Elite ACC red-zone units to clash when FSU hosts Wake Forest

It’s easy to overlook Wake Forest on Florida State’s schedule. Being sandwiched between rivalry games against Miami and Clemson is a tough proposition, as that amount of orange could distract anyone.

But if focus sharpens as the ball nears the goal line, then the Demon Deacons will most certainly have the Seminoles’ attention come Saturday’s homecoming game in Tallahassee. After all, no defense in the ACC has been stingier inside its own 20 than the Deacs’. Wake Forest is allowing red-zone points at a conference-best rate of 63.2%, which is also good enough for fourth best in the FBS.

On the other hand, the ‘Noles have been quite adept at coming away with points after venturing within their opponents’ 20, changing the scoreboard on an ACC-leading 93.3% of those trips (tied for 19th in the FBS). And scoring when opportunities present themselves could be a pivotal factor for FSU against the Demon Deacons, as the latter boast the FBS’ 18th-ranked scoring defense, which has allowed just 18 points per game, a big reason that Wake Forest comes into this 3:30 showdown at Doak with a 5-1 record.

That’s the best midterm record the Deacs have posted since 2006, when they also began 5-1. Of course, ‘Nole fans would rather not recall a certain 2006 home game against Wake Forest, as it resulted in a humiliating 30-0 loss that paved the way for the Deacons’ ACC title that year.