Florida State vs. Wake Forest
Where: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee
When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday
TV: ACC Network
Weather: 51 degrees, 5% rain chance
Favorite: FSU by 10 points.
Coaches: Mike Norvell, 36-31 at FSU (74-46 overall); Jake Dickert 5-2 at Wake Forest (28-22 overall).
Quick slant: FSU center Luke Petitbon transferred from Wake Forest after coach Dave Clawson retired. Petitbon has started FSU’s seven games and has been praised by coaches as a leader. Wake has won three of the last four games vs. FSU, including victories in 2021 and ’22. FSU won the matchup in 2023 at Winston-Salem, 41-16.
About FSU (3-4, 0-4 ACC): QB Tommy Castellanos is probable on FSU’s availability report after leaving the Stanford game with an apparent concussion. Castellanos is completing 60.2% of his passes for 1,607 yards, nine TDs and five INTs. FSU has surpassed 400 offensive yards in six straight games, the most since a nine-game stretch in 2022-23.
About Wake Forest (5-2, 2-2): QB Robbie Ashford is probable on Wake’s availability report. Deshawn Purdie was 14-of-26 for 183 yards and two INTs in Wake’s 13-12 upset of SMU. Dickert has the Deacons a win away from bowl eligibility. Wake was projected to finish 16th among the ACC’s 17 teams in the preseason, but the Deacons have already upset SMU and lost in OT to undefeated Georgia Tech.
3 things to watch
Will FSU be able to dictate via the run?: The Seminoles are coming out of a three-game stretch in which they ran for 132 yards (vs. Miami), 170 yards (vs. Pitt) and 133 yards (at Stanford). But FSU averaged just 3.09 yards per carry against Stanford, its lowest output of 2025. FSU must get back on track on the ground. Wake is 49th in the FBS in run defense (131.57 yards per game), but the Deacons just held SMU to 75 yards on 28 carries.
2. Conversely, can Wake run vs. FSU?: Wake ran for just 85 yards on 35 carries (2.4 yards per carry) in the win over SMU. But the Deacons accumulated 198 rushing yards (7.6) in a rout of Oregon State and 210 yards in the OT loss to Georgia Tech. FSU’s run defense has been a strength, allowing just 118.6 yards per game. But the Seminoles also allowed a 13-play, 94-yard touchdown drive vs. Stanford that included nine runs. FSU must minimize the run.
3. FSU’s propensity to self-destruct: Whether it’s penalties or turnovers, FSU has been its own worst enemy. FSU was a 10-point favorite against Pitt, but a fourth-quarter fumble turned momentum in the loss. And FSU was a 17-point favorite at Stanford, but 13 penalties added up.
