Wake Forest opened the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season at No. 16, a spot that leaves the Demon Deacons in the mix but still with plenty of work ahead.
For a team sitting at 7-1, that number has to sting a little. The lone loss came against No.
1 Miami, and ESPN’s metrics have Wake Forest with the 11th-best Strength of Record. Even so, the committee kept the Deacs outside the top 15, a result that appears tied to the lack of wins over ranked opponents.
Last season, the committee added a “record strength” metric that “rewards teams defeating high-quality opponents while minimizing the penalty for losing to such a team.” That wrinkle may have worked against Wake Forest here, and it’s fair to wonder whether a bigger brand would have landed higher with the same résumé.
The ranking also puts the Deacs in a tough spot moving forward. With SMU and Duke not currently ranked, Wake Forest may not have much room to climb during the regular season. That leaves a narrow path: win out and then beat Miami in the ACC Championship Game to punch a ticket to the College Football Playoff.
A lot of that will hinge on the health of starting quarterback Gio Lopez. Head coach Jake Dickert didn’t offer much on Monday, only saying that “when he’s ready to play, he’ll play.”
FanDuel lists Wake Forest at +410 to win the ACC Championship Game and +115 to make the playoff.
In Other News...
Wake Forest Faces A Dangerous ACC Test As SMU Eyes Payback
The ACCs Week 11 schedule drop gave Wake Forest a clearer picture of what waits after its tune-up against Merrimack, and it is a tricky one. The Demon Deacons head to SMU on Nov. 14 for a matchup that carries some real weight in the league race, especially with the Mustangs still carrying the sting of a slow start and recent losses that have dented their standing.
This is also a series with a little history behind it. SMU won the first three meetings between the programs before Wake Forest finally broke through last season, so there is no shortage of motivation on either side. For Wake Forest, the challenge is simple enough: handle business first, then walk into a road game where the opponent will be eager to settle things on its own field. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forest Has A Real CFP Ranking Argument Fans Will Love
The first College Football Playoff rankings of the season brought the usual mix of validation and frustration, and Wake Forest landed in a spot that should at least keep its fan base engaged. With Miami, Georgia and Utah filling the top three and a few other high-profile teams drawing plenty of debate, the committees opening Top 25 already has the feel of a weekly argument board, and the Demon Deacons are right in the middle of it.
Wake Forest checking in at No. 16 gives the program a real case to make as the season moves deeper into November, especially with the rankings now setting the tone for how the rest of the field is viewed. The committees logic will be picked apart from every angle, and for a team trying to climb, the next few weeks will matter a lot in deciding whether this placement looks like respect or a missed opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forest Faces An Early Road Test Fans Cant Ignore
Vanderbilt opened its season with a convincing 93-47 win over Bellarmine, and Tyler Tanner set the tone with 20 points as the Commodores looked every bit like a team still trying to sharpen its edges early in the year. Coach Mark Byington has already framed the bigger picture, stressing that the season is long and the focus has to stay on steady improvement, even after a game that never felt in doubt.
Wake Forest now gets an immediate test on the road Thursday night after handling Maryland Eastern Shore in its opener, and the trip carries a little extra weight because it is a rematch of a December meeting between the programs. For the Demon Deacons, it is the kind of early nonconference challenge that can reveal a lot about where they stand, especially with the schedule offering limited chances to prove it away from home. [Read more 🡒]