Deshawn Purdie News: Starting quarterback for Week 9

Purdie will be Wake Forest's starting quarterback Saturday against SMU, Pete Thamel of ESPN reports.

Even though Robby Ashford (thumb) is available, Wake Forest will stick with the hot hand in Purdie. The latter started in place of an injured Ashford during Week 7 and blazed past Wake Forest by logging 14 completed passes for 270 yards with four touchdowns. SMU will provide a more difficult challenge, but excelling against the Mustangs may turn the tide in favor of Purdie, trying to completely claim his team's QB1 position over Ashford.