Wake Forest’s runaway win over NC State did more than add another notch to the record. It pushed the Demon Deacons back into the AP Poll, where they landed at No. 21 in this week’s rankings.
For Jake Dickert’s team, it’s the first AP appearance of the Dickert era. Wake had been hovering just outside the rankings for the past couple of weeks, but the jump from unranked to No. 21 comes after a stretch that has the Deacs looking like a legitimate ACC contender. They’re 5-1 at the halfway point, and the resume now includes road wins over Purdue, Louisville, and NC State.
The offense keeps getting lifted by Carlos Hernandez, who has spent the season turning himself into one of the nation’s most dangerous pass catchers. After Saturday, he moved into the national lead in receptions across all of FBS.
Against the Wolfpack, he put together another big line with 12 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. NC State never really found a way to slow him down.
Jack Foley gave Wake Forest a second major problem for the Wolfpack defense to deal with. He delivered the best outing of his Wake career, finishing with eight catches for 156 yards and a touchdown.
Foley had been building momentum after a slower start to the year, showing more in the second half against Miami before breaking out again in a lopsided win over Wake’s rival. That emergence gives Gio Lopez another dependable option in the passing game.
Defensively, Wake Forest’s performance came in two distinct halves. CJ Bailey was rolling early, and for a while it looked similar to what Darian Mensah had done against this unit.
Then the Deacons settled in and shut things down. NC State managed just 73 yards of total offense in the second half.
Langston Hardy was a major reason the pressure finally started to land. The defensive end posted eight total tackles, 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss, consistently getting after the quarterback and helping Wake’s defense take control after the break.
In Other News...
Dave Doeren Enters A Tough New Conversation For NC State Fans
The early-season coaching carousel is already starting to take shape around the country, and Dave Doeren has found himself in an uncomfortable neighborhood with it. Marylands Mike Locksley is feeling the heat after a loss to Ohio State pushed his team to 2-4, Florida States Mike Norvell is being viewed through a different lens as the school seems more focused on roster investment than a midseason change, and Rutgers Greg Schiano is also dealing with pressure after recent defeats. For NC State fans, the more immediate concern is that Doerens name is now being mentioned in the same breath as coaches whose jobs are suddenly part of the broader conversation.
South Carolinas Shane Beamer bought himself some breathing room with a win at Florida, a reminder that one strong result can change the tone around a program in a hurry. Doeren, meanwhile, does not have that kind of cushion at the moment, and the Wolfpack are entering a stretch where every game can sharpen the questions around the direction of the program. The discussion is no longer just about one loss or one rough afternoon. It is about whether NC State is headed toward the kind of season that forces a much harder look from the outside. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Hits Midseason With Problems A Bye Week May Not Fix
NC State reached the midpoint of its season with a frustratingly familiar kind of loss, one that showed how quickly a promising start can unravel when the details go sideways. A 38-14 defeat at Wake Forest left the Wolfpack at 3-3 overall and 1-2 in ACC play, and the performance was especially troubling because it came with the defense slipping badly after halftime and the offense never finding much rhythm behind a banged-up front.
Dave Doeren pointed to execution issues and gave Wake Forest credit for the way it adjusted, which only sharpened the concern around a team trying to use the bye week as a reset. The Wolfpack already know the problems are not limited to one side of the ball, and with injuries piling up on the offensive line, the break may offer a pause more than a cure. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Is Running Out Of Time To Win Over Josh Rivera
NC States pursuit of Josh Rivera is entering a critical stretch, with the 2027 four-star small forward reportedly planning an official visit to Raleigh even though a date has not been set. Rivera has already taken official visits to Loyola and UMass, and an upcoming trip to USC is on the schedule, giving him a full view of the options that have started to crowd into his recruitment.
A top prospect in New York, Rivera is drawing attention from several high-major programs, which means the Wolfpack will have to make the most of its chance when he gets on campus. The visit alone is a positive sign, but NC State still has work to do if it wants to stay in the race as Rivera moves toward a decision in the near future. [Read more 🡒]