NC State’s Saturday matchup with Louisville may hinge on one name: Lincoln Kienholz.
Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm said Kienholz is a game-time decision against NC State after the quarterback was injured late in the Cardinals’ loss to Wake Forest. That puts the Wolfpack in a tricky spot, because they now have to get ready for both one of the ACC’s most productive quarterbacks and whatever Plan B Louisville turns to if he can’t suit up.
Kienholz has powered the Cardinals’ offense through four games. The Ohio State transfer has completed 75 of 109 passes for 1,140 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.
He’s also added six rushing touchdowns, which has made him especially dangerous around the goal line. Even in Louisville’s 30-27 loss to Wake Forest, he still threw for 324 yards and accounted for three touchdowns.
If he’s unable to play, the names to watch are Davin Wydner and Briggs Cherry. Brohm hasn’t said publicly which direction he would go, but all three quarterbacks have seen the field this season.
Wydner looks like the likeliest option if Kienholz is ruled out. Coming off the Wake Forest loss, Brohm would probably lean toward the quarterback with the most game experience.
Wydner, a 6-foot-5 passer, threw for 1,667 yards and 15 touchdowns at West Georgia last season while also running for 442 yards and three scores. In 2024, he made eight starts, passed for 1,718 yards and rushed for seven touchdowns.
That production came at a different level, but it still shows he’s been in the role before.
For NC State, Kienholz sitting would be a major swing. It would not wipe out Louisville’s offense completely, though. The Cardinals still have talent across the board.
What it could do is give the Wolfpack defense a better chance to attack the quarterback and try to force mistakes against a less experienced player. Even then, Wydner brings his own running ability, so NC State can’t just assume the passing game becomes the whole story.
There’s also another possibility the Wolfpack has to account for: Kienholz could play, but not be fully mobile. His legs have been a big part of Louisville’s offense, so how well he moves may matter nearly as much as whether he starts at all. The injury details aren’t clear, so that part remains up in the air.
Louisville visits NC State on Saturday, October 3, at 3:30 p.m. Until Brohm makes the call, the Wolfpack has to prepare for the quarterback who has made the Cardinals dangerous - and the alternatives waiting behind him.
In Other News...
NC State Gets A Wake Forest Setup Fans Are Tired Of Seeing
NC States Week 6 trip to Wake Forest now has a familiar early start, with the ACC setting the game for noon on The CW. Its the kind of kickoff Wolfpack fans have seen far too often in conference play, the sort that turns a league matchup into a morning routine and leaves little room for any buildup once Saturday arrives.
The timing adds another layer to a game that already carries some recent history. NC State has won four of the last six meetings with Wake Forest, but the most recent home game in the series went the other way, and the Demon Deacons come in 3-1 under new coach Jake Dickert. For the Wolfpack, it is another chance to handle a rival that has given them problems in this spot before, even if the television slot is one they would probably rather avoid. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Had Several Players Step Up When This Game Got Tight
NC State got the kind of win that can settle a team down for a week, even if it took a little more work than it appeared it might early on. The Wolfpack beat App State 41-31 and moved back to .500, with several players making sure the night did not turn into one of those frustrating losses where a lead slips away and nobody can quite stop the momentum.
Keenan Jackson, Popo Aguirre, Jackson Vick, CJ Bailey and Duke Scott all had a hand in keeping the game pointed NC States way when App State pushed back late. It was the sort of effort the Pack will want to bottle going forward, because the margin tightened, the pressure rose and the game still ended with NC State finding enough answers on both sides to finish the job. [Read more 🡒]
NC State May Have Found A Crucial Answer Up Front
Teague Andersens move inside gave NC State exactly the kind of stability it needed in the middle of the line during the Wolfpacks 41-31 win over Appalachian State. After shifting from right tackle to center because of an injury, Andersen earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors, grading out at 92.77 percent while logging five pancake blocks over 82 snaps. He also helped anchor an offensive front that opened the way for 459 total yards, including 206 on the ground.
For a team trying to settle its protection and run game early, Andersens performance offered a promising glimpse of what the Wolfpack might have found up front. The bigger question now is whether that same kind of line play can hold when NC State faces more pressure and has to keep adjusting around personnel changes. [Read more 🡒]