BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — Two Atlantic Coast Conference teams trending in opposite directions will meet Saturday when the Virginia Tech Hokies host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies (17-10, 8-8 ACC), once firmly on the NCAA tournament bubble, have lost three of their last four games, including a heartbreaking 67-66 road loss at Miami on Tuesday. They will look to stabilize their postseason resume against a Wake Forest squad that has found a late-season spark. The Demon Deacons (14-12, 7-9) arrive on a three-game winning streak, their longest in conference play this season. They are coming off an 85-77 home victory over Clemson on Wednesday, powered by 16 points from guard Sebastian Akins. The sophomore has been a key variable for Wake Forest, scoring in double figures in three of the last five games, including a 29-minute, 16-point effort against the Tigers. Virginia Tech will counter with its own backcourt catalyst in Jailen Bedford. The guard is averaging 15.4 points over his last seven contests, highlighted by a 23-point performance in a win at Clemson on Feb. 11. Bedford nearly willed the Hokies to a road win at Miami, finishing with 12 points and six assists. The teams’ first meeting this season was a tight affair, with Wake Forest securing an 81-78 home win on Jan. 3. The Hokies will seek to defend their home court and split the season series, as they have done in four of the last five years in this matchup. For Virginia Tech, a loss would mark a fourth consecutive ACC defeat, jeopardizing their at-large tournament hopes. For Wake Forest, a fourth straight win would bring them back to .500 in league play and continue an unlikely push toward the conference’s upper tier. Tipoff is set for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. The game will be a critical pivot point for both teams’ final stretch runs before the ACC tournament.