NC State left Louisville with a 31-28 win and its first ACC victory of the 2026 season, and the numbers now paint a sharper picture of who’s driving the Wolfpack’s early conference profile.
The biggest climb belongs to linebacker Popo Aguirre. He entered the game with 37 tackles, already third in the ACC, then added six more against the Cardinals.
That pushed him to 43 tackles, tied for the conference lead. Aguirre, who transferred in from Miami this offseason, also recovered three Louisville fumbles on Saturday, making his impact felt all over the field.
Kanoah Vinesett also made a major jump. The kicker was perfect before the Louisville game, and he stayed that way by going 3-for-3, including the game-winning 28-yarder in the fourth quarter.
That moved him from a tie for eighth to a tie for third in field goals made. He’s now 7-for-7 on the season.
NC State’s quarterback play continues to show up in the conference rankings as well. CJ Bailey’s completion percentage dipped from 67.3% to 65.3%, but he held steady at eighth in the ACC.
His passing efficiency improved from 148.0 to 148.5, which moved him up one spot to eighth. He also climbed from a tie for ninth to a tie for eighth in passing touchdowns, and his 1,266 passing yards rank seventh in the league.
The one blemish remains interceptions, where he has four and is tied for sixth-most in the ACC.
Bailey’s passing game has leaned on Keenan Jackson, even if Jackson slipped a bit in the rankings. The Weddington product caught three passes for 44 yards and a touchdown against Louisville, bringing his season line to 22 receptions, 339 yards and five scores.
He dropped three spots in both receptions and receiving yards, but he remains tied for second in the ACC in touchdown catches. Through five games, he’s been one of the conference’s most reliable scoring threats at receiver.
Backup quarterback Will Wilson keeps finding the end zone, too. His rushing touchdown against Louisville gave him six on the season, moving him into a tie for second in the ACC in rushing touchdowns. That’s a striking number for a backup quarterback, and it has made him one of NC State’s most dependable options near the goal line.
Tight end Preston Douglas has quietly carved out a bigger role. He caught five passes for 74 yards against Louisville, bringing his season total to 19 receptions and tying him for 16th in the ACC in catches. His production was another sign of the growing role he’s playing in the passing attack, with Gavin Locklear deserving credit for what he does with the tight ends at NC State.
The Wolfpack also has a steady presence in the return game. Victor Snow remains among the ACC’s top punt returners, even though his average dipped from 9.7 to 9.5 yards. He still sits seventh in the conference.
On defense, Jackson Vick and Ronnie Royal III both show up in the passes defended category. Vick had been tied for fourth with three passes defended, and while he still has three, he’s now tied for eighth. Royal, meanwhile, joined the list with three of his own.
Duke Scott’s situation is less encouraging. He left the Louisville game with an injury, and his rankings took a hit as a result.
He now has 358 rushing yards, which puts him ninth in the ACC, and he’s tied for eighth in yards per carry at 5.8. His four rushing touchdowns leave him tied for ninth.
With Scott officially ruled out against Wake Forest, those numbers figure to keep sliding while he’s sidelined.
Here’s a quick look at the biggest movers in NC State’s ACC rankings this week: Vinesett rose five spots in field goals made, Aguirre moved up two spots in tackles, Wilson climbed one spot in rushing touchdowns, Bailey gained one spot in both passing touchdowns and passing efficiency, Scott dropped two spots in rushing yards and three in rushing touchdowns, Keenan Jackson fell three spots in both receptions and receiving yards, and Jackson Vick slid four spots in passes defended.
In Other News...
NC State Faces A Pressure Test After Its Early Season Collapse
NC States trip into October comes with a little extra pressure after an early-season stumble, and the matchup with Wake Forest now looks like the kind of game that can either steady the Wolfpack or keep the questions coming. Around the college football world, this weeks slate is packed with intrigue, but for NC State the focus is much narrower: a conference game against a familiar foe, a chance to regain rhythm, and a test of whether the offense can clean up its recent mistakes.
There is some optimism baked into the matchup, especially with CJ Baileys playmaking ability giving the Wolfpack a higher ceiling when the ball is moving well. The bigger issue is whether NC State can pair that with enough control and balance to avoid another messy night, and the quarterback situation adds another layer of interest as the staff looks for the right mix to complement Bailey. Wake Forest may be the opponent on the schedule, but the more revealing battle is whether NC State can answer its own early-season collapse before it starts to linger. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Faces A Defining ACC Test With Momentum On The Line
NC State heads into a pivotal ACC matchup with Wake Forest carrying real momentum and a home-field edge it has protected all season. Both teams have been playing well, which is what gives this one extra weight beyond the usual conference date. The Wolfpack have had to manage injuries along the way, but they have still handled business in Raleigh and now face a test that should say plenty about where they stand in the league picture.
Wake Forest brings enough recent success to make this more than just a spot-the-better-team kind of game, and the setup suggests a tight one from the start. For NC State, the stakes are simple: keep the home run going, stay steady through the injury issues and keep its place in a crowded ACC race from slipping. A win would say plenty about the Wolfpacks staying power, while a stumble would make the path ahead much less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Has New Life On Offense Before A Rivalry Test
NC State heads into its matchup with Wake Forest with a little more confidence on offense after watching CJ Bailey settle in and steer the unit with more poise. The quarterback has given the Wolfpack a steadier foundation, and the presence of Will Wilson as a threat adds another layer to an attack that looked far less comfortable just a week ago. Against a rival that knows how to make games messy, that kind of calm matters.
The challenge now is whether that progress holds up when the Wolfpack face a Wake Forest team that can punish any lapse in space or discipline. NC States defensive structure, with Harvey Dyson III helping set the tone at linebacker, gives the group a chance to stay organized, but the margin for error remains small. For the Wolfpack, the offenses renewed life only matters if the defense can avoid giving the Demon Deacons extra openings. [Read more 🡒]