NC State
Wake Forest University
NC State Opens ACC Play in Winston-Salem Against Wake Forest
9/11/2025 2:18:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - Meeting every year since 1910, NC State and Wake Forest meet once again Thursday night, opening ACC play at 7:30 p.m. in Winston-Salem on ESPN. The 119th game on Thursday makes this the longest continuous series in ACC history and the second-longest in the FBS.
The Wolfpack will be looking to win just its fourth game in Winston-Salem since 2000 (2001,2015,2023). During that time, the Wolfpack has posted a 10-3 mark in games played at Carter-Finley, while going 3-9 in games played at Wake Forest.
The Wolfpack lead the all-time series 69-43-6, though Wake Forest won last year's meeting 34-30 in Raleigh. Six of the last eight meetings have been decided by 10 points or fewer.
The Pack's first two opponents have struggled once they enter the red zone. NC State ranks second in the ACC and 21st in the FBS in red zone defense, as the opponents have converted just .625 (5-8) of their trips into points, scoring just three touchdowns.
Wesley Grimes has played in two NC State vs. Wake Forest games in his career, but he's stood on different sidelines in each. Grimes spent his first two seasons at Wake Forest, playing in 19 games and starting three. He tied for the team lead in touchdown catches in 2023, scoring four times while hauling in 20 catches for 339 yards.
He hauled in one catch for nine yards for the Deacons in the Wolfpack's 2023 win in Winston-Salem and had four grabs for 46 yards in last year's NC State loss in Raleigh. In the '25 season opener, Grimes posted the best single-game totals of his collegiate career, hauling in four catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. His 48-yard touchdown reception in the contest was the longest of his career as well. He currently ranks 16th in the FBS in yards per reception with a 25.7 mark.
NC State has started the 2025 season 2-0 with two one-score wins. Since 2020, NC State has played in 31 one-score games (+/- 8 points). That ties as the fourth-highest tally in the FBS during that time frame.
Last week's win over Virginia marked the seventh time in the Dave Doeren era at NC State that multiple players rushed for multiple touchdowns in a single game. In the Pack's 35-31 win, QB CJ Bailey and RB Hollywood Smothers each rushed fora pair of TDs.
