Feb. 8, 2008

Wake Forest University and the Atlantic Coast Conference today announced the ACC football schedule for the 2008 season. The Deacons will play seven home games at BB&T Field starting with the home opener against Ole Miss on Sept. 6.

The Demon Deacons will be playing seven home games for just the second time in school history and the first time since 2003. Six of Wake's 12 opponents participated in bowl games following the 2007 season.

"We're excited about this year's schedule," said head coach Jim Grobe. "It is certainly very competitive and we will have to play well each week to have a chance to win."

Wake Forest will open the 2008 campaign in Waco, TX against Baylor on Aug. 30. On Sept. 6, the Deacons will play Mississippi at BB&T Field in conjunction with the opening of the new Deacon Tower. The Deacons will have an open date on Sept. 13 before traveling to Florida State on Sept. 20 for the first ACC game of the season.

The Deacons host Navy on Sept. 27 and then play a Thursday night home game on Oct. 9 against Clemson that will be carried on ESPN. Wake will travel to Maryland on Oct. 18 and play at Miami (Fla) on Oct. 25.

Wake Forest will play four of its final five games at BB&T Field. The Deacons host Duke on Nov. 1 and Virginia on Nov. 8. After a visit to NC State on Nov. 15, Wake concludes ACC play at home against Boston College on Nov. 22. The regular season finale will be at home with Vanderbilt on Nov. 29.

Three of the four non-conference opponents will be under the direction of a first-year head coach. Art Briles, most recently the head coach at Houston, will be coaching his first game at Baylor after replacing Guy Morriss. Ken Niumatalolo took over at Navy from Paul Johnson and Ole Miss replaced Ed Orgeron with former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt.

Wake Forest is the second-winningest team in the ACC over the last two years with a combined league record of 11-5. Only Virginia Tech at 13-3 has posted more conference victories since the start of the 2006 season. The Deacons were 9-4 in 2007 and are coming off a 24-10 win over Connecticut in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Aug. 30 at Baylor

Sept. 6 MISSISSIPPI

Sept. 20 at Florida State

Sept. 27 NAVY

Oct. 9 CLEMSON (Thurs)

Oct. 18 at Maryland

Oct. 25 at Miami

Nov. 1 DUKE

Nov. 8 VIRGINIA

Nov. 15 at NC State

Nov. 22 BOSTON COLLEGE

Nov. 29 VANDERBILT