The 2025 campaign begins for both programs on Thursday, September 3rd at 7:00 PM EDT inside Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, where Wake Forest opens its home schedule against an Akron side eager to set the tone early.
Season openers are blank canvases — no record to defend, no narrative to escape — and that's exactly what makes nights like this worth circling. Both teams enter 0-0, which means every snap is a first impression and every play caller is working from a fresh script. For the Demon Deacons, defending home turf on a weeknight sets the stage for what they want this season to feel like. For the Zips, the opportunity is simple and powerful: walk into someone else's building and announce yourself.
Thursday night football has its own energy — a standalone window, all eyes on one field. Tune in for the opener and see who grabs the first momentum of the year.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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