DALLAS – SMU football faces one of its biggest challenges of the season Saturday when No. 11 Wake Forest visits Gerald J. Ford Stadium, and injuries could play a significant role in determining which team leaves with a crucial Atlantic Coast Conference victory.The Mustangs (7-2, 5-2 ACC) are coming off a 51-28 victory over Virginia Tech, but coach Rhett Lashlee’s team has been dealing with several personnel issues, particularly on defense.MORE: SMU Basketball Rolls Past Prairie View A&M 98-63 As Toombs ShinesWake Forest (8-1, 5-1) has its own concerns, beginning with starting quarterback Gio Lopez.Lopez suffered a leg injury during the Demon Deacons’ Oct. 31 victory over Virginia and subsequently missed Saturday’s 77-0 rout of Merrimack.However, Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert expressed optimism Monday that Lopez will return against SMU.”He’ll be ready to go Saturday,” Dickert said.Lopez was expected to resume practicing this week with a gradually increasing workload.If he experiences a setback, Wake Forest has an intriguing alternative in Steele Pizzella.The backup quarterback delivered an extraordinary performance against Merrimack, producing 495 combined passing and rushing yards in just one half of action.Pizzella’s emergence gives Dickert some insurance, although facing SMU’s defense in a nationally televised ACC showdown represents a considerably different challenge.Wake Forest is also monitoring offensive lineman Tolu Olajide, linebacker Aiden Hall and tight end Will Loerzel.Olajide missed the Merrimack game after suffering an injury against Virginia. Dickert indicated the lineman was progressing toward a return, while Hall was expected to increase his participation during the week.The coach also expressed confidence that Loerzel would be available Saturday.For SMU, the injury concerns are concentrated heavily on defense.Safety Tyren Polley Jr. remains sidelined with a season-ending pectoral injury, while defensive end Ira Singleton IV has also missed significant time.The Mustangs’ most recent ACC availability report, ahead of the Virginia Tech game, listed 10 unavailable players.That group included defensive backs Ahmaad Moses and Jaelyn Davis-Robinson, defensive end Trey Wilson, and linebackers I’Zayah Young and Xavier Wright.Their availability for Wake Forest remains subject to the latest conference injury report.SMU has also been without offensive lineman Abel Hoopii, who suffered a season-ending foot injury, and running back Link Rhodes, who tore his ACL before the season.The good news for the Mustangs is that quarterback Kevin Jennings remains healthy and productive.Jennings threw for 350 yards and four touchdowns against Virginia Tech and has been especially difficult to beat at Ford Stadium, improving to 16-1 as a starter at home.That offensive production could become particularly important against a Wake Forest defense allowing fewer than 16 points per game.The Demon Deacons have won six consecutive games, establishing themsel
