Dave Doeren gets another crack at a long-running NC State problem on Saturday, and this one comes with a chance to do more than just pick up a road win.
NC State heads to Vanderbilt for a 12:45 p.m. ET kickoff on SEC Network, looking to do something the program has not managed in the regular season since 2002: beat a Power Four non-conference opponent away from Carter-Finley Stadium.
That drought stretches across multiple coaches and nearly a quarter-century. Chuck Amato’s team was the last to pull it off, beating Texas Tech 51-48 in Lubbock in 2002 behind a huge afternoon from T.A. McLendon, who rushed for five Touchdowns as the Wolfpack escaped with the win.
Since then, NC State has gone through the rest of Amato’s tenure, five seasons under Tom O’Brien and almost 14 seasons under Doeren without another victory in that exact spot.
Doeren has had six chances to end it since arriving in Raleigh in 2013, and he’s come up short every time. Those games have not exactly been nail-biters, either. NC State has been outscored by an average of 21.5 points in those six losses and is 2-4 against the spread.
Here’s the full list of those results under Doeren:
- 2025 at #16 Notre Dame - L, 7-36
- 2024 vs.
#14 Tennessee (Neutral) - L, 10-51
- 2021 at Mississippi State - L, 10-24
- 2019 at West Virginia - L, 27-44
- 2017 vs.
South Carolina (Neutral) - L, 28-35
- 2017 at #9 Notre Dame - L, 14-35
Saturday’s game gives NC State another shot to finally change that story. Vanderbilt is not a Top-10 Notre Dame team or the No. 14 Tennessee squad the Wolfpack faced in Charlotte, and while NC State enters as an underdog, the matchup is expected to be competitive.
There’s also a bigger picture for the ACC. The conference went 8-6 against the SEC last season, but this year has started with three straight losses to SEC teams: Clemson fell at LSU 51-10, Louisville lost to Ole Miss 41-38, and Georgia Tech dropped its game against Tennessee 45-24.
That leaves the ACC still looking for its first win over the SEC this season. Florida State also has a shot Saturday, traveling to Tuscaloosa to face #10 Alabama, though that assignment is a lot tougher.
For NC State, though, the stakes are straightforward. Win at Vanderbilt, and the Wolfpack finally snaps a drought that dates back to Philip Rivers, T.A. McLendon and that wild afternoon in Lubbock.
In Other News...
Paul McNeil Could Decide How Good This NC State Team Becomes
Paul McNeils decision to stay put gives NC State another proven scorer heading into the new season, and it may end up being one of the most important roster choices on the board. Entering his third year with the Wolfpack, he turned down offers from other schools after a breakout stretch that included a program-record number of made three-pointers in a season and a 47-point double-double in the Heritage game.
What makes McNeil so intriguing is that his offensive ceiling is already obvious, but his next step may determine how far this team can go. Coach Gainey will spend plenty of time trying to sharpen the defensive side of McNeils game, and if that growth comes along, NC State could have far more than just a dangerous shooter. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Faces A Tricky SEC Test With Two New Problems
NC State heads to Nashville this weekend facing more than just a nonconference opponent, with the Wolfpack set to take on Vanderbilt in punishing conditions. The forecast calls for a high of 97 degrees and a RealFeel of 104, the kind of early-season heat that can affect tempo, rotations and how aggressively both sides can push the game plan.
Clark Lea added another wrinkle when he announced freshman quarterback Jared Curtis will start for Vanderbilt after his strong showing off the bench in the previous game. Dave Doeren has already acknowledged Curtiss ability and said NC State has been preparing for the challenge of containing him, giving the Wolfpack a different kind of SEC test before the game even kicks off. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Faces An Uncomfortable Rematch With A Familiar Enemy
Lyndon Coopers path has circled back to a place NC State fans know well, and this time the former starting left guard will be lining up for Vanderbilt against his old team. Cooper spent time as a key piece up front for the Wolfpack before moving on, and the matchup now brings a little extra familiarity to a game that already carries enough attention for both sides. His recent history only adds to the intrigue, including a win over NC State last season while he was at Pittsburgh.
For NC State, the meeting is less about nostalgia than the awkward reality of seeing a former starter across the line of scrimmage. Coopers current role at Vanderbilt gives him a fresh chance to make his presence felt in a game with some personal history attached, while head coach Dave Doeren has chosen not to revisit the subject of Coopers time with the program ahead of kickoff. The storyline is clear enough even without extra commentary, and it gives this rematch a little more edge than your usual nonconference date. [Read more 🡒]