After a solid performance against Richmond, Virginia football drives down to Winston-Salem to take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Here are our players to watch as the Cavaliers look to go 2-0:

#10 Anthony Colandrea – Quarterback, Virginia

In his first game of the season Colandrea played a near perfect game against Richmond throwing for 297 yards and two touchdowns with a 73.9 completion percentage in a game that was easily won. Against Wake Forest, Colandrea is going to need to be even sharper as the Wake defense will be a big step up in competition. The Demon Deacons return only five members of their secondary so it will be important for the Cavaliers to take advantage of that unit still discovering their chemistry. Watch to see if Colandrea throws the ball down the middle more as that was something the Cavaliers did not do much last week. 

#15 Chico Bennett Jr. – DE, Virginia

The defensive line struggled last week against Richmond, only recording one sack. We’ve said it a bunch on this website that in 2022, Chico Bennett Jr. had seven sacks, which was momentous for the Virginia defense. The Wake Forest offensive line ranked 8th in the FBS last year and if the Cavaliers are going to win, Bennett Jr. and the other UVA pass rushers needs to disrupt the flow of the slow mesh offense. 

#8 Malachi Fields – WR, Virginia

The senior from Charlottesville put on a show last Saturday night with five catches for 100 yards to achieve his first-ever 100-yard game in the blue and orange. If Colandrea and this offense want to continue to have success, Fields will need to assert himself early in this game to allow the Cavaliers to keep pace with a talented Wake Forest offense. 

#9 Hank Bachmeier – Quarterback, Wake Forest

Bachmeier leads the charge for the Demon Deacons after playing a year at Louisiana Tech and four years at Boise State, a true product of the transfer portal. In his debut against North Carolina A&T, he went 18/28 for 263 yards and three touchdowns. Bachmeier is a pocket passer with an impressive arm and quick release which will be a step up from facing Kyle Wickersham last week against Richmond. To add, Wake Forest had the fourth highest rated offensive line in the power five last year according to Pro Football Focus and with three starters returning to that group Bachmeier should have plenty of time in the pocket. 

#1 Demond Claiborne – Running Back, Wake Forest

Claiborne is once again the starting tailback for Wake Forest after leading the team with a career-high 620 rushing yards and five touchdowns. In the season opener, Claiborne further solidified his talent in the backfield with 135 rushing yards, one touchdown and a 48-yard rush. Claiborne also serves as a kick returner for the Demon Deacons and recorded one touchdown last year against Virginia Tech. 

#2 Taylor Morin – Wide Receiver, Wake Forest

Pairing the explosive running back in Claiborne, Morin is a speedy wide receiver who recorded 41 catches for 617 yards and two receiving touchdowns last season. In his first game in 2024, Morin recorded six catches for 100 yards in addition to a 73 yard punt return touchdown.

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West Virginia was beaten soundly last Saturday against Penn State at home, 34-12. Despite the lopsided season-opener, the Mountaineers are still receiving two votes in the newest AP Top 25 poll. This is likely a nod to how good Penn State is and a couple of voters believe WVU will bounce back and still have a strong season.

The Mountaineers will look to get back on track this week with a home date with FCS opponent, Albany. West Virginia is 24-0 all-time against teams from the FCS level.

Here is this week’s AP Top 25 poll:

Last week: vs. Clemson W 34-4
This week: vs. Tennessee Tech

Last week: vs. Akron W 52-6
This week: vs. Western Michigan

Last week: vs. Colorado State W 52-0
This week: at Michigan

Last week: vs. Western Kentucky W 63-0
This week: vs. South Florida

Last week: at Texas A&M W 23-13
This week: vs. Northern Illinois

Last week: vs. Furman W 76-0
This week: vs. Middle Tenessee State

Last week: vs. Idaho W 24-14
This week: vs. Boise State

Last week: at West Virginia W 34-12
This week: vs. Bowling Green

Last week: vs. Murray State W 51-0
This week: vs. Buffalo

Last week: vs. Fresno State W 30-10
This week: vs. Texas

Last week: vs. Southern Utah W 49-0
This week: vs. Baylor

Last week: at Florida W 41-17
This week: vs. Florida A&M

Last week: vs. USC W 27-20
This week: vs. Utah State

Last week: vs. Chattanooga W 69-3
This week: vs. NC State

Last week: vs. Temple W 51-3
This week: vs. Houston

Last week: vs. South Dakota State W 44-20
This week: vs. Arkansas

Last week: vs. UT Martin W 41-6
This week: at Tulane

Last week: vs. USC L 20-27
This week: vs. Nicholls

Last week: vs. Lindenwood W 48-3
This week: at Illinois

Last week: vs. New Mexico W 61-39
This week: vs. Northern Arizona

Last week: vs. Illinois State W 40-0
This week: vs. Iowa State

Last week: vs. Austin Peay W 62-0
This week: vs. Jacksonville State

Last week: vs. Georgia State W 35-12
This week: at Syracuse

Last week: vs. Western Carolina W 38-21
This week: vs. Tennessee

Last week: vs. Georgia L 3-34
This week: vs. App State

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

Texas A&M 97, Boston College 49, Boise St. 47, Iowa St. 32, Memphis 27, Nebraska 27, SMU 23, Washington 20, Liberty 12, Vanderbilt 8, Wisconsin 8, Auburn 8, Tulane 4, North Carolina 4, UTSA 3, Appalachian St. 3, Kentucky 2, West Virginia 2, Arkansas 2, UNLV 1, Colorado 1.

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