BOSTON (AP) – Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe is ready to start dreaming again.

Last year’s last-minute victory over Boston College propelled the Demon Deacons to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and a berth in the Orange Bowl. This year, Wake Forest is hoping to ride the same underdog emotions back into the national rankings and a possible ACC title.

“To have that taste again … if you don’t go to the Orange Bowl, it’s like, ‘Oh, man, what else is there?”‘ receiver Kenny Moore said. “That’s the thing. I definitely think we’ve been spoiled like that and we have to make sure we contain that excitement.”

After losing the Orange Bowl to Louisville, Wake Forest finished the season ranked No. 18 in The Associated Press poll. But they open this year unranked – like Boston College, which finished at No. 20 but then saw coach Tom O’Brien defect to North Carolina State.

Replacing him is Jeff Jagodzinski, the former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator who is in his first job as a head coach.

Playing the defending conference champions in his debut is a tough start, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m glad that’s who we are opening up with, to be honest with you,” Jagodzinski said. “We’ll find out who we are.”

Jagodzinski wasn’t around on Nov. 4 when Kevin Marion had an 81-yard touchdown run and Patrick Ghee intercepted a pass in the end zone with just under a minute left to lead Wake Forest to a 21-14 victory over BC. The Demon Deacons improved to 8-1 for the first time since 1944 and Grobe abandoned his previous restraint, saying, “It’s time to dream a little bit.”