Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates winning the College Football Playoff Championship game against Alabama, getting a hoist from outside linebacker Bolan Smith, early Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Indianapolis. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: Final rankings and future prospects

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 11, 2022 12:11 PM EST

Wake Forest RB Beal-Smith transferring to South Carolina

Jan. 10, 2022 11:22 PM EST
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Wake Forest running back Christian Beal-Smith, the Demon Deacons' leading rusher the past two years, is transferring to South Carolina. ...

Wake Forest tight end Blake Whiteheart (85) celebrates a touchdown scored by tight end Brandon Chapman (23) during the fourth quarter of the Gator Bowl NCAA college football game against Rutgers, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. (Corey Perrine/The Florida Times-Union via AP)
Hartman leads No. 20 Wake Forest to 38-10 romp in Gator Bowl

By Mark Long Dec. 31, 2021 02:46 PM EST

FILE - Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson leaves the field after their loss in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. Wake Forest is trying to win 11 games for just the second time in the program’s 114-year history. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman, File)
Gator Bowl fill-in Rutgers 'letting it hang out' vs Wake

By Mark Long Dec. 30, 2021 04:11 PM EST

FILE - Rutgers coach Greg Schiano watches the team play Penn State during an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. Rutgers is making its first bowl appearance since 2014 and is doing so on short notice. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)
No. 20 Wake Forest aims for 11 wins for 2nd time in Gator

By The Associated Press Dec. 30, 2021 11:50 AM EST

FILE - Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher yells to the officials during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in College Station, Texas. No. 23 Texas A&M won’t play in the Gator Bowl against Wake Forest on Dec. 31 because of COVID-19 issues and season-ending injuries, the team announced Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. “It is unfortunate, but we just don’t have enough scholarship players available to field a team,” Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said in a news release. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
Rutgers keeps Wake Forest guessing on Gator Bowl roster

By Tom Canavan Dec. 27, 2021 02:47 PM EST

Signage for the Gator Bowl NCAA college football game is shown outside Daily's Place and TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla., Wednesday Dec. 11, 2021. No. 23 Texas A&M won’t play in the Gator Bowl against Wake Forest on Dec. 31 because of COVID-19 issues and season-ending injuries. The 8-4 Aggies were scheduled to leave for Jacksonville on Sunday before announcing Wednesday that they wouldn’t be able to participate in the bowl game. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union via AP)/The Florida Times-Union via AP)
Rutgers to replace Texas A&M in Gator Bowl vs. Wake Forest

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 23, 2021 12:57 PM EST

FILE - Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher speaks to reporters during the NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days in Hoover, Ala., July 21, 2021. No. 23 Texas A&M won’t play in the Gator Bowl against Wake Forest on Dec. 31 because of COVID-19 issues and season-ending injuries, the team announced Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. “It is unfortunate, but we just don’t have enough scholarship players available to field a team,” Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said in a news release. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
AP sources: NCAA committee to consider replacing A&M in bowl

By Kristie Rieken Dec. 22, 2021 01:57 PM EST

Texas A&M pulls out of Gator Bowl against Wake Forest due to COVID-19 issues, season-ending injuries

Dec. 22, 2021 01:53 PM EST
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Texas A&M pulls out of Gator Bowl against Wake Forest due to COVID-19 issues, season-ending injuries. ...

FILE - Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders points during an NCAA football game against Louisiana Monroe on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Monroe, La. Travis Hunter, the No. 1 high school football recruit in the country, pulled a signing day shocker Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, deciding to attend Jackson State and play for coach Deion Sanders after being verbally committed to Florida State for months. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton, File)
'Coach Prime' looks to add bowl win to conference title

By The Associated Press Dec. 17, 2021 12:00 PM EST

FILE - Notre Dame defensive coordinator Mike Elko runs drills during NCAA college football practice, on March 22, 2017, in South Bend, Ind. Duke announced Friday night, Dec. 10, 2021, that they hired Elko as its new head football coach. Elko, 44, has spent the past four seasons as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Texas A&M. Before that, had also worked at Notre Dame, Wake Forest and Bowling Green in the past decade. (Becky Malewitz/South Bend Tribune via AP, File)
Duke hires Texas A&M coordinator Mike Elko as football coach

By Aaron Beard Dec. 10, 2021 07:33 PM EST

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett runs for a touchdown against Wake Forest during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Fake slides now against rules after Pickett's trick vs Wake

By The Associated Press Dec. 10, 2021 10:06 AM EST

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett celebrates after their win against Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Pickett, No. 13 Pitt headline AP All-ACC honors for 2021

By Aaron Beard Dec. 06, 2021 11:40 AM EST

Texas A&M wide receiver Moose Muhammad III (7) catches a touchdown past LSU cornerback Cordale Flott (25) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)
No. 20 Wake Forest, No. 23 Texas A&M face off in Gator Bowl

Dec. 05, 2021 07:54 PM EST

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett runs for a touchdown during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game against Wake Forest Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Wake Forest coach: NCAA should review rules on fake slides

By Steve Reed Dec. 05, 2021 09:44 AM EST

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett and head coach Pat Narduzzi celebrate with the trophy after their win against Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
No. 17 Pitt rolls by No. 18 Wake Forest 45-21 for ACC title

By Aaron Beard Dec. 05, 2021 12:09 AM EST

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett passes against Wake Forest during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Pitt QB Pickett's stock surging after ACC championship

By Steve Reed Dec. 04, 2021 09:49 PM EST

FILE - Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi on the sideline during an NCAA college football game against Virginia, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Pittsburgh. For the first time since the College Football Playoff was introduced in 2014, the ACC will not be part of the four-team elimination format. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Patience helps Wake Forest, Pitt build for ACC title shot

By Aaron Beard Dec. 03, 2021 12:00 PM EST

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) acknowledges fans as as time runs down in the team's win over Virginia in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pickett leads Pitt vs. Wake Forest in ACC title clash

By The Associated Press Dec. 02, 2021 04:42 PM EST

Pittsburgh wide receiver Jordan Addison, right, catches a touchdown pass while covered by Syracuse defensive back Aman Greenwood (26) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Unexpected title match: Wake Forest, Pitt square off in ACC

By Steve Reed Dec. 02, 2021 11:53 AM EST