New Coach, New Energy: Wake Forest Aims for Bounce-Back Season in 2025
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — There’s a new voice in the Wake Forest locker room this fall, and it belongs to Jake Dickert, the former Washington State head coach now tasked with reviving a program that’s gone through two disappointing seasons.
And if you ask around campus or catch the vibe at summer workouts, one thing’s clear: this team believes change is coming.
“We’re not here to talk—we’re here to build,” Dickert said. “This schedule gives us real opportunities to prove ourselves.”
A Friendly Start — and Then It Gets Real
Wake Forest opens the 2025 season with two straight home games against Kennesaw State (Aug. 29) and Western Carolina (Sept. 6). On paper, they’re winnable—and they’d better be. These games give Dickert a chance to look closer at his qb situation.
But things get serious fast.
NC State rolls into Winston-Salem on Sept. 11 for a nationally televised Thursday night showdown. These two don’t like each other much, and with it being one of the last few times this rivalry may be played regularly, expect fireworks.
A bye week follows, then Wake hosts Georgia Tech on Sept. 27—a team that surprised the Deacs last year. Then it’s two straight road trips: at Virginia Tech (Oct. 4) and at Oregon State (Oct. 11), the latter being one of the most unusual non-conference games in recent memory.
After a second bye, things stay tough. SMU comes to town Oct. 25, bringing a flashy offense and ACC aspirations of their own. Then it’s Florida State (Nov. 1) on the road, Virginia (Nov. 8) in Charlottesville, and back-to-back rivalry games to end the season: North Carolina (Nov. 15) and Duke (Nov. 29), with a breather against Delaware (Nov. 22) tucked in between.
What Success Looks Like
For Dickert’s first year, success won’t necessarily be measured in double-digit wins. It’ll be about progress—about getting back to the fundamentals that carried Wake to five straight bowl games not long ago.
There are seven home games, two bye weeks, and a manageable early schedule. The window for a six- or seven-win season is real—if Wake can win the games it’s supposed to win and steal one or two in November.
Final Word
This isn’t a rebuild—it’s a reset. With a new coach, a quarterback ready to lead, and just enough talent returning on defense, Wake Forest enters the 2025 season as a team that could surprise some folks.
But they’ll have to earn it!
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