Cullowhee, N.C. – Despite last Saturday's disappointing season-opening home loss to Gardner-Webb, Western Carolina football remained among the national rankings on differing levels this week as the Catamounts prepare to tackle Wake Forest at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem.
 
The Catamounts remain among those ranked in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches' Poll, hanging on in a tie for 25th nationally in the traditionally stauncher of the two primary in-season polls. WCU dropped from the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, but remains among those receiving votes in the media tabulation, unofficially at No. 35 based on the vote tally.
 
Also on Monday, Western Carolina's Hayward McQueen Jr., was listed as an honorable mention for the Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., product amassed a career-high 15 tackles in WCU's opener, the fourth double-digit tackle performance of his career, while also forcing a fumble on one of WCU's three sacks. McQueen Jr. currently leads the SoCon in tackles.
 
WCU is one of three Southern Conference teams still among the rankings by the coaches in the poll unveiled Tuesday. The Catamounts trail No. 21 Mercer, which lost to non-scholarship Pioneer Football League member Presbyterian last week, and No. 24 East Tennessee State, which dismantled Murray State – a team picked 10th in the 10-team Missouri Valley Football Conference – 45-17 on the first full day of play.
 
Mercer is the lone remaining SoCon team in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, sliding from No. 11 to No. 23 after its loss to Presbyterian. The Bears avoided a 0-2 start after weather forced a "no contest" in their Week 0 game against then No. 8 UC Davis in Birmingham, Ala. ETSU is just outside the media's Top 25, second in line of those receiving votes, where it is joined by WCU (45 pts), and Chattanooga (0-1, 35 pts).
 
Western Carolina (0-1) continues its 12-game schedule this Saturday, Sept. 6, with an in-state visit to ACC-foe Wake Forest (1-0) and first-year head coach Jake Dickert. Saturday marks the fourth all-time series meeting between the Catamounts and Demon Deacons, and is the first since 1991, with the two other meetings coming in the 1982 and 1983 seasons.
 
All told, WCU plays its first six games in the Old North State, not crossing state lines until Oct. 4, in the SoCon matchup with Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C.
 
The Catamounts look to halt a 0-63 mark against NCAA FBS competition that includes a 0-34 mark against the ACC. Last year, though, a spirited Catamount side carried a 21-17 lead into the fourth quarter at a stunned Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh against the NC State Wolfpack. However, the FCS squad was outscored by 21 points over the final 15 minutes by the then  24th-ranked Pack in the 38-21 decision.
 
Saturday's game in Winston is scheduled for a 2 p.m. kickoff and will be broadcast on the ACC Network Xtra, with Doug Sherman (pxp) and Brad Hopkins (color) on the call. Fans can also listen to the game on the Catamount Sports Network with coverage beginning with the Pepsi Tailgate Show at 1 p.m. Four network affiliates across the mountains are set to carry the CSN broadcasts this season, including longtime affiliates 105.7 FM and 540 AM WRGC in Sylva (wrgc.com); 104.9 FM and 1050 AM in Franklin (1050wfsc.com); and WISE Sports Radio 1310 AM in Asheville (wisesportsradio.com). Back after carrying select broadcasts a year ago is 96.1 and 105.9 WBRM, BIGFOOT Country in Marion, N.C. (bigfoot1039.com).
 
Fans can find live stat links and listen to the Catamount Sports Network anywhere in the world by visiting CatamountSports.com. In-game updates will also be available on X, following @Catamounts and @CatamountsFB.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (FB.com/CatamountSports; FB.com/catamountsportsnetwork) and Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountsFB).