Wake Forest won the 2025 Duke's Mayo Bowl.
The game, formally known as the Duke's Mayo Bowl (often shortened to Mayo Bowl), pitted Wake Forest against Mississippi State on December 31, 2025, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Wake Forest secured a thrilling 43-29 victory, capping off their nine-win season in style.

Game Highlights

Wake Forest's redshirt senior quarterback Robby Ashford earned MVP honors with a standout performance: 20-of-33 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns, plus 50 rushing yards and two more scores. Sophomore running back Ty Clark III added 91 rushing yards and a 62-yard receiving touchdown. Mississippi State mounted a late comeback attempt, narrowing the gap to 30-27, but Wake Forest held firm.

Key moments included:

  • Mississippi State's early field goal, quickly answered by Wake Forest freshman Koredell Bartley's 100-yard kickoff return touchdown.
  • A successful two-point conversion to take an early 8-3 lead.
  • Ashford's five total touchdowns marking a career milestone.

Final Score Breakdown

Team| Score| Key Stats 35
---|---|---
Wake Forest| 43| Ashford: 5 TDs; Clark III: 91 rush yds, 1 rec TD
Mississippi State| 29| Taylor: Late TD pass; Thompson: 1,000+ season rec yds

(Note: An earlier matchup listed Minnesota beating Virginia Tech 24-10, but the 2025 championship edition featured Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State.)

Post-Game Buzz

Head coach Jake Dickert celebrated with the traditional mayo bath, dousing victory in Charlotte's festive bowl tradition. Fans and media hailed Wake Forest's resilience against a gritty Mississippi State squad led by freshman QB Kamario Taylor, who shone before a late injury. Trending discussions highlight Ashford's breakout game as a sign of ACC strength heading into 2026.

This win boosts Wake Forest's bowl record and sets up intriguing offseason storylines, like Ashford's pro prospects. TL;DR: Wake Forest defeated Mississippi State 43-29 in the 2025 Duke's Mayo Bowl, with Robby Ashford's five TDs stealing the show.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.