The Wake Forest Demon Deacons were excited coming into Saturday as they took the field for the first time since moving into the AP Poll Top Ten. They’ll be moving right back out of it after a blowout loss to the Louisville Cardinals that was made possible in large part to a six-turnover third quarter.
Wake Forest came into the game having committed just five turnovers on the entire season but suddenly fell apart in stunning fashion in the second half of their game Saturday. After taking a 14-13 lead into the locker room, they emerged by giving the ball away to the Cardinals in just about every way imaginable.
Their third-quarter futility kicked off with a pick-six touchdown, which was followed by a fumble, and then followed by another fumble, which was then followed by an interception, which was followed by yet another fumble, followed by a punt (thank god), before bookending the quarter with a second pick-six touchdown.
Wake Forest's six-turnover 3rd quarter vs. Louisville is truly something to behold. pic.twitter.com/3BBgbBsYgh
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 29, 2022
Wake Forest’s terrible day ended with eight total turnovers and a 48-14 drubbing by the 4-3 Cardinals.
There were some strong reactions to the Deacons’ brutal third-quarter showing that encapsulated just how poorly things went for them on a stage where they wanted to impress the nation.
The ACC hadn't had a team commit eight turnovers in a game in 20 years until last Saturday.
It's had two teams do it in as many weeks (Miami last week, Wake Forest today).
Previous ACC team to do so was North Carolina in 2002 against Miami (Ohio).
— Patrick Stevens (@D1scourse) October 29, 2022
Let’s check in on how Top 10 Wake Forest is doing against unranked Louisville: https://t.co/xahEGDU78m
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1586480845140918274
Wake Forest with six turnovers in one quarter. That is actually super hard to do!
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) October 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1586480845140918274
Wake Forest committed six turnovers vs. Louisville *in the third quarter alone*, including two pick-sixes. that has to be some kind of record.
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) October 29, 2022
some people ask me, what's the perfect number of turnovers in one quarter, and until today I didn't have a good answer
but it's six and Wake Forest did them all
— ¡BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL! (@edsbs) October 29, 2022
That may be the most insane quarter of football I have witnessed. Louisville forced six Wake Forest turnovers in the third quarter, outscoring the Deacs 35-0 in the quarter.
— Curt Weiler (@CurtMWeiler) October 29, 2022
Wake Forest can expect to drop in the polls this week but they’ll get a chance to right the ship next against NC State next weekend.
