By the Numbers and Notes: Western Carolina
9/5/2025 12:52:00 AM | Football
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest football team is back at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium to face Western Carolina on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. ET.
The Gold Rush Game presented by Stickland Brothers and Allegacy Federal Credit Union has limited tickets remaining. Ensure your seat for the in-state showdown.
Before the Deacs open their season against the Catamounts, below are some numbers and notes on the game:
WINNING EARLY AND OFTEN
•DEACS SEASON OPENERS: Over the last 15 years, Wake Forest is 12-3 in season openers including a 10-2 record in the College Football Playoff Era (2014-Pres.). Additionally, The Deacs hold a mark of 11-1 in home openers in that same time period with the lone loss coming to No. 1 Clemson in 2020.
• SEPTEMBER STRONG: Since the start of the 2016 season, Wake Forest holds a record of 24-10 in September. This includes nine of 11 seasons in the College Football Playoff Era (2014-Pres.) with multiple wins in the month, the most recent coming in 2023 when the Deacs went 3-1 with the lone loss coming to Georgia Tech.
• DICKERT STARTS FAST: In his three seasons as a head coach Jake Dickert is a combined 4-0 in season openers while also being 12-2 combined in the months of August and September. Additionally, his teams have 3-2 record against ranked teams in those months and in the 13 games have scored 522 points (37.3 points per game).
WINNINGEST PROGRAM IN NORTH CAROLINA
• Since 2001, Wake Forest football has been the best football program in the state of North Carolina as the Demon Deacons boast an overall record of 48-28 (.632) against all in-state opponents.
• Additionally in the last decade (2016-Pres.), the Deacs are the sixth-most wins in the ACC:
• Clemson -- 105
• NC State -- 70
• Miami -- 69
• Pitt -- 65
• Louisville -- 65
• Wake Forest -- 62
• Florida State -- 62
• Additionally in the College Football Playoff Era (2014-Pres.), the Deacs recorded the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth highest win totals in a single five-year period and the current five-year period (2021-25) of 27 wins ranks just outside of the top 10 all-time:
• 38 (2017-21)
• 37 (2018-22)
• 36 (2004-08 & 2006-10)
• 35 (2019-23)
• 34 (2016-20)
• 33 (2015-19)
• 31 (2020-24)
• 31 (1944-48)
• 30 (1940-44)
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
• With record-setting crowds, multiple sellouts and the best student attendance in school history, playing at home over the past seven seasons has given Wake Forest a huge edge. The Demon Deacons hold a 25-13 (.658) record in home contests since the start of the 2019 season which included a program-record 11-game winning streak spanning from the 2020 to 2022 seasons. The 65.8 percent win rate ranks seventh in the ACC during that time period:
Rank School Wins Losses Pct.
1 Clemson 36 5 87.8
2 NC State 32 10 76.2
3 Louisville 28 11 71.8
4 Miami 26 12 68.4
5 N Carolina 26 13 66.7
6 Pittsburgh 27 14 65.9
7 Wake 24 13 65.8
8 Duke 24 14 63.2
9 Florida St 25 15 62.5
10 Virginia Tech 23 14 62.2
IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
• The Demon Deacons have the third-best record vs. non-ACC teams over the past seven years with a record of 20-7 (.741) with only Duke having a better record in that time:
Rank Team Wins Losses Win Pct.
1. Duke 19 6 .760
2. Wake 20 7 .741
3. Syracuse 18 7 .720
5. Pitt 19 8 .720
4. Clemson 23 10 .704
WINNING THE CLOSE ONES
• During seven bowl appearances since 2016, the Demon Deacons have found a winning formula in one-score ball games, capturing three or more wins by one score in six of those seasons with a total of 25 wins in 45 such games. The Deacs hold the fourth-best winning percentage in those games since 2016 in the ACC:
Rank School Wins Losses Pct.
1 Clemson 26 11 70.3
2 SMU 26 18 59.1
3 NC State 27 20 57.4
4 Wake 25 20 55.6
5 GT 22 18 55.0
LIMITING PENALTIES
• Another key part of the Demon Deacons success during the seven bowl games since 2016 has been the fact that they have had a low number of penalties over those eight years.
• The 2023 season was no different as Wake Forest ranks in the top 25 nationally in fewest penalties, fewest penalties per game and penalty yards. The Deacs lead the ACC in all three categories and ranks in the top seven in the country in each category:
• The 2024 season was no different as Wake Forest ranked 19th nationally in fewest penalties (61) and second in the ACC.
Rank Penalties Pen. Yds Yds/G
1 BC 58 560 43.1
2 Wake 61 551 45.9
3 Virginia 62 544 45.3
4 Stanford 65 588 49.0
5 NC State 66 621 47.7
ROAD WARRIORS
• With the road win over Stanford as well as UConn and NC State earlier last season, the Demon Deacons started 3-0 on the road for the second time under in the last 10 seasons.
• The last two times Wake Forest started a season 3-0 or better on the road came during the 2006 and 2021 seasons that ended in ACC Championship appearances. The only other times were in 1944, 1946 and 1947.
STOUT DEFENSE ON OPENING NIGHT
• Allowing just nine points on Friday against Kennesaw State, it marked the fewest points allowed in a game since Oct. 30, 2021 and was just the seventh game with single-digit points allowed in the last decade:
Rank PA Date Opponent
1. 3 Sept. 1, 2016 Tulane
T2. 7 Oct. 30, 2021 Duke
T2. 7 Sept. 21, 2019 Elon
T2. 7 Nov. 24, 2018 Duke
T2. 7 Aug. 31, 2017 Presbyterian
T6. 9 Aug. 29, 2025 Kennesaw State
T6. 9 Oct. 8, 2016 Syracuse
• The Demon Deacons were one of just three teams in the ACC through Saturday to allow single-digit points along with Virginia and Pitt.
• The Deacs passing defense allowed just 149 yards in the air which ranked third in the conference behind Duke and Louisville who both played FCS opponents in week one.
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
• One of the points of emphasis for the Wake Forest football team is winning the turnover battle. They have been one of the best teams in the country in that category since the start of the 2016 season.
• Over the course of 2020-22, Wake Forest was +1 or better in turnover margin in 53 percent of games which ranked ninth nationally and fifth in the Power-5.
• Over the past eight seasons, Wake Forest has a combined +26 turnover margin. This ranks 30th nationally over that time nationally and third in the ACC:
Rank TO Gained TO Lost TO Margin
1. Clemson 221 166 +56
2. Cal 181 145 +36
3. Wake Forest 184 157 +27
4. Boston College 190 164 +26
5. SMU 184 166 +18
• Only 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024 saw the Deacs finish with more turnovers lost than gained:
Season TO Gained TO Lost TO Margin
2025 0 0 0
2024 17 20 -3
2023 16 22 -6
2022 16 19 -3*
2021 29 20 +9
2020 17 7 +10
2019 25 17 +8
2018 16 19 -3*
2017 21 13 +8
2016 27 19 +8
*Only seasons in Wake Forest history where the Deacs reached a bowl game with a negative turnover margin.
• Winning the turnover battle has been a key to victory for the Demon Deacons in the College Football Playoff Era (2014-Pres.):
Turnover Margin Record When
Even 17-17
+1 or better 42-14
+2 or better 25-3
+3 or better 11-0
TURNING OVER THE OPPOSITION
• In the College Football Playoff era, Wake Forest has been one of the best teams in the country at forcing the opposition to turn it over.
• AMONG THE NATION'S BEST: Since the start of the 2016 season, the Deacs rank 23rd nationally and third in the ACC in turnovers forced:
Rank TO Gained
1. Clemson 221
2. Boston College 190
T3. Wake Forest 184
T3. SMU 184
5. Cal 181
• Additionally, the Deacons have forced a turnover in 61 of their last 71 games dating back to Sept. 28, 2019. The only games without one: vs. Kennesaw State (8/29/25), vs. NC A&T (8/29/24) vs. FSU (10/28/23), vs. Pitt (10/21/23), vs. UNC (11/12/22), at NC State (11/5/22), vs. Clemson (9/24/22), at Louisville (12/12/20).
2024 Wake Forest Forced Turnovers
• Kevin Pointer Jr. Interception, Virginia (Sept. 7)
• Jamare Glasker Interception, Virginia (Sept. 7)
• BJ Williams Fumble Recovery, Ole Miss (Sept. 14)
• Dylan Hazen Interception, Ole Miss (Sept. 14)
• Evan Slocum Fumble Recovery // Fumbled Forced by Quincy Bryant, NC St., (Oct. 5)
• Branson Combs Interception, NC State (Oct. 5)
• Evan Slocum Interception, UConn (Oct. 19)
• Davaughn Patterson Interception, Stanford (Oct. 26)
• Nick Andersen Fumble Recovery // Fumble Forced by Rushuan Tongue, Stanford (Oct. 26)
• Zamari Stevenson Interception, Stanford (Oct. 26)
• Nick Andersen Interception, Stanford (Oct. 26)
• Nick Andersen Interception, Cal (Nov. 8)
• Nick Andersen Interception, North Carolina (Nov. 16)
• Quincy Bryant Interception, at Miami (Nov. 23)
• Branson Combs Fumble Recovery, at Miami (Nov. 23)
• Rushaun Tongue Interception, vs Duke (Nov. 30)
• Dylan Hazen Fumble Recovery, vs Duke (Nov. 30)
• Evan Slocum's 88-yard fumble return in the win over NC State on Oct. 5 is the longest Wake Forest defensive play in the CFB Playoff Era (2014-Pres.).
THE BALL, THE BALL, THE BALL
• Since arriving at the FBS level in 2017, head coach Jake Dickert's defenses have totaled 166 turnovers. That total would tie the 13th most by any school in the country during that seven-year stretch and the only ACC school to have more would be Clemson:
Rank TO Gained since 2017
1. Clemson 194
2. Iowa 185
3. Notre Dame 184
4. Alabama 178
T5. Memphis 176
T5. Penn State 176
7. Appalachian State 173
8. Troy 170
9. Western Kentucky 169
T10. USF 168
T10. UCF 168
12. Utah State 167
T13. Dickert Teams 166
T13. Texas 166
T13. Illinois 166
• Additionally in their last season working together at the FBS level, Jake Dickert and defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton coordinated the defense that forced the most single-season turnovers in that time period, recording 38 takeaways while both at Wyoming in 2017:
Rank Season Total Takeaways
1. Wyoming 2017 38
T2. Notre Dame 2024 33
T2. Cincinnati 2021 33
T2. FAU 2019 33
T5. WKU 2022 32
T5. MTSU 2021 32
T5. Ohio 2018 32
T5. Utah State 2018 32
T5. UCF 2017 32
• Coach Jake Dickert also coordinated the 2021 Washington State defense which forced 29 turnovers that season, tying for the 24th-highest total since the start of the 2017 season.
DEADLY SCORING COMBO
• Last season, both head coach Jake Dickert and offensive coordinator Rob Ezell had two of the top-20 scoring offenses in the country at Washington State (36.6 PPG) and South Alabama (34.4 PPG)
Rank Points Per Game
1. Miami (FL) 43.9 PPG
2. Indiana 41.3 PPG
3. Ole Miss 38.6 PPG
4. Texas Tech 37.6 PPG
5. Boise State 37.3 PPG
6. Washington State 36.6 PPG
T7. Texas State 36.5 PPG
T7. SMU 36.5 PPG
T7. Louisville 36.5 PPG
10. Notre Dame 36.1 PPG
• Additionally last season, Dickert's and Ezell's first-year starting quarterbacks (John Mateer and Gio Lopez) combined to account for 69 total touchdowns with Mateer leading the country with 44 total touchdowns (29 passing and 15 rushing).
• In his time as a coach, Dickert has also had Titans No. 1 overall selection and 2024 Heisman Finalist Cam Ward as his starter for two years at Washington State while also being on the staff at Wyoming with 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen.
THE FASTEST MAN IN AMERICA
• Demond Claiborne has been one of the most electrifying players in college football his entire career, but also he is simply the fastest player in FBS. Last season, he clocked the fastest measured speed by any player in the country:
Rank Speed Week
1. Demond Claiborne (WF) 22.6 MPH Week 13 vs. Miami
T2. De'Zhaun Stribling (OKST) 22.3 MPH Week 5 vs. KSU
T2. Aidan Laughery (Illinois) 22.3 MPH Week 14 vs. NW
T4. Xavier Robinson (OKLA) 22.2 MPH Week 13 vs. Ala.
T4. Duke Watson (Louisville) 22.2 MPH Week 14 vs. UK
T6. Isaiah Bond (Texas) 22.1 MPH Week 3 vs. UTSA
T6. Brashard Smith (SMU) 22.1 MPH Week 10 vs. Pitt
T6. Jeremy Payne (TCU) 22.1 MPH Week 13 vs. Arizona
T6. Isaac Brown (Louisville) 22.1 MPH Week 14 vs. UK
T6. Micah Robinson (Tulane) 22.1 MPH AAC Champ vs. Army
T6. Dazmin James (Arkansas) 22.1 MPH Liberty Bowl vs. TTU
DC1
• Demond Claiborne produced another standout performance in the season finale against Duke as he tallied 116 all-purpose yards, including 67 yards rushing on 20 carries. Additionally, the Aylett, Va. native hauled in a reception for four receiving yards and returned two kickoffs for a total of 45 yards.
• This marked the 13th time in the last 20 games that he has gone for 100 or more all-purpose yards and his fourth consecutive:
• Nov. 30, 2024 vs Duke- 116 APR (67 RUSH, 4 RCV, 45 KR)
• Nov. 23, 2024 at Miami- 191 APR (62 RUSH, 14 RCV, 115 KR)
• Nov. 17, 2024 at North Carolina - 123 APR (95 RUSH, 28 RCV)
• Nov 8, 2024 vs. Cal - 172 APR (113 RUSH, 51 RCV, 8 KR)
• Oct 26, 2024 at Stanford- 204 APR (127 RUSH, 10 RCV, 15 KR)
• Oct. 5, 2024 vs. NC State - 144 APR (136 RUSH, 8 RCV)
• Sept. 28, 2024 vs. Louisiana - 117 APR (94 RUSH, 10 RCV, 13 KR)
• Sept. 7, 2024 vs. UVA - 128 APR (86 RUSH, 14, RCV, 28 KR)
• Aug. 29, 2024 vs. NC A&T - 172 APR (135 RUSH, 37 KR)
• Nov. 2, 2023 at Duke - 139 APR (81 RUSH, 58 KR)
• Oct. 21, 2023 vs. Pitt - 137 APR (96 RUSH, 22 RCV, 19 KR)
• Oct. 14, 2023 at Virginia Tech- 100 APR (4 RUSH, 96 KR)
• Sept. 9, 2023 vs. Vandy - 165 APR (165 RUSH)
• Claiborne's 1,579 all-purpose yards last season rank seventh in program history and were the second-most in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.) (Greg Dortch; 2018; 1,750 all-purpose yards):
Single-Season All-Purpose Yards Since 2015
Rk. Rush Rec PR KOR Total
1. G. Dortch (2018) 20 1078 276 376 1,750
2. D. Claiborne (2024) 1,048 254 0 277 1,579
3. A.T. Perry (2021) 0 1293 0 0 1,293
4. G. Dortch (2017) 9 722 162 397 1,290
5. K. Hinton (2019) 9 1001 91 142 1,243
• Additionally, against Duke in the season finale, Claiborne became the first Demon Deacon since 2018 to have 1,000 rushing yards in a single season. Additionally, he had the season with the second-most rushing yards by a Deac in the last two decades:
Single-Season Rushing Yards since 2005
Rk Single-Season Rushing Yards
1. Chris Barclay (2005) 1,127
2. Demond Claiborne (2024) 1,048
3. Cade Carney (2018) 1,005
4. Josh Adams (2007) 953
5. Matt Colburn II (2017) 904
• Claiborne's 100-yard return against Miami is tied for the longest play in program history, matching Alphonso Smith's 100-yard interception returned for a touchdown against Maryland in 2007.
• Additionally, it was the longest play in Cthe ollege Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.)l:
Rk Play
1. 100-yd kick return by Demond Claiborne at Miami (11/23/24)
2. 99-yd kick return by Ja'Sir Taylor vs. Old Dominion (9/3/21)
T3. 96-yd kick return by Claiborne at Virginia Tech (10/14/23)
T3. 96-yd kick return by Donavon Greene vs. Campbell (10/2/20)
T3. 96-yd run by Kenneth Walker, III at Rice (9/6/19)
6. 88-yd fumble return by Evan Slocum vs. NC State (10/5/24)
7. 83-yd INT by Traveon Redd at Army (10/23/21)
• The Deacs have produced a rushing score in 43 of their last 50 games dating back to Dec. 12, 2020 at Louisville. The only games during this run without a rushing score were in Week 4 vs. Clemson in 2022, Week three at Old Dominion in 2023, week eight at Virginia Tech, week 11 vs. NC St., week three against Ole Miss in 2024, week 9 at Stanford and week 13 at Miami.
• Claiborne's 11 rushing touchdowns last season were the second-most in the last decade trailing just Kenneth Walker III in 2020:
Rk Name Single-Season Rush TDs
1. Kenneth Walker III (2020) 13
T2. Demond Claiborne (2024) 11
T2. Sam Hartman (2021) 11
4. John Wolford (2017) 10
5. Cade Carney (2018) 8
Additionally, Claiborne has the second-most single-season total touchdowns in in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.):
Rank Name Single-Season Total TDs
1. A.T. Perry (2021) 15
T2. D. Claiborne (2024) 14
T2. K. Walker III (2020) 13
T4. A.T. Perry (2022) 11
T4. S. Hartman (2021) 11
T4. S. Surratt (2019) 11
In just 32 games played in his career, Claiborne also now ranks in the top five of Wake Forest Football in career touchdowns scored in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.):
Rank Name Career Total TDs GP
1. A.T. Perry (2019-22) 28 42
2. T. Morin (2019-24) 22 60
T3. C. Carney (2016-19) 21 42
T3. C. Serigne (2014-17) 21 49
5. D. Claiborne (2022-Pres.) 20 32
NANDO TACKLES EVERYTHING
• In 12 games last season, Nick Andersen was one of the best tacklers in the country and led the Demon Deacons with 122 total tackles (10.2) which is 28 more than the next closest player on the team. Andersen was one of just 17 players nationally with 120 or more tackles last season.
• In addition to leading the team in this category, Andersen was also the ACC leader with the next closest player totaling 117 tackles last season. Andersen's 10.2 tackles per game also ranked seventh nationally:
Rank School Tackles/Game
1. Shaun Dolac Buffalo 12.9
2. Red Murdock Buffalo 12.0
3. Travion Barnes FIU 11.7
4. Isaac Smith Miss. State 11.5
5. Carson Schwesinger UCLA 11.3
6. Stone Blanton Miss. State 10.4
7. Nick Andersen Wake Forest 10.2
8. Marques W-Trent Ga. Southern 10.0
8. Bryan McCoy Akron 10.0
10. Colin Ramos Navy 9.9
• His 122 tackles are the most by a Demon Deacon in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.) with nine tackles in the 2024 season finale against Duke:
1. Nick Andersen (2024) - 122
2. Ryan Smenda Jr. (2022) - 117
3. Ryan Janvion (2014) - 115
4. Brandon Chubb (2015) - 107
T5. Marquel Lee (2016) - 105
T5. Justin Strnad (2019) - 105
BIG PICK NICK
• Nick Andersen has recorded eight interceptions during his career, including a pair during the 2024 season. He sits just outside the top 10 in program history and in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.):
Career Interceptions in CFB Era (2014-Pres.)
Rank Name Career INTs
1. Nick Andersen (2020-Pres.) 8
T2. Amari Henderson (2016-19) 7
T2. Jessie Bates III (2015-17) 6
T2. Ja'Sir Taylor (2017-21) 6
5. Essang Bassey (2016-19) 5
WINNING THE THIRD PHASE
• Wake Forest has been the best team in the nation at converting field goals, connecting on 192-of-236 field goal attempts in College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.) (81.4 pct.) with the next closest being Stanford at 81.1 percent. That percentage has been even higher since the start of the 2018 season:
Rk. Team FGM FGA FG PCT
1. Miami (OH) 126 149 84.6
2. Wake Forest 124 147 84.4
3. Georgia 151 181 83.4
5. Texas Tech 122 147 83.0
4. Miami 116 141 82.3
• Through 34 games in his career after taking over for NCAA record holder Nick Sciba, Matthew Dennis has been great. Dennis has gone 42-for-53 on field goal attempts (77.8 pct). He finished the 2022 season in the top 25 in field goal percentage. Additionally, he is 112-for-114 in extra point attempts over his career.
• Dennis ranks second in program history in field goal percentage, trailing just the NCAA record holder in field goal percentage, Nick Sciba:
Rank FGM FGA FG%
1. N. Sciba (2018-21)* 80 89 89.9
2. M. Dennis (2021-Pres.) 42 54 77.8
3. M. Weaver (2014-17) 68 89 76.4
4. S. Swank (2005-08) 71 93 76.3
5. J. Newman (2009-12) 42 58 72.4
*NCAA Record holder for career field goal percentage
• Dennis finished the 2023 season going 14-for-20 FG and finished off the 2024 season going 16-for-20 FG.
• Dennis ranked among the top 40 nationally in multiple categories:
FBS RANKS
Field Goals Made 31 16
FG/Game 37 1.33
FG Percentage 45 .800
Scoring 72 7.0
Total Points 87 84
INFUSION OF TALENT
Wake Forest had just eight transfers for 2024 but added 38 in 2025. That +28 year-over-year increase in the portal ranks second in the country, trailing just Southern Miss:
Rk School Transfer Increase 2023 to 2024
1. Southern Miss +50
T2. Wake Forest +28
T2. Oklahoma State +28
3. Virginia +21
4. Ball State +17
5. Kansas +16
NFL CONTRACTS SINCE 2017
• Since the 2017 NFL draft, 58 Demon Deacons have been drafted or signed NFL contracts, including a program-high nine players in the 2020 and 2022 draft cycles. Additionally, the three players selected in the 2024 draft mark the most since 2012. This offseason a number of Demon Deacons signed with NFL teams:
• Jasheen Davis signed New Orleans Saints
• Branson Combs signed Jacksonville Jaguars
• Taylor Morin signed Philadelphia Eagles
• Kevin Pointer Jr. signed Las Vegas Raiders
• Evan Slocum signed Indianapolis Colts
• Bryce Ganious signed New England Patriots
• DeVonte Gordon signed New England Patriots/Kansas City Chiefs
• Hank Bachmeier signed San Francisco 49ers
UNIFORM RECORDS
• 2025 Record:
• Black Helmets: 1-0
• Gold Helmets: 0-0
• Black Jerseys: 1-0
• White Jerseys: 0-0
The Gold Rush Game presented by Stickland Brothers and Allegacy Federal Credit Union has limited tickets remaining. Ensure your seat for the in-state showdown.
Before the Deacs open their season against the Catamounts, below are some numbers and notes on the game:
WINNING EARLY AND OFTEN
•DEACS SEASON OPENERS: Over the last 15 years, Wake Forest is 12-3 in season openers including a 10-2 record in the College Football Playoff Era (2014-Pres.). Additionally, The Deacs hold a mark of 11-1 in home openers in that same time period with the lone loss coming to No. 1 Clemson in 2020.
• SEPTEMBER STRONG: Since the start of the 2016 season, Wake Forest holds a record of 24-10 in September. This includes nine of 11 seasons in the College Football Playoff Era (2014-Pres.) with multiple wins in the month, the most recent coming in 2023 when the Deacs went 3-1 with the lone loss coming to Georgia Tech.
• DICKERT STARTS FAST: In his three seasons as a head coach Jake Dickert is a combined 4-0 in season openers while also being 12-2 combined in the months of August and September. Additionally, his teams have 3-2 record against ranked teams in those months and in the 13 games have scored 522 points (37.3 points per game).
WINNINGEST PROGRAM IN NORTH CAROLINA
• Since 2001, Wake Forest football has been the best football program in the state of North Carolina as the Demon Deacons boast an overall record of 48-28 (.632) against all in-state opponents.
• Additionally in the last decade (2016-Pres.), the Deacs are the sixth-most wins in the ACC:
• Clemson -- 105
• NC State -- 70
• Miami -- 69
• Pitt -- 65
• Louisville -- 65
• Wake Forest -- 62
• Florida State -- 62
• Additionally in the College Football Playoff Era (2014-Pres.), the Deacs recorded the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth highest win totals in a single five-year period and the current five-year period (2021-25) of 27 wins ranks just outside of the top 10 all-time:
• 38 (2017-21)
• 37 (2018-22)
• 36 (2004-08 & 2006-10)
• 35 (2019-23)
• 34 (2016-20)
• 33 (2015-19)
• 31 (2020-24)
• 31 (1944-48)
• 30 (1940-44)
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
• With record-setting crowds, multiple sellouts and the best student attendance in school history, playing at home over the past seven seasons has given Wake Forest a huge edge. The Demon Deacons hold a 25-13 (.658) record in home contests since the start of the 2019 season which included a program-record 11-game winning streak spanning from the 2020 to 2022 seasons. The 65.8 percent win rate ranks seventh in the ACC during that time period:
Rank School Wins Losses Pct.
1 Clemson 36 5 87.8
2 NC State 32 10 76.2
3 Louisville 28 11 71.8
4 Miami 26 12 68.4
5 N Carolina 26 13 66.7
6 Pittsburgh 27 14 65.9
7 Wake 24 13 65.8
8 Duke 24 14 63.2
9 Florida St 25 15 62.5
10 Virginia Tech 23 14 62.2
IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
• The Demon Deacons have the third-best record vs. non-ACC teams over the past seven years with a record of 20-7 (.741) with only Duke having a better record in that time:
Rank Team Wins Losses Win Pct.
1. Duke 19 6 .760
2. Wake 20 7 .741
3. Syracuse 18 7 .720
5. Pitt 19 8 .720
4. Clemson 23 10 .704
WINNING THE CLOSE ONES
• During seven bowl appearances since 2016, the Demon Deacons have found a winning formula in one-score ball games, capturing three or more wins by one score in six of those seasons with a total of 25 wins in 45 such games. The Deacs hold the fourth-best winning percentage in those games since 2016 in the ACC:
Rank School Wins Losses Pct.
1 Clemson 26 11 70.3
2 SMU 26 18 59.1
3 NC State 27 20 57.4
4 Wake 25 20 55.6
5 GT 22 18 55.0
LIMITING PENALTIES
• Another key part of the Demon Deacons success during the seven bowl games since 2016 has been the fact that they have had a low number of penalties over those eight years.
• The 2023 season was no different as Wake Forest ranks in the top 25 nationally in fewest penalties, fewest penalties per game and penalty yards. The Deacs lead the ACC in all three categories and ranks in the top seven in the country in each category:
• The 2024 season was no different as Wake Forest ranked 19th nationally in fewest penalties (61) and second in the ACC.
Rank Penalties Pen. Yds Yds/G
1 BC 58 560 43.1
2 Wake 61 551 45.9
3 Virginia 62 544 45.3
4 Stanford 65 588 49.0
5 NC State 66 621 47.7
ROAD WARRIORS
• With the road win over Stanford as well as UConn and NC State earlier last season, the Demon Deacons started 3-0 on the road for the second time under in the last 10 seasons.
• The last two times Wake Forest started a season 3-0 or better on the road came during the 2006 and 2021 seasons that ended in ACC Championship appearances. The only other times were in 1944, 1946 and 1947.
STOUT DEFENSE ON OPENING NIGHT
• Allowing just nine points on Friday against Kennesaw State, it marked the fewest points allowed in a game since Oct. 30, 2021 and was just the seventh game with single-digit points allowed in the last decade:
Rank PA Date Opponent
1. 3 Sept. 1, 2016 Tulane
T2. 7 Oct. 30, 2021 Duke
T2. 7 Sept. 21, 2019 Elon
T2. 7 Nov. 24, 2018 Duke
T2. 7 Aug. 31, 2017 Presbyterian
T6. 9 Aug. 29, 2025 Kennesaw State
T6. 9 Oct. 8, 2016 Syracuse
• The Demon Deacons were one of just three teams in the ACC through Saturday to allow single-digit points along with Virginia and Pitt.
• The Deacs passing defense allowed just 149 yards in the air which ranked third in the conference behind Duke and Louisville who both played FCS opponents in week one.
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
• One of the points of emphasis for the Wake Forest football team is winning the turnover battle. They have been one of the best teams in the country in that category since the start of the 2016 season.
• Over the course of 2020-22, Wake Forest was +1 or better in turnover margin in 53 percent of games which ranked ninth nationally and fifth in the Power-5.
• Over the past eight seasons, Wake Forest has a combined +26 turnover margin. This ranks 30th nationally over that time nationally and third in the ACC:
Rank TO Gained TO Lost TO Margin
1. Clemson 221 166 +56
2. Cal 181 145 +36
3. Wake Forest 184 157 +27
4. Boston College 190 164 +26
5. SMU 184 166 +18
• Only 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024 saw the Deacs finish with more turnovers lost than gained:
Season TO Gained TO Lost TO Margin
2025 0 0 0
2024 17 20 -3
2023 16 22 -6
2022 16 19 -3*
2021 29 20 +9
2020 17 7 +10
2019 25 17 +8
2018 16 19 -3*
2017 21 13 +8
2016 27 19 +8
*Only seasons in Wake Forest history where the Deacs reached a bowl game with a negative turnover margin.
• Winning the turnover battle has been a key to victory for the Demon Deacons in the College Football Playoff Era (2014-Pres.):
Turnover Margin Record When
Even 17-17
+1 or better 42-14
+2 or better 25-3
+3 or better 11-0
TURNING OVER THE OPPOSITION
• In the College Football Playoff era, Wake Forest has been one of the best teams in the country at forcing the opposition to turn it over.
• AMONG THE NATION'S BEST: Since the start of the 2016 season, the Deacs rank 23rd nationally and third in the ACC in turnovers forced:
Rank TO Gained
1. Clemson 221
2. Boston College 190
T3. Wake Forest 184
T3. SMU 184
5. Cal 181
• Additionally, the Deacons have forced a turnover in 61 of their last 71 games dating back to Sept. 28, 2019. The only games without one: vs. Kennesaw State (8/29/25), vs. NC A&T (8/29/24) vs. FSU (10/28/23), vs. Pitt (10/21/23), vs. UNC (11/12/22), at NC State (11/5/22), vs. Clemson (9/24/22), at Louisville (12/12/20).
2024 Wake Forest Forced Turnovers
• Kevin Pointer Jr. Interception, Virginia (Sept. 7)
• Jamare Glasker Interception, Virginia (Sept. 7)
• BJ Williams Fumble Recovery, Ole Miss (Sept. 14)
• Dylan Hazen Interception, Ole Miss (Sept. 14)
• Evan Slocum Fumble Recovery // Fumbled Forced by Quincy Bryant, NC St., (Oct. 5)
• Branson Combs Interception, NC State (Oct. 5)
• Evan Slocum Interception, UConn (Oct. 19)
• Davaughn Patterson Interception, Stanford (Oct. 26)
• Nick Andersen Fumble Recovery // Fumble Forced by Rushuan Tongue, Stanford (Oct. 26)
• Zamari Stevenson Interception, Stanford (Oct. 26)
• Nick Andersen Interception, Stanford (Oct. 26)
• Nick Andersen Interception, Cal (Nov. 8)
• Nick Andersen Interception, North Carolina (Nov. 16)
• Quincy Bryant Interception, at Miami (Nov. 23)
• Branson Combs Fumble Recovery, at Miami (Nov. 23)
• Rushaun Tongue Interception, vs Duke (Nov. 30)
• Dylan Hazen Fumble Recovery, vs Duke (Nov. 30)
• Evan Slocum's 88-yard fumble return in the win over NC State on Oct. 5 is the longest Wake Forest defensive play in the CFB Playoff Era (2014-Pres.).
THE BALL, THE BALL, THE BALL
• Since arriving at the FBS level in 2017, head coach Jake Dickert's defenses have totaled 166 turnovers. That total would tie the 13th most by any school in the country during that seven-year stretch and the only ACC school to have more would be Clemson:
Rank TO Gained since 2017
1. Clemson 194
2. Iowa 185
3. Notre Dame 184
4. Alabama 178
T5. Memphis 176
T5. Penn State 176
7. Appalachian State 173
8. Troy 170
9. Western Kentucky 169
T10. USF 168
T10. UCF 168
12. Utah State 167
T13. Dickert Teams 166
T13. Texas 166
T13. Illinois 166
• Additionally in their last season working together at the FBS level, Jake Dickert and defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton coordinated the defense that forced the most single-season turnovers in that time period, recording 38 takeaways while both at Wyoming in 2017:
Rank Season Total Takeaways
1. Wyoming 2017 38
T2. Notre Dame 2024 33
T2. Cincinnati 2021 33
T2. FAU 2019 33
T5. WKU 2022 32
T5. MTSU 2021 32
T5. Ohio 2018 32
T5. Utah State 2018 32
T5. UCF 2017 32
• Coach Jake Dickert also coordinated the 2021 Washington State defense which forced 29 turnovers that season, tying for the 24th-highest total since the start of the 2017 season.
DEADLY SCORING COMBO
• Last season, both head coach Jake Dickert and offensive coordinator Rob Ezell had two of the top-20 scoring offenses in the country at Washington State (36.6 PPG) and South Alabama (34.4 PPG)
Rank Points Per Game
1. Miami (FL) 43.9 PPG
2. Indiana 41.3 PPG
3. Ole Miss 38.6 PPG
4. Texas Tech 37.6 PPG
5. Boise State 37.3 PPG
6. Washington State 36.6 PPG
T7. Texas State 36.5 PPG
T7. SMU 36.5 PPG
T7. Louisville 36.5 PPG
10. Notre Dame 36.1 PPG
• Additionally last season, Dickert's and Ezell's first-year starting quarterbacks (John Mateer and Gio Lopez) combined to account for 69 total touchdowns with Mateer leading the country with 44 total touchdowns (29 passing and 15 rushing).
• In his time as a coach, Dickert has also had Titans No. 1 overall selection and 2024 Heisman Finalist Cam Ward as his starter for two years at Washington State while also being on the staff at Wyoming with 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen.
THE FASTEST MAN IN AMERICA
• Demond Claiborne has been one of the most electrifying players in college football his entire career, but also he is simply the fastest player in FBS. Last season, he clocked the fastest measured speed by any player in the country:
Rank Speed Week
1. Demond Claiborne (WF) 22.6 MPH Week 13 vs. Miami
T2. De'Zhaun Stribling (OKST) 22.3 MPH Week 5 vs. KSU
T2. Aidan Laughery (Illinois) 22.3 MPH Week 14 vs. NW
T4. Xavier Robinson (OKLA) 22.2 MPH Week 13 vs. Ala.
T4. Duke Watson (Louisville) 22.2 MPH Week 14 vs. UK
T6. Isaiah Bond (Texas) 22.1 MPH Week 3 vs. UTSA
T6. Brashard Smith (SMU) 22.1 MPH Week 10 vs. Pitt
T6. Jeremy Payne (TCU) 22.1 MPH Week 13 vs. Arizona
T6. Isaac Brown (Louisville) 22.1 MPH Week 14 vs. UK
T6. Micah Robinson (Tulane) 22.1 MPH AAC Champ vs. Army
T6. Dazmin James (Arkansas) 22.1 MPH Liberty Bowl vs. TTU
DC1
• Demond Claiborne produced another standout performance in the season finale against Duke as he tallied 116 all-purpose yards, including 67 yards rushing on 20 carries. Additionally, the Aylett, Va. native hauled in a reception for four receiving yards and returned two kickoffs for a total of 45 yards.
• This marked the 13th time in the last 20 games that he has gone for 100 or more all-purpose yards and his fourth consecutive:
• Nov. 30, 2024 vs Duke- 116 APR (67 RUSH, 4 RCV, 45 KR)
• Nov. 23, 2024 at Miami- 191 APR (62 RUSH, 14 RCV, 115 KR)
• Nov. 17, 2024 at North Carolina - 123 APR (95 RUSH, 28 RCV)
• Nov 8, 2024 vs. Cal - 172 APR (113 RUSH, 51 RCV, 8 KR)
• Oct 26, 2024 at Stanford- 204 APR (127 RUSH, 10 RCV, 15 KR)
• Oct. 5, 2024 vs. NC State - 144 APR (136 RUSH, 8 RCV)
• Sept. 28, 2024 vs. Louisiana - 117 APR (94 RUSH, 10 RCV, 13 KR)
• Sept. 7, 2024 vs. UVA - 128 APR (86 RUSH, 14, RCV, 28 KR)
• Aug. 29, 2024 vs. NC A&T - 172 APR (135 RUSH, 37 KR)
• Nov. 2, 2023 at Duke - 139 APR (81 RUSH, 58 KR)
• Oct. 21, 2023 vs. Pitt - 137 APR (96 RUSH, 22 RCV, 19 KR)
• Oct. 14, 2023 at Virginia Tech- 100 APR (4 RUSH, 96 KR)
• Sept. 9, 2023 vs. Vandy - 165 APR (165 RUSH)
• Claiborne's 1,579 all-purpose yards last season rank seventh in program history and were the second-most in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.) (Greg Dortch; 2018; 1,750 all-purpose yards):
Single-Season All-Purpose Yards Since 2015
Rk. Rush Rec PR KOR Total
1. G. Dortch (2018) 20 1078 276 376 1,750
2. D. Claiborne (2024) 1,048 254 0 277 1,579
3. A.T. Perry (2021) 0 1293 0 0 1,293
4. G. Dortch (2017) 9 722 162 397 1,290
5. K. Hinton (2019) 9 1001 91 142 1,243
• Additionally, against Duke in the season finale, Claiborne became the first Demon Deacon since 2018 to have 1,000 rushing yards in a single season. Additionally, he had the season with the second-most rushing yards by a Deac in the last two decades:
Single-Season Rushing Yards since 2005
Rk Single-Season Rushing Yards
1. Chris Barclay (2005) 1,127
2. Demond Claiborne (2024) 1,048
3. Cade Carney (2018) 1,005
4. Josh Adams (2007) 953
5. Matt Colburn II (2017) 904
• Claiborne's 100-yard return against Miami is tied for the longest play in program history, matching Alphonso Smith's 100-yard interception returned for a touchdown against Maryland in 2007.
• Additionally, it was the longest play in Cthe ollege Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.)l:
Rk Play
1. 100-yd kick return by Demond Claiborne at Miami (11/23/24)
2. 99-yd kick return by Ja'Sir Taylor vs. Old Dominion (9/3/21)
T3. 96-yd kick return by Claiborne at Virginia Tech (10/14/23)
T3. 96-yd kick return by Donavon Greene vs. Campbell (10/2/20)
T3. 96-yd run by Kenneth Walker, III at Rice (9/6/19)
6. 88-yd fumble return by Evan Slocum vs. NC State (10/5/24)
7. 83-yd INT by Traveon Redd at Army (10/23/21)
• The Deacs have produced a rushing score in 43 of their last 50 games dating back to Dec. 12, 2020 at Louisville. The only games during this run without a rushing score were in Week 4 vs. Clemson in 2022, Week three at Old Dominion in 2023, week eight at Virginia Tech, week 11 vs. NC St., week three against Ole Miss in 2024, week 9 at Stanford and week 13 at Miami.
• Claiborne's 11 rushing touchdowns last season were the second-most in the last decade trailing just Kenneth Walker III in 2020:
Rk Name Single-Season Rush TDs
1. Kenneth Walker III (2020) 13
T2. Demond Claiborne (2024) 11
T2. Sam Hartman (2021) 11
4. John Wolford (2017) 10
5. Cade Carney (2018) 8
Additionally, Claiborne has the second-most single-season total touchdowns in in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.):
Rank Name Single-Season Total TDs
1. A.T. Perry (2021) 15
T2. D. Claiborne (2024) 14
T2. K. Walker III (2020) 13
T4. A.T. Perry (2022) 11
T4. S. Hartman (2021) 11
T4. S. Surratt (2019) 11
In just 32 games played in his career, Claiborne also now ranks in the top five of Wake Forest Football in career touchdowns scored in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.):
Rank Name Career Total TDs GP
1. A.T. Perry (2019-22) 28 42
2. T. Morin (2019-24) 22 60
T3. C. Carney (2016-19) 21 42
T3. C. Serigne (2014-17) 21 49
5. D. Claiborne (2022-Pres.) 20 32
NANDO TACKLES EVERYTHING
• In 12 games last season, Nick Andersen was one of the best tacklers in the country and led the Demon Deacons with 122 total tackles (10.2) which is 28 more than the next closest player on the team. Andersen was one of just 17 players nationally with 120 or more tackles last season.
• In addition to leading the team in this category, Andersen was also the ACC leader with the next closest player totaling 117 tackles last season. Andersen's 10.2 tackles per game also ranked seventh nationally:
Rank School Tackles/Game
1. Shaun Dolac Buffalo 12.9
2. Red Murdock Buffalo 12.0
3. Travion Barnes FIU 11.7
4. Isaac Smith Miss. State 11.5
5. Carson Schwesinger UCLA 11.3
6. Stone Blanton Miss. State 10.4
7. Nick Andersen Wake Forest 10.2
8. Marques W-Trent Ga. Southern 10.0
8. Bryan McCoy Akron 10.0
10. Colin Ramos Navy 9.9
• His 122 tackles are the most by a Demon Deacon in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.) with nine tackles in the 2024 season finale against Duke:
1. Nick Andersen (2024) - 122
2. Ryan Smenda Jr. (2022) - 117
3. Ryan Janvion (2014) - 115
4. Brandon Chubb (2015) - 107
T5. Marquel Lee (2016) - 105
T5. Justin Strnad (2019) - 105
BIG PICK NICK
• Nick Andersen has recorded eight interceptions during his career, including a pair during the 2024 season. He sits just outside the top 10 in program history and in the College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.):
Career Interceptions in CFB Era (2014-Pres.)
Rank Name Career INTs
1. Nick Andersen (2020-Pres.) 8
T2. Amari Henderson (2016-19) 7
T2. Jessie Bates III (2015-17) 6
T2. Ja'Sir Taylor (2017-21) 6
5. Essang Bassey (2016-19) 5
WINNING THE THIRD PHASE
• Wake Forest has been the best team in the nation at converting field goals, connecting on 192-of-236 field goal attempts in College Football Playoff era (2014-Pres.) (81.4 pct.) with the next closest being Stanford at 81.1 percent. That percentage has been even higher since the start of the 2018 season:
Rk. Team FGM FGA FG PCT
1. Miami (OH) 126 149 84.6
2. Wake Forest 124 147 84.4
3. Georgia 151 181 83.4
5. Texas Tech 122 147 83.0
4. Miami 116 141 82.3
• Through 34 games in his career after taking over for NCAA record holder Nick Sciba, Matthew Dennis has been great. Dennis has gone 42-for-53 on field goal attempts (77.8 pct). He finished the 2022 season in the top 25 in field goal percentage. Additionally, he is 112-for-114 in extra point attempts over his career.
• Dennis ranks second in program history in field goal percentage, trailing just the NCAA record holder in field goal percentage, Nick Sciba:
Rank FGM FGA FG%
1. N. Sciba (2018-21)* 80 89 89.9
2. M. Dennis (2021-Pres.) 42 54 77.8
3. M. Weaver (2014-17) 68 89 76.4
4. S. Swank (2005-08) 71 93 76.3
5. J. Newman (2009-12) 42 58 72.4
*NCAA Record holder for career field goal percentage
• Dennis finished the 2023 season going 14-for-20 FG and finished off the 2024 season going 16-for-20 FG.
• Dennis ranked among the top 40 nationally in multiple categories:
FBS RANKS
Field Goals Made 31 16
FG/Game 37 1.33
FG Percentage 45 .800
Scoring 72 7.0
Total Points 87 84
INFUSION OF TALENT
Wake Forest had just eight transfers for 2024 but added 38 in 2025. That +28 year-over-year increase in the portal ranks second in the country, trailing just Southern Miss:
Rk School Transfer Increase 2023 to 2024
1. Southern Miss +50
T2. Wake Forest +28
T2. Oklahoma State +28
3. Virginia +21
4. Ball State +17
5. Kansas +16
NFL CONTRACTS SINCE 2017
• Since the 2017 NFL draft, 58 Demon Deacons have been drafted or signed NFL contracts, including a program-high nine players in the 2020 and 2022 draft cycles. Additionally, the three players selected in the 2024 draft mark the most since 2012. This offseason a number of Demon Deacons signed with NFL teams:
• Jasheen Davis signed New Orleans Saints
• Branson Combs signed Jacksonville Jaguars
• Taylor Morin signed Philadelphia Eagles
• Kevin Pointer Jr. signed Las Vegas Raiders
• Evan Slocum signed Indianapolis Colts
• Bryce Ganious signed New England Patriots
• DeVonte Gordon signed New England Patriots/Kansas City Chiefs
• Hank Bachmeier signed San Francisco 49ers
UNIFORM RECORDS
• 2025 Record:
• Black Helmets: 1-0
• Gold Helmets: 0-0
• Black Jerseys: 1-0
• White Jerseys: 0-0
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballFootball Media Availability (9/3/25)
Wednesday, September 03
Football Media Availability (9/2/25)
Tuesday, September 02
Coach Jake Dickert Weekly Press Conference (Sept. 1, 2025)
Monday, September 01
Wake Forest Head Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference
Monday, September 01