Florida State at Wake Forest Where: Truist Field When: 3:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
RADIO: Seminole Sports Network/Sirius XM Ch. 383/973
Weather: 84 degrees, 24% percent rain chance
Favorite: Wake Forest by 5.5 points Online: OrlandoSentinel.com/seminoles
Quick slant: This is the 39th meeting between these programs with FSU holding a 30-7-1 edge. The Seminoles have won seven of the last eight but lost 22-20 to the Demon Deacons in 2019. Last year’s scheduled game was canceled.
About Florida State (0-2, 0-0 ACC): Quarterback McKenzie Milton earns his second start after starting last week vs. Jacksonville State. Milton was 18 of 31 for 133 yards with a touchdown and an interception. It was his first career start since Nov. 23, 2018, against USF in the regular-season finale. … Malik McClain and Andrew Parchment have been the top targeted receivers (nine apiece) through the first two games. Parchment, a transfer from Kansas, is tied for the team lead with four catches while McClain has three. … Freshman running back Treshaun Ward is second in all-purpose yards (121) for the Seminoles.
About Wake Forest (2-0, 0-0 ACC): The Demon Deacons are one of four ACC teams averaging 40-plus points per game (41.5). Quarterback Sam Hartman has accounted for 461 of Wake’s 765 yards of total offense and five of the team’s 11 touchdowns. Nine of his 35 completions have gone for 15-plus yards. … Running back Christian Beal-Smith has three rushing touchdowns, third-most in the conference. The junior has scored at least one rushing touchdown in the last three games dating to last season. … Receiver Jaquarii Roberson is one of nine players in the ACC with at least 10 catches. His 143 receiving yards and two touchdowns are team-highs.
Three things to watch:
1. FSU’s defensive front vs. Wake’s offensive line: Transfer Jermaine Johnson has been outstanding on the edge for the Seminoles, accounting for half of the team’s eight sacks. FSU’s defensive line is much improved with the addition of Johnson and fellow transfer Keir Thomas (1.0 sack), Quashon Fuller (1.0 sack) and Dennis Briggs (0.5 sack). But this week, they’ll face one of the most experienced offensive lines in the ACC. The group returns five starters who have allowed 2.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss.
2. FSU’s running game vs. Wake’s defensive front: FSU has the second-best ground game in the conference, averaging 231 yards per contest. Jashaun Corbin is the only player in the conference with back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances. The Seminoles have rushed for at least 200 yards in three straight games for the first time since 2012. Wake Forest hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in three straight games dating to last season and the Demon Deacons haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown.
3. FSU’s explosive plays vs. Wake’s defense: The Seminoles have accounted for seven offensive plays of 20-plus yards, including an 89-yard touchdown run by Corbin and a 60-yard touchdown catch by Ja’Khi Douglas. Wake Forest’s defense hasn’t allowed a play of 40 or more yards. The Deacons have allowed two runs of 30-plus yards and not a single passing play longer than 30 yards.