Wake Forest, WSSU Bands to Unite for Football Opening Night

Wake Forest football will add a distinctly Winston-Salem element to its 2026 season opener when the university's Spirit of the Old Gold & Black joins Winston-Salem State's Red Sea of Sound for a joint performance.

The bands will share the field Thursday, Sept. 3, as Wake Forest hosts Akron at Allegacy Financial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ACC Network.

This will be the third Opening Night collaboration between the two bands. They previously performed together for Wake Forest openers in 2019 and 2021, both Demon Deacon victories.

Wake Forest says the Red Sea of Sound includes 145 students, while its own Spirit of the Old Gold & Black includes marching, pep and basketball bands. The event also highlights the broader relationship between the two Winston-Salem universities.