Wake Forest opens the season Thursday at home against North Carolina A&T of FCS ranks

North Carolina A&T at Wake Forest, Thursday, 7 p.m. ET (ACC Network Extra)

BetMGM College Football Odds: No line.

Series record: Wake Forest leads 1-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Wake Forest had a major stumble amid its years of steady building and success under Dave Clawson. This is the first glimpse at whether that was a hiccup for the Demon Deacons or a sign of a larger concern. The Aggies are a Championship Subdivision program from nearby Greensboro, roughly a 30-mile drive to Winston-Salem. They’re picked to finish 14th in the 16-team Coastal Athletic Association race.

KEY MATCHUP

Wake Forest’s QBs against A&T’s defense. Clawson hasn’t publicly committed to a starter among sixth-year passers Hank Bachmeier and Michael Kern, saying that both would play. Bachmeier is a transfer who spent four years at Boise State and last year at Louisiana Tech. The QB struggles of 2023 contributed to the Demon Deacons ranking next to last in the ACC in scoring (20.2) last year. The Aggies ranked 96th in the FCS ranks in total defense (405.5) and 93rd in scoring defense (30.5) last year.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

N.C. A&T: RB Kenji Christian. He led the team with 718 yards and six touchdowns on the ground last year.

Wake Forest: DE Jasheen Davis. He enters the season ranked fifth in career sacks (20) and could pass Boogie Basham for fourth with just one QB takedown.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Demon Deacons won the only other meeting (42-3) in 2004. ... The meeting of neighboring programs includes roughly 12 sets of high-school teammates split between the rosters. ... The Aggies are coming off a 1-10 season in which they ranked 109th in scoring offense (16.1) and 115th in yardage (261.6). ... Clawson’s teams are 8-2 in season openers at Wake Forest. ... Aggies coach Vincent Brown is in his second season after working as defensive coordinator at William & Mary.

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