Year four of the Hugh Freeze era gets underway with a road trip to Southern Miss on Sept. 3. Today, we continue our early look at Liberty’s 2022 schedule as the Flames prepare to take the short trek south to Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest.

WHO: Wake Forest (11-3, 7-1 ACC)

WHEN: Sept. 17, 5 pm, ACC Network

WHERE: Truist Field (31,500)

SERIES: Wake Forest leads 2-0

WHAT’S NEW: The Demon Deacons had one of their best seasons in 2021 as they started 8-0 for the first time in school history and achieved their highest ever ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll at No. 10. Wake won the ACC’s Atlantic Division and recorded the second double digit win season in school history. Now they go from being the hunter to the hunted as only 12 lettermen were lost from last season’s team.

WHO TO WATCH, OFFENSE: Quarterback Sam Hartman leads a unit that returns seven starters from last year. He threw for over 5,000 yards and 33 touchdowns.

WHO TO WATCH, DEFENSE: DE Rondell Bothroyd had 43 tackles and 6 tackles for loss in 10 games last season, and he has first-team all-ACC potential.

OUTLOOK: Expectations are higher than ever for 9th year head coach Dave Clawson. 13 starters return and only 12 lettermen are lost from last year’s 11-3 squad that won the Gator Bowl and finished ranked in the top 25. The Demon Deacons are 15-2 at Truist Field the last three years and should be a prime contender for the ACC title once again after losing to Pittsburgh in the conference championship game last year.

MORE SNEAK PEEKS:

Sept. 3: Southern Miss
Sept. 10: UAB