Jake Dickert’s Wake Forest squad gets a massive chance this Saturday to show everyone they aren’t the same team that crumbled against NC State last year. The Demon Deacons are heading to Raleigh, sitting at a solid 4-1 overall and 2-1 in ACC play. NC State comes in at 3-2 overall, 1-1 in conference, and they’ve been a major headache for Wake in recent memory.
No More Second-Half Collapses: This Team Knows Who It Is
There’s a whole lot of history in this rivalry, dating back to 1910, with NC State holding a 70-43-6 edge. And yeah, long-time fans can rattle off moments from decades ago. But let’s be real, the recent past stings. Wake has dropped three of the last four games against NC State. Remember last year at Allegacy Stadium? Wake was up 24-17 at halftime. Then the wheels fell off. They got outscored 17-0 in the second half. Ouch. Dickert has been open about how long it took his team to find its identity last season, especially not by week three when they played NC State. Both teams finished 2025 at 4-4 in conference play, with Wake at 9-4 overall and NC State at 8-5. Now, Dickert is counting on what a year can do. This year, his team knows its identity, “by a million miles” compared to the 2025 matchup. He still wants to see more running the football, but on defense, he says they’ve “really settled in.” They’ve learned from those early tackling mistakes, taken it to heart, and are playing fast and physical at the line of scrimmage, setting the tone for the whole team.
C.J. Bailey: The Scrambler They Underestimated
One of the biggest lessons learned from last year’s tape has to be how Wake prepares for NC State quarterback C.J. Bailey. Both teams have beaten Louisville recently, so there’s fresh film to watch, but Dickert went straight to last year’s game when talking about Bailey. Last year, they “came in thinking he was a young runner, like he did earlier in his career.” Big mistake. Bailey is a “big-time passer and scrambler,” according to Dickert. His numbers this season prove it: 1,266 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions, plus another 118 rushing yards and two scores. Last year against Wake, he was the picture of balance with 201 passing yards and 205 rushing yards, going 23 of 32 for three touchdowns. Dickert’s plan to counter him this time around? A “better rush plan” and being “more physical at the line of scrimmage.”
This Saturday’s trip to Raleigh isn’t just another game. It’s a chance for Wake Forest to show everyone that the lessons from last year’s collapse have been learned, that their identity is forged, and that they’re ready to physically impose their will. It’s going to be a battle to see if Dickert’s adjustments pay off big-time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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