992 Independence Bowl against Oregon, 39–35 ^ | 25 | 25 | |||
| 1993 | 1993 | Jim Caldwell | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 9th | — | — | — | ||
| 1994 | 1994 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — | |||
| 1995 | 1995 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 9th | — | — | — | |||
| 1996 | 1996 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 8th | — | — | — | |||||
| 1997 | 1997 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 7th | — | — | — | |||||
| 1998 | 1998 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 7th | — | — | — | |||||
| 1999 | 1999 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | T-5th | Won 1999 Aloha Bowl against Arizona State, 23–3 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2000 | 2000 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 8th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2001 | 2001 | Jim Grobe | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 7th | — | — | — | ||||
| 2002 | 2002 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 7th | Won 2002 Seattle Bowl against Oregon, 38–17 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2003 | 2003 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 7th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2004 | 2004 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 7 | T-10th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2005 | 2005 | Atlantic | 4 | 7 | 3 | 5 | T-4th | — | — | — | ||||
| 2006 | 2006‡ | 11 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1st‡ | Lost 2007 Orange Bowl against Louisville, 13–24 ^ | 18 | 17 | |||||
| 2007 | 2007 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 3 | T-2nd | Won 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl against Connecticut, 24–10 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2008 | 2008 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | T-3rd | Won 2008 EagleBank Bowl against Navy, 29–19 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2009 | 2009 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 4th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2010 | 2010 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 6th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2011 | 2011 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 3 | T-2nd | Lost 2011 Music City Bowl against Mississippi State, 17–23 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2012 | 2012 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 4th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2013 | 2013 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 6th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2014 | 2014 | Dave Clawson | 3 | 9 | 1 | 7 | T-6th | — | — | — | ||||
| 2015 | 2015 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 6th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2016 | 2016 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 5 | T–4th | Won 2016 Military Bowl against Temple, 34–26 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2017 | 2017 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | T-3rd | Won 2017 Belk Bowl against Texas A&M, 55–52 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2018 | 2018 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 5 | T-5th | Won 2018 Birmingham Bowl against Memphis, 37–34 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2019 | 2019 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | T-3rd | Lost 2019 Pinstripe Bowl against Michigan State, 21–27 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2020 | 2020 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 10th | Lost 2020 Duke's Mayo Bowl against Wisconsin, 28-42 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2021 | 2021‡ | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1st‡ | Won 2021 Gator Bowl against Rutgers, 38-10 ^ | 15 | 14 | |||||
| 2022 | 2022 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6th | Won 2022 Gasparilla Bowl against Missouri, 27–17 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2023 | 2023 | – | 4 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 14th | — | — | — | ||||
| Totals | All-time: 492–685–33 | Conference: 225–375–10 | — | Postseason: 11–6 | — | — | ||||||||