Wake ranked No. 23 by AP

Wake Forest will start the season ranked No. 23 by the Associated Press.

The Demon Deacons, who are also ranked 23rd in the USA Today Coaches Poll, enter their season opener at Baylor on Aug. 28 ranked in the top 25 for the first time in program history.

In the AP Poll, voted on by 65 media members, the Deacs received 227 votes, landing them behind No. 22 Penn State and in front of No. 24 Alabama. 

Wake is one of three ACC teams ranked in the AP's top 25, including No. 9 Clemson and No. 17 Virginia Tech. Georgia is ranked No. 1 in both polls.

The Deacs, who finished last season 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the ACC, were selected by media members to finish this season second in the ACC's Atlantic Division.

This season's preseason poll selections mark the earliest time Wake has been ranked. Previously, they were ranked No. 20 in the AP poll and No. 21 in the USA Today poll on Sept. 7, 2003 after wins over Boston College and then-ranked No. 14 N.C. State.

 Last season, the Deacs were ranked once at No. 21 in the AP poll on Oct. 28, though their longest stretch in the national polls came in 2006 when they spent nine weeks ranked. 

The news of Wake's ranking comes on a day fans can celebrate with the team. The team's Fanfest, where fans can interact with players and coaches, starts on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the team's Doc Martin Football Complex.

 The Deacs held two-a-day practices this week and will hold their final preseason scrimmage on Aug. 19 at BB&T Field. It starts at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public.