NC State heads to Nashville this week with a chance to change the mood around its season in a hurry.
The Wolfpack opened as a 4.5-point underdog at Vanderbilt, with the over/under set at 52.5 points. For NC State, that makes Week Four more than just another road trip. After the beatdown in Charlottesville, this is the kind of matchup that can deliver a marquee win and help steady a fanbase that’s still waiting to see what this team really is.
Vanderbilt, though, is no pushover anymore. In a home-and-home contract signed in 2016, the Commodores have become a much more prominent program in the NIL era under Clark Lea. That is a long way from what Wolfpack administration likely imagined when the series was arranged, especially with Vanderbilt spending much of the 21st century near the bottom of the power-conference pack.
The Commodores are 2-0, but they’ve had to work for it. They opened with a 28-9 win over Austin Peay, then needed a strong second half to pull away from Delaware 35-26 last weekend.
A lot of the attention in Nashville has centered on Vanderbilt’s quarterback room. The season began with questions after Diego Pavia’s departure, and those questions haven’t gone away.
Freshman five-star Jared Curtis has already shown why he’s such a big deal, throwing for 210 yards against Delaware and accounting for three touchdowns, including two rushing scores. Senior Blaze Berlowitz has also gotten work, giving the Commodores two options while they sort out the position.
Curtis’ legs could be a real problem for an NC State defense that needs a cleaner showing after what happened against Virginia. It took just nine passes for UVA quarterback Beau Pribula to pick that unit apart to start the year, so the Wolfpack have plenty to prove there.
NC State, meanwhile, brings its own momentum into the game after a historic offensive performance against Richmond. CJ Bailey was efficient, going 13-of-17 for 281 yards and a touchdown while also scoring on the ground. But the bigger development was what happened in front of him and beside him.
After the offense sputtered in the opener against Virginia, the Wolfpack’s line and run game took over against Richmond. NC State averaged 9.5 yards per carry, piled up explosive plays and scored a school-record 10 rushing touchdowns, which gave Bailey far more breathing room as a passer.
That’s the formula again for the Wolfpack: run the ball, avoid the big breakdowns and make Vanderbilt’s quarterback uncertainty do the heavy lifting. The Commodores have talent and the home crowd behind them, but NC State sees a real opening here. A win in Nashville would get the Wolfpack back above .500 and give them an early statement against an SEC opponent, with a chance to turn the page after the frustration of Week 0.
In Other News...
NC States Rout Revealed An Offensive Standout Nobody Saw Coming
NC States 73-0 rout of Richmond was the kind of game that can hide as much as it reveals, but the PFF grades from Saturday told a louder story about just how many Wolfpack offensive pieces were involved. Seven offensive players landed at 90.0 or better, with quarterback CJ Bailey turning in a career-best 92.6 and running back Duke Scott not far behind at 92.2, while freshman Dylan McCoy made a strong first impression with a 90.9 in his offensive debut.
The most eye-catching number, though, belonged to Isaiah Shirley, who somehow topped the offenses grading with a 97.3 overall mark while lining up as an extra blocking tight end. It was the sort of unexpected wrinkle that stood out even in a blowout, a reminder that NC States biggest advantages on Saturday came not just from the obvious skill players but from the unusual ways it found to keep piling on. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Just Triggered An Early Warning Sign In ESPNs Ratings
A second week of college football always shakes up the numbers a little, but ESPNs updated FPI ratings brought a clearer picture of who is moving in the right direction and who is already backing up. Ohio States surge after its upset of Oregon drew the biggest attention, while Arkansas and Minnesota took some of the sharpest hits after losses, a reminder that early-season results can change a teams outlook in a hurry.
For NC State, the update was more encouraging. The Wolfpack saw its projection improve, joining a group of teams whose postseason path looks a bit better after the first two weeks. With bowl chances and even the broader playoff picture still taking shape, the early ratings suggest there is still room for a climb, but also plenty of time for the numbers to swing again once conference play settles in. [Read more 🡒]
RJ Keene Could Give NC State A Bench Weapon It Needs
RJ Keene is the sort of addition that can quietly change the shape of a rotation. Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, NC State looks like it could have a backcourt option who does not need a heavy workload to matter, because his value projects to come in the details - defending, spacing the floor and giving the staff a reliable wing body off the bench. The appeal is obvious for a team that will want someone who can fit around the starters without needing the ball to find his way.
The real question is how much more there is beyond the clean fit. Keenes profile points to a limited-minute role behind the starting wings, but the next step is whether that defense and perimeter shooting can hold up consistently enough to make him more than just a situational piece. For NC State, those are the kinds of players who can end up mattering a lot by March, even if their role never gets much bigger on paper. [Read more 🡒]