Saturday’s ACC showdown between NC State and Wake Forest is getting an earlier-than-expected tipoff, thanks to a winter storm moving through central North Carolina.
Originally slated for a 3:45 p.m. ET start, the in-state rivalry game will now tip off at noon ET at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem. Both programs confirmed the change, citing the forecast of accumulating snow expected to hit hardest Saturday afternoon into the evening.
While the time shift is all about safety and logistics, fans still planning to attend can expect some of the original game-day plans to remain in place - with a few adjustments.
Wake Forest’s tribute to Rodney Rogers, originally scheduled for this game, will now take place on March 7, when the Demon Deacons host California. That event, which was set to honor the late Wake Forest legend, will now serve as a standalone celebration later in the season.
However, the first 1,000 Wake Forest students in attendance this Saturday will still receive a replica Rodney Rogers jersey, keeping one piece of the tribute intact for the NC State game.
Rogers, a Durham native and one of the most dynamic players in Wake Forest history, passed away in November 2025 at the age of 54. His legacy - both on and off the court - continues to resonate deeply with the program and its fans.
Broadcast details for the rescheduled game are still to be announced, but the earlier tip means both teams will need to adjust their game-day routines. For NC State, that means getting locked in earlier than usual for a road game in a tough ACC environment. For Wake Forest, it’s about staying focused while navigating last-minute changes to what was originally planned as an emotional day of remembrance.
One thing’s for sure: snow or no snow, this matchup between two longtime rivals still carries plenty of weight in the conference standings - and now, it just comes with a little more urgency and a lot more winter weather.