It’s almost time for another primetime ACC matchup! After narrowly defeating the Stanford Cardinal in their last matchup, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons are looking to get back above .500 on the football season, and inch closer toward bowl eligibility.
Who is standing in their way? None other than the Cal Golden Bears. Fresh off a big victory against the Oregon State Beavers, they are still searching for their first victory in their new conference. Sitting at 4-4, Cal has a shot to get back over .500 and notch an ACC victory on Friday night.
The game promises to be a fun one that could have a big impact on the ACC and possible bowl games. Who will come out on top? And how can Wake Forest have their best chance at victory? Find out as we preview this ACC college football matchup between Wake Forest and Cal!
Wake Forest vs. Cal Football History
Modern conference realignment can sometimes create fascinating firsts in college football. Friday night’s matchup between Cal and Wake Forest falls into that category.
In the long history of both programs, the two have never met on the football field. That’s right. In the over 100-year histories of both Wake Forest and Cal, there has never been a matchup between them.
Friday night marks the start of a potential new rivalry and true football history. Whoever wins the game will have bragging rights for at least a season, if not the foreseeable future.
Key Players: Wake Forest
Demond Claiborne, Running Back
For the Wake Forest offense to succeed, it needs to be able to run the football. Specifically, it needs to run the ball with Demond Claiborne.
In three of Wake Forest’s four victories, the running back has tallied over 100 yards. On the season, he has 712 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt. Claiborne has also been a missed tackles forced machine, racking up 506 yards after contact and 33 missed tackles forced.
Wake Forest faces a big test in this area, though. The Golden Bears are a stout run defense, allowing only 99 rushing yards per game on average. This places them as the ninth-best run defense in the country.
If Cal can shut down Wake Forest’s rushing attack, the game could tilt toward the Golden Bears fairly quickly. But if Claiborne can find some footing early on, the Demon Deacons will have a great chance to pull off the victory.
Evan Slocum, Safety
On the flip side of things, Wake Forest needs to shut down the California passing attack. Specifically, they need to limit the impact of tight end Jack Endries. Sitting at 421 yards on the season, it is clear that he is the featured and go-to option for the Golden Bears.
As a result, safety Evan Slocum will likely be called upon to handle the difficult coverage assignment. He has a 79.5 coverage grade, which ranks the best on the entire Wake Forest roster. He has only allowed 102 yards on 13 catches this season while also adding two pass breakups and an interception.
The battle between the Cal offense and the Wake Forest defense will be exciting to watch and important for the game as a whole. How the matchup between Slocum and Endries plays out will likely have one of, if not the biggest, impact on the result.
Key Players: Cal
Fernando Mendoza, Quarterback
For Cal, the game plan should be simple.
Wake Forest has struggled mightily against the pass this season. On average, the Demon Deacons allow 287.8 yards per game, the sixth-worst mark in the FBS. Additionally, they allow 2.1 passing touchdowns per game, the 11th-worst mark in the country.
As a result, the Golden Bears need to put the ball in Fernando Mendoza‘s hands early and often. He has the ability and skill to carve up secondaries. He can hit throws at every level of the field and can change speeds to complete passes to all of his wideouts.
At the end of the day, though, Cal needs to call the right plays and execute for their quarterback. If that occurs, the Mendoza could be in store for a big game.
Cade Uluave, Linebacker
The talented linebacker makes an appearance here for two reasons.
First, the Golden Bears need Cade Uluave to be a force at all levels of the field. They need the linebacker to shut down the rushing attack of the Demon Deacons, led by Claiborne. They need him to be a force in coverage to shut down the slow mesh offense that Wake Forest loves to run. If he can do that, the Golden Bears will be in great shape.
The second reason is arguably more important, though. Uluave has been a very poor tackler this season, missing 18 tackles already in eight games. Cal cannot afford for him to be a liability on the defense, as it could turn losses for the Demon Deacons into big plays.
If Uluave can fix this issue and play to his talent level, the Golden Bears will be in a great spot on defense.
Wake Forest Keys to Victory
For Wake Forest to win, it comes down to two major things.
- Run the ball.
- Stop Cal’s passing attack.
When Wake Forest runs the ball efficiently and powerfully, it wins football games. This has been the case in every game it has won this season, and it must be the case again for it to beat its ACC opponent.
On defense, Wake Forest cannot be a sieve against an underrated Cal passing attack. They must limit the damage done in that area and work to try to force a turnover on the young Mendoza.
If Wake Forest executes those things, they will win the game. If not, there is a great shot they lose. How it plays out will be discovered on Friday night and will provide great insight into the directions both teams are heading for the rest of 2024.
