Thursday night lights in Winston-Salem mean one thing: bragging rights are on the line. When NC State visits Wake Forest in Week 3 ACC action, both teams bring perfect 2-0 records and sky-high confidence into what promises to be a thrilling primetime showdown. The Wolfpack just survived a wild shootout with Virginia, while the Demon Deacons steamrolled Western Carolina behind a dominant ground game. Now comes the real test.
Can NC State’s Balanced Attack Overwhelm Wake Forest’s Defense?
The stage is set for an early-season in-state clash as Jake Dickert’s Wake Forest Demon Deacons welcome Dave Doeren’s NC State Wolfpack in a Week 3 ACC matchup on Thursday night. Both teams enter the primetime contest with unblemished records.
NC State arrives with momentum after a thrilling 35-31 victory over Virginia in Week 2. Meanwhile, Wake Forest is coming off a dominant 42-10 win against Western Carolina, showcasing a balanced offense rallying behind running back Demond Claiborne.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, with the game televised on ESPN.
Who Are the Announcers for NC State vs. Wake Forest?
Thursday’s ACC primetime broadcast will feature Matt Barrie handling play-by-play duties. Barrie is a longtime ESPN anchor and SportCenter sportscaster who has become a steady voice on college football Saturdays.
Joining him is Tom Luginbill, ESPN’s respected analyst with decades of experience breaking down player development and in-game strategy. He was a starting quarterback for three colleges, including Georgia Tech, and also has extensive coaching experience. Luginbill often brings a unique perspective on rising stars and roster construction.
On the sidelines will be Harry Lyles Jr., a reporter who adds context and updates from field level, often capturing the pulse of both teams in high-pressure moments.
Where to Watch NC State vs. Wake Forest
- When: Thursday, September 11
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: Fubo (try for free)
Wake up, #WPN! It’s game day!
NC State vs. Wake Forest kicks off at 7:30 p.m.!
WOOOOOOOOOLF!!!! pic.twitter.com/zJJ8jjSYDM
— Pack Pride (@PackPride) September 11, 2025
How Will Claiborne’s Explosive Ground Game Challenge the Wolfpack?
For NC State, success in this matchup will depend heavily on the continued playmaking of quarterback CJ Bailey. Last week, Bailey completed 16 of 22 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown while adding 44 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground.
Running back Hollywood Smothers also contributed significantly with 136 rushing yards and two touchdowns, helping fuel an offense that accumulated over 200 rushing yards against Virginia.
Wake Forest counters with its own explosive offensive capabilities. Running back Demond Claiborne was nearly unstoppable against Western Carolina, rushing for 193 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries.
“He’s a great player, and he’s got speed. He’s got vision. He can break tackles. He can make you miss. He’s patient. And so, when you’re defending a great running back, it takes everybody, it’s gap accountability, it’s beating blocks, it’s leveraging the football, and then it’s gang tackling… and we had guys in position to make plays on some of the plays that Virginia made, and they made them, and we didn’t,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said on his plan to stop Claiborne in the upcoming matchup.
Wake Forest’s signal caller, Robby Ashford, added 227 passing yards, a touchdown, and another score on the ground, giving the Demon Deacons balance heading into their first ACC test of the 2025 campaign.
Defensively, Doeren knows what to expect from Wake Forest. As he explained this week:
“Defensively, they play really hard. When you watch Wake Forest on defense, they’re sound, they’re physical, they run to the football, they rotate guys on the D-line. There’s several guys we’re used to, I guess you’d say, familiar.”
This clash won’t just determine early bragging rights in the ACC. It could also shape the trajectory of both seasons. The Wolfpack is seeking a breakthrough start that would boost its confidence heading into tougher conference play, while the Demon Deacons are aiming to prove their rushing attack can hold up against stronger defenses.
