Wake Forest vs NC State Preview
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As Jake Dickert tries to put his own imprint on Wake Forest football, there is a major opportunity on Saturday. The Demon Deacons travel to Raleigh to face NC State, a school that has given Wake plenty of trouble in recent years.
Wake comes into the game at 4-1 overall and 2-1 in ACC play. NC State is 3-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Wake Forest vs NC State Preview
Then vs Now
There is all the laudable history of the rivalry. It goes back to having been played every since 1910 (with a few thrown in before that). And NC State has a 70-43-6 margin in the matchup. And certainly long-standing fans have their favorite moments in the rivalry over the decades. But Wake has lost three of the last four against NC State. And that includes last year’s game at Allegacy Stadium. Wake was up 24-17 at the half. And then the Deacs were outscored 17-0 in the second half.
Wake Forest is convinced the circumstances are different this year. The game was week three of the season last year. Dickert has repeated the thought that it took his team far too long last season to find its identity, and it certainly was not discovered in week three of the season. Both teams ended the 2025 season at 4-4 in conference play. Wake finished the year 9-4. NC State was 8-5.
Team Identity
Dickert is counting on what a difference a year makes. For starters, his team knows its identity as it goes into the game. “By a million miles,” Dickert said this week when asked about the team identity in the 2025 NC State game versus the 2026 NC State game. “I still want to see our identity of running the football more,” he said about the Deacs’ offense through the first five games of the season. “Defensively, I think we’ve really settled in. I think we’ve learned from the early tackling mistakes. I think these guys have really taken it to heart. And they’re playing fast and physical at the line of scrimmage, which sets the tone for the whole team.”
Lessons Learned
One of the lessons learned from year to year has to be borne out by the coaching staff on Saturday. Each team has beaten Louisville over the last two weeks, so there is plenty of that tape to watch. But Dickert said the real lesson will be learned from watching the tape of last year’s NC State game and how the Deacs defended, or failed to defend, Wolfpack quarterback C.J. Bailey.
“I think last year we came in thinking he was a young runner, like he did earlier in his career. But he’s a big-time passer and scrambler. So our rush plan will be a little bit better. And we’ve got to be more physical at the line of scrimmage.” Bailey has thrown for 1,266 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions this season. He has rushed for another 118 yards and two touchdowns.
In the 2025 game, Bailey led an offense that was the epitome of balanced with 201 passing yards and 205 rushing yards. He was 23 of 32 throwing with three touchdowns.
Wake Forest also became one-dimensional in the second half, trying to control the game with a rushing attack that just was not there. Wake managed only 59 total net rushing yards. Demond Claiborne had 12 carries for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Missing in Action
Dickert is duly impressed with NC State’s offensive line. “These guys are as big and girthy and physical as any we’ve probably played in my first couple of years here.”
NC State is going to be challenged by potential depth issues on the offensive line this week.
Starting left tackle Jimarion McCrimon is listed as questionable after being banged up in the Louisville game last week. The same is true for Kamen Smith, who has played both tackle positions this season. Left guard Yousef Mugharbil, who is third on the team with 339 snaps this season, is out for the game, as is reserve center Spike Sowells, Jr.
Wake Forest, as of Wednesday’s report, has no starters listed as out.
The Big Picture
The early drives of the game will go a long way to determine the flow. In four of its five games, NC State has scored on its opening drive.
Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren said this week that he expects a different game than last year, and he chalks it up to Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez.
NC State played against Lopez last season when he was struggling at North Carolina. NC State won the game 42-19, and Lopez was 11 of 16 for 118 yards and a touchdown. “Completely different” is the way Doeren described the 2026 version of Lopez. “His confidence, the way he runs the show, he’s playing good.”
The transfer portal changes the complexion of these rivalry games. There are not nearly as many players who are on either side for three or four years of the matchups. Still, Dickert understands what the games against the Big Four games mean to the Wake Forest fan base and the program. He specifically pointed out remembering the NC State fan base with a chant in the Deacs’ home stadium late in last year’s game. I wish we played all three of them (the other Big Four schools) every year.”
Main Image: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
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