Venue & Broadcast
Location: Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET
Surface: Natural grass
Capacity: ~31,500
Broadcast: ESPN (national)
Weather Outlook (early-week forecast)
Temperature at kickoff: ~78°F (26°C)
Conditions: Mostly clear skies, light southwest wind (4–7 mph)
Precipitation chance: <10%
Impact: Ideal offensive conditions — minimal wind disruption for passing/kicking games.
Injury & Availability Report
(ACC programs release official injury reports closer to game day — monitor late-week updates)
NC State: No confirmed starters ruled out; QB CJ Bailey and RB Daylan Smothers healthy after Week 2 win over Virginia.
Wake Forest: No major injuries reported; RB Demond Claiborne and QB Robby Ashford available after dominant win over Western Carolina.
Key Note: Both teams expected to be near full strength barring late-week scratches.
Recent Form
NC State Wolfpack:
W 35–31 vs. Virginia — rallied from 10-point halftime deficit, scored 21 in the third quarter.
W 24–17 vs. East Carolina — defense bent but held in red zone.
Strength: Balanced offense (259.0 pass ypg, 160.5 rush ypg), dual-threat QB play.
Concern: Defense allowing 463.5 ypg, including 320.0 through the air.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons:
W 42–10 vs. Western Carolina — Claiborne rushed for 193 yards and 3 TDs on just 10 carries.
W vs. Kennesaw State — defense allowed under 300 total yards.
Strength: Stout defense (272.5 ypg allowed, 9.5 ppg), explosive run game.
Concern: Red-zone offense ranks last in FBS (40% scoring rate).
Series History
All-time: NC State leads 69–43–6.
Recent: Wake Forest has won 5 of the last 8 meetings, including 2024’s 31–24 upset in Raleigh.
Trend: Home team has won 7 of the last 10 matchups.
Key Player Matchups
QB Duel:
NC State — CJ Bailey: 518 pass yds, 2 TD, 1 INT, 70.2% comp; 65 rush yds, 3 rush TD.
Wake Forest — Robby Ashford: 445 pass yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 66% comp; 66 rush yds, 1 rush TD.
Ground Game:
NC State — Daylan Smothers: 216 rush yds, 3 TD, 5.5 YPC.
Wake Forest — Demond Claiborne: 212 rush yds, 3 TD, 16.3 YPC.
Defensive Playmakers:
NC State — Caden Fordham (LB): 19 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack.
Wake Forest — Defensive unit: Top-25 scoring defense, allowing under 100 rush ypg.
Betting Trends
NC State is 1-1 ATS in 2025.
Wake Forest is 1-1 ATS in 2025.
Last 3 meetings: NC State 2–1 SU, 2–1 ATS; Over has hit once.
NC State has scored 86 points to Wake’s 61 over last 3 matchups.
Game Odds
NC State Wolfpack – 7
Wake Forest Demon Deacons 53.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Wednesday, September 10, 2025
