N.C. State gets another shot at getting right on Saturday night, and the matchup comes with a familiar in-state twist.
The Wolfpack meet Appalachian State in Week 4 of the 2026 college football season on Sept. 26 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU. Dave Doeren’s team enters at 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the ACC after a painful finish at Vanderbilt, while the Mountaineers arrive unbeaten at 3-0 and already own wins over ECU and Charlotte.
The game is part of a series that has stretched back to 1932, and N.C. State has handled it well over the years, holding a 6-0 record against App State. The Wolfpack also paid the Mountaineers $300,000 to bring this one to Raleigh, according to a game contract obtained by The Fayetteville Observer/USA TODAY Network.
Jason Ross Jr. and Tyoka Jackson will be on the ESPNU broadcast. For listeners, Matt Chazanow, Johnny Evans and Jeff Gravley will handle the Wolfpack Sports Radio Network call, with the game airing locally in Raleigh on 101.5 FM.
For those looking to stream it, Fubo is carrying the game and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
BetMGM’s odds as of Friday, Sept. 25 list N.C. State as a heavy favorite at -550, with App State at +425. The over/under is 55 ½ points.
The prediction on the board is N.C. State 36, App State 26, with the Wolfpack’s offensive edge expected to decide a game the Mountaineers should be able to hang around in for a while.
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NC States Backcourt Could Change Fast If Darius Adams Breaks Through
Darius Adams arrived at NC State with the kind of rsum that makes people pay attention, but the more interesting part has been how quickly he has started to look comfortable in his new setting. The former five-star guard and McDonalds All-American transferred in from Maryland after Justin Gainey had spent time recruiting him, and the early buzz around him has centered on offseason growth in his ball-handling, shooting and physicality. Around the program, teammates have described a player with a clear edge, the sort of motivation that can travel well in a new backcourt.
For the Wolfpack, the timing matters because the guard rotation already has pieces in place, and Adams is expected to be part of that mix rather than a passenger. If his progress carries over when the games count, NC State could see its backcourt sort itself out faster than expected, with Adams pushing for a bigger role and giving the staff another option to lean on. The appeal is obvious: a talented newcomer with proven pedigree, a fresh start and something to prove. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Has An Obvious Davion Dozier Opportunity Tonight
Davion Dozier came to NC State from Appalachian State with a reputation as a receiver who could threaten defenses down the field, and that profile still makes him an easy name to circle when the Wolfpack need a spark. Through three games, though, his role has been far quieter than expected, with less production, fewer targets and a shorter average depth of target than he posted in his previous season.
Even so, the underlying grades have suggested he has done enough with the opportunities hes gotten, which is why tonight stands out as a chance for the Wolfpack to lean into what he does best. He has also played fewer snaps than several other receivers on the roster, leaving the door open for a bigger workload if NC State wants to stretch the field and make use of the speed it brought him in for. [Read more 🡒]