Breaking: Wake Forest’s bowl plan just changed. Mississippi State arrives in Charlotte with a reshaped roster and a new quarterback audition. The Demon Deacons get the ACC vs SEC spotlight today, and the matchup now swings on poise, patience, and fast in-game tweaks.
The QB audition that could decide it
Mississippi State is handing the ball to a young passer, Kamario Taylor. This is a live tryout for the future, and it will not be vanilla. Expect designed runs, quick throws, and a few deep shots to test Wake Forest’s corners. If Taylor gets into rhythm, the Bulldogs can control pace and field position.
Wake must close the edges and build a pocket trap. Defensive ends have to squeeze, not fly upfield. Linebackers need to spy and rally. If Taylor is forcing off-platform throws on third and long, the Demon Deacons will own the flow.
Eyes on the opening two drives. Mississippi State will script touches to calm Taylor and stress Wake’s rules.
Opt outs reshape the matchup
Multiple Bulldogs starters are sitting out, and that changes the spine of this game. There are new faces in key spots, especially in the pass game and on the back end of the defense. That means two things. Taylor will shoulder more with his legs, and Mississippi State will rotate fresh bodies in coverage.
Wake should expect more tight end usage and a heavier ground load from the Bulldogs. The call is simple, run early to protect the quarterback, then take selective vertical shots when safeties creep. On defense, Mississippi State can get aggressive to help a thinner secondary. That means pressure, press looks, and risk.
Wake’s slow mesh identity can punish that risk. The Demon Deacons stretch time at the line, read second-level movement, and stab at seams when safeties bite. The tradeoff is ball security. One late mesh or one blind-side hit can flip this game.
Wake Forest cannot give the ball away. Mississippi State’s best path with a young QB is short fields and extra possessions.
What Wake Forest must do right now
Wake Forest has experience in December football. The staff knows how to manage chaos, and today calls for simple, sharp answers.
- Win first down on defense, force Taylor into third and 7 or more.
- Keep contain, tackle in space, and make Mississippi State stack drives.
- Offensively, lean on tempo changes, then hit the seams and the glance routes.
- Protect the quarterback with chips and slides, invite pressure, and throw behind it.
If Wake hits those marks, the scoreboard will tilt. If not, the Bulldogs’ youth can grow up in a hurry.
The chess match for Clawson’s group
Wake’s offense lives on patience. The slow mesh tests linebackers snap after snap. Mississippi State knows this, so watch for simulated pressures and rotating safeties to cloud reads. The counter for Wake, quick perimeter touches to make the Bulldogs tackle, then a shot over the top once eyes get nosy.
Defensively, Wake can bait throws by showing single high pre-snap, then rolling late. Young quarterbacks often lock their first read. Late movement can steal one. Special teams also matter here. Mississippi State’s new-look depth chart may shift coverage units, and that opens return lanes. Hidden yards could decide the fourth quarter.
Culture, stakes, and the Charlotte stage
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl is a stage with personality, and Wake Forest knows this turf. Charlotte turns into a football block party, and this is in-state ground for the Demon Deacons. That matters. The crowd will ride every third down, and the energy swings fast when bowls get quirky.
ACC vs SEC games carry pride. Today is also a test of roster building in the portal era. Opt outs and auditions are the new normal. Program stability is the advantage now, and Wake Forest has built its edge on development, detail, and clean situational football.
The bottom line
This game is about control. If Wake Forest keeps Taylor in the pocket and wins the turnover battle, the Demon Deacons will dictate tempo. If Mississippi State’s pressure creates chaos and short fields, the bowl flips. My read is simple. Discipline beats drama in December. Wake Forest has the plan to handle both.
