Dave Doeren stood at the podium after NC State’s 38-14 loss to Wake Forest and pointed first to the injury pileup. The Wolfpack coach said the team was without three starting offensive linemen and its top running back, and he made that a central part of his opening explanation.
"It's unfortunate. I would love to have played that football game with a healthy offensive line, but we don't have one right now," Doeren said.
"Our kids are going to learn from that film. We're going to regroup during our bye week and get ready for our next six."
He did give Wake Forest and second-year coach Jake Dickert credit, but the rest of his comments shifted toward what he saw as the Pack’s own breakdowns. That was especially true when he talked about the second-half defense.
"As coaches, we've got to get that done" Doeren said in discussing the issues after halftime.
The numbers from the loss were ugly. Wake Forest outgained NC State 265-63, held the Wolfpack to -5 rushing yards, and ripped off 28 unanswered points after halftime. Doeren said the problem wasn’t being outsmarted.
"I think it's more execution, and that's the sad part," Doeren said. "I wish I could tell you that we're getting out-adjusted because that's not what's happening. ...
It's basic things. It's fundamentals.
It's not pressing and doing your job, and it's really frustrating."
And it has become frustrating for NC State, not just in one bad afternoon, but across the season’s first six games. The same mistakes keep showing up: shaky clock management, burned timeouts, penalties for illegal substitutions, poor pass rush, and blown coverages. Those issues have helped turn promising starts into lopsided finishes, with the Wolfpack being outscored 115-53 in the second half against Division I opponents.
Injuries have absolutely mattered. NC State was down to its sixth, seventh and eighth offensive linemen against Wake Forest, and that kind of depth crisis is hard to hide. But the line had already been allowing 3.35 rushing yards per attempt against Power Four opponents before Saturday, so the problem wasn’t born in one game.
The defense has its own history of cracks, too. There were multiple blown plays against Virginia in Week 0, no pass rush when Vanderbilt rallied behind a freshman quarterback in Week 3, and then more busted coverage against Wake on Saturday. Those problems were present last year under DJ Eliot’s leadership and haven’t gone away in Year 2.
Doeren’s own admission only sharpened the criticism: the Wolfpack " wasn't ready," even with the offseason to prepare for Virginia. That became part of a rough stretch that included the meltdown in Nashville, a week of national ridicule, and then Saturday’s second-half collapse at Carter-Finley Stadium, where Wake Forest scored 31 straight to bury State.
The bye week now becomes a reset point, with Duke, UNC, Stanford, Syracuse and Florida State still left on the schedule. Those five teams are a combined 2-8 in ACC play, which leaves NC State with a path to recovery. But that also raises a familiar question for Wolfpack fans: how often is the conversation about salvaging a season instead of chasing something bigger?
At the midway point, the record says 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the ACC. The conference-only numbers tell the same story: 15th or worse in points scored at 17.7 per game, points allowed at 33.3, rushing yards at 70.3, and rushing yards allowed at 191.0. NC State also ranks 106th nationally in adjusted EPA per play at -0.14 and is tied for the fifth-most explosive plays allowed with 48 through six games.
In Other News...
Dave Doeren Enters A Tough New Conversation For NC State Fans
The early-season coaching carousel is already starting to take shape around the country, and Dave Doeren has found himself in an uncomfortable neighborhood with it. Marylands Mike Locksley is feeling the heat after a loss to Ohio State pushed his team to 2-4, Florida States Mike Norvell is being viewed through a different lens as the school seems more focused on roster investment than a midseason change, and Rutgers Greg Schiano is also dealing with pressure after recent defeats. For NC State fans, the more immediate concern is that Doerens name is now being mentioned in the same breath as coaches whose jobs are suddenly part of the broader conversation.
South Carolinas Shane Beamer bought himself some breathing room with a win at Florida, a reminder that one strong result can change the tone around a program in a hurry. Doeren, meanwhile, does not have that kind of cushion at the moment, and the Wolfpack are entering a stretch where every game can sharpen the questions around the direction of the program. The discussion is no longer just about one loss or one rough afternoon. It is about whether NC State is headed toward the kind of season that forces a much harder look from the outside. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Is Running Out Of Time To Win Over Josh Rivera
NC States pursuit of Josh Rivera is entering a critical stretch, with the 2027 four-star small forward reportedly planning an official visit to Raleigh even though a date has not been set. Rivera has already taken official visits to Loyola and UMass, and an upcoming trip to USC is on the schedule, giving him a full view of the options that have started to crowd into his recruitment.
A top prospect in New York, Rivera is drawing attention from several high-major programs, which means the Wolfpack will have to make the most of its chance when he gets on campus. The visit alone is a positive sign, but NC State still has work to do if it wants to stay in the race as Rivera moves toward a decision in the near future. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forests Rise Just Made NC States Problem Harder To Ignore
Wake Forests climb into the AP top 25 has added another layer to NC States October frustration, especially after the Demon Deacons handled the Wolfpack in a game that looked more and more lopsided as it went on. Under first-year coach Jake Dickert, Wake Forest is ranked No. 21 for the first time, and the timing only sharpens the sting for a Wolfpack team trying to measure itself against one of the leagues fastest-rising programs.
The matchup also underscored just how difficult Wake Forest has become to defend. Carlos Hernandez, who leads the FBS in receptions, kept finding space with 12 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, while Jack Foley added eight grabs for 156 yards and a score. On the other side of the ball, the Demon Deacons tightened up after halftime and held NC State to 73 yards, with Langston Hardy finishing with 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss. [Read more 🡒]