NC State football will kick off its last road stretch of the season when it takes on Wake Forest Saturday, Nov. 11.

Currently the second longest continuously played rivalry in all of college football, this will mark the 117th meeting between the two programs. NC State currently holds a 68-42-6 advantage over the Demon Deacons.

Despite the all-time series being tilted in favor of NC State, Winston-Salem, North Carolina has not been kind to the Pack in recent years. Since 2000, the Pack has a dismal 2-9 record when it faces the Deacons on the road.

This season, Wake Forest has not enjoyed the success that head coach Dave Clawson has delivered the program over the past few seasons. After losing its all-time passing leader in Sam Hartman, the program has had to undergo several changes this season. However, the Demon Deacons got off to a quick 3-0 start to the season, including a convincing road win at Vanderbilt.

Despite the early momentum, Wake Forest lost its stride against Georgia Tech, falling by double digits. This started a skid of losses that also included Clemson and Virginia Tech. The Demon Deacons temporarily halted their losing streak with a nail-biting win over Pittsburgh to snag their first ACC win. The following week, they took on No. 4 Florida State in a matchup that was a mismatch in almost every facet of the game, leading to a blowout loss.

Wake Forest had a chance at a marquee win last week as it visited Duke. Outperforming the Blue Devils in many areas of the game, it appeared as if the Deacons had played one of their most complete games of the season. However, a critical interception late in the fourth quarter allowed Duke to march down the field and kick the game-winning field goal.

For NC State, it is fresh off another large win at home in which it was an underdog. In its 20-6 win over Miami, the Pack once again mustered just enough offensive strength while the defense played an instrumental role in securing the win. Despite being outgained in total yards from scrimmage, NC State made enough clutch plays to pull away.

The Pack will look to pull off another quality defensive effort. Last week, the defense headed by graduate linebacker Payton Wilson stalled one of the best offenses in the ACC, limiting Miami to only two field goals. This week, it looks to capitalize on a Wake Forest offense that has had its fair share of ups and downs this season.

Perhaps the most improved aspect of the Pack’s game, its passing defense, has continued to make strides throughout the season. Last week, the unit made a major breakthrough holding one of the best quarterbacks in the conference to under 200 yards and forcing three interceptions. This week, NC State will take on a passing threat that averages only 205.7 yards through the air. The unit is led by quarterback Mitch Griffis, who has 1,534 passing yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.

A large factor in Griffis’ success this season has been the presence of a solid receiving core. The group is headed by wide receiver Jahmal Banks, who has 528 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He is complemented by fellow pass-catchers Taylor Morin and Ke’Shawn Williams. The pair pose an additional threat for opposing secondaries, combining for a total of 786 receiving yards. If the Pack wants to continue its success in defending the pass, finding an answer to Wake’s receiving weapons will be key.

Despite a very impressive defensive effort last week, the Pack showed some cracks; Miami totalled 115 rushing yards from its top running back. This week, the Pack will face a back field that includes running backs Demond Claiborne and Justice Ellison, who have just over 1,000 combined rushing yards on the season. Claiborne currently leads the team with five rushing scores on the season.

This week, sophomore quarterback MJ Morris will have an opportunity to have a more complete offensive showing. NC State will face a passing defense that currently allows 237.6 yards — a number much higher than the 187.8 yard average for the Wolfpack. Morris will need to keep an eye out for defensive back DaShawn Jones, who has tallied three interceptions on the season.

The Pack’s game against Miami showed glimpses of the potential in its running game. Even though the unit has struggled for the most part this season, graduate quarterback Brennan Armstrong showed his ability to use his legs last week, and it seems NC State has a reliable force to help move the ball on the ground.

Rushers will have to keep an eye out for linebacker Jacob Roberts, who has amassed 62 total tackles on the year with nine tackles for a loss. He is paired with fellow linebacker Dylan Hazen, who has put forth 51 tackles.

Kickoff between the Wolfpack and Demon Deacons will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 in Winston-Salem. The game will be televised on the CW Network.