Oh, Canada: Wake Forest football heading to Toronto to open 2027 season

Wake Forest will open the 2027 football season north of the border.

The Demon Deacons will head to Toronto to take on Syracuse in an ACC game that will be the first college game at BMO Field.

The Week Zero game will be played on Aug. 28 or Aug. 29, 2027, with Wake Forest being designated as the home team. It will be broadcast on either ABC or ESPN and is in conjunction with the 2027 Canadian National Exhibition, bringing even more exposure to Wake Forest, Syracuse and the ACC.

"This is a unique opportunity for Wake Forest football to showcase our program to an international viewing audience to open the 2027 season," Coach Jake Dickert said in a statement. "This game will give our program a chance to experience a new environment, a new crowd and a different kind of energy as the first-ever college football game played at BMO Field.

"Our players, staff and fans alike look forward to the chance to represent Wake Forest at the highest level, and we are fired up to be facing Syracuse in Toronto."

John Currie, the athletics director, said one of the benefits of the game is financial. He also pointed out that the experience for the players and the fans who do travel to the game was a consideration.

Currie, however, did not reveal how much Wake Forest would be getting financially.

Canadian National Exhibition, held annually adjacent to BMO Field, is Canada's largest festival with 150 years of history. Features of the CNE include performances from Grammy-winning musical artists and the Canadian International Air Show, among countless experiences.

Home to the MLS' Toronto FC and the CFL's Toronto Argonauts, BMO Field is one of Canada's premier venues and has hosted numerous events including the 2016 Grey Cup, 2016 MLS Cup and the 2014 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup.

This summer, BMO Field will serve as one of 16 sites for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, including a June 20 group stage matchup between Germany, which will make the quick flight up from its Winston-Salem home base, and Ivory Coast. BMO will also host group stage games between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ghana and Panama, and Panama and Croatia as well as a Round of 32 matchup on July 2.

This will mark just the second-ever game played outside of the U.S. for the Demon Deacons, as Wake Forest faced off with Clemson in the Mirage Bowl on Nov. 28, 1982 at the Tokyo Olympic Memorial Stadium.

Canada has been a pipeline for talented Wake Forest football student-athletes and alums, including four-year letter winner Morgan Kane, who appeared in 43 games for the Demon Deacons from 1996-99 and rushed for more than 2,500 yards with 17 touchdowns.

Additionally, Dan Dever (Ottawa) was a member of the 1967 squad and went on to win three Grey Cup championships while Mat Petz (Windsor, Ontario) spent three years at Wake Forest – including being the program leader with 15 tackles for loss during the 1998 season – before being selected by the Montreal Alouettes with the 12th-overall pick in the 2000 CFL Draft and won the 2002 Grey Cup.

President Susan R. Wente: "Wake Forest is committed to providing outstanding opportunities for our students to both learn and compete in locations around the world. This historic game will be transformative for our student-athletes, and meaningful for Wake Forest as it will introduce us and what we stand for to new audiences across the country and around the world. I am grateful to Vice President and Director of Athletics John Currie and the many partners who are making this possible."

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips: "We are thrilled to bring ACC football to an international stage in Toronto. This conference game represents an exciting opportunity to showcase our student-athletes and our member institutions, as well as put on full display the energy of college football to a new and diverse audience. Building on our successful history of international games – from Dublin to our upcoming game in Brazil – this matchup reflects the ACC's continued commitment to giving our student-athletes a first-class experience, as well as memorable experiences for our fans and alumni, all while helping to grow the game globally."

Athletics Director John Currie: "Building on the incredible momentum of Coach Dickert's 9-4 debut season, we are proud to have earned this unique opportunity which puts Demon Deacon football, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem and the ACC on the international stage in the heart of a world-class city. Being part of the festivities of the Canadian National Exhibition provides a true World Class Student-Athlete Experience and amplifies the exposure of our University, city and state, and adds to the fun Wake Forest fans can experience while supporting Demon Deacons.

ESPN's Kristen Shaver: "We're grateful to Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment for hosting this college football game in Toronto to kick off the 2027 season and look forward to collaborating with them on future details. This relationship sets the stage for a truly historic moment-the first time two American universities will open their season in Canada. We're thrilled to bring Syracuse and Wake Forest to one of North America's premier sports cities during the excitement of the Canadian National Exhibition, creating an unforgettable backdrop and experience for traveling fans."

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