NC State heads into its next stretch with some momentum after shaking off a slow start and putting together a convincing win over Richmond. Now the schedule turns toward FBS competition, and the Wolfpack’s first three opponents all showed different things in Week 2.
Vanderbilt was pushed hard by Delaware before finding its footing late. The Blue Hens kept the Commodores off the board in the second quarter and carried a 17-14 lead into halftime. That’s when Clark Lea turned to freshman quarterback Jared Curtis after starter Blaze Berlowitz couldn’t generate much more production.
Curtis changed the game. He accounted for three touchdowns and helped Vanderbilt storm back for a 21-point third-quarter comeback in a 35-26 win. Lea has been giving Curtis and Berlowitz chances to win the starting job, and Curtis may have put himself in front with that rally against Delaware.
The Commodores also brought plenty of heat on defense, finishing with six sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and two interceptions. NC State will see Vanderbilt in Week 3, and the Wolfpack enter that game 1-2 all-time against the Commodores and with a losing record against SEC teams.
Appalachian State had a much tighter outing, escaping Greenville with a 27-24 win over East Carolina. Quarterback Malachi Singleton went 20-for-28 for 267 yards and a touchdown with his feet.
The Mountaineers also got balanced production on the ground, rushing for 129 yards and getting three different ball carriers into the end zone. But the penalties piled up in a big way.
App State was flagged 13 times for 80 yards, and that’s something to keep an eye on when it meets Charlotte next week. NC State has handled Appalachian State every time the two teams have met, holding a 6-0 edge in the series.
Louisville looked sharp in a lopsided 59-13 win over Villanova. The Cardinals bounced back after falling by three points to No.
9 Ole Miss in Week 1 and rolled up 635 total yards against the Wildcats. Lincoln Kienholz led the way at quarterback, throwing for 332 yards and accounting for four total touchdowns.
That one will matter for NC State later. The Wolfpack have not matched up well with Louisville historically, dropping the last two meetings and going 2-4 against the Cardinals at home. Louisville has a demanding few weeks ahead first, with ranked SMU coming to town in Week 3 and Wake Forest following on Sept. 26 before the Cardinals head to Raleigh for their Oct. 3 matchup with NC State.
For now, the path looks manageable for the Wolfpack. Vanderbilt is still searching for stability at quarterback, and State may be catching the Commodores at the right time. NC State’s offense will need to keep pressure on Vanderbilt’s defense, and CJ Bailey has to set the tone early.
Appalachian State should be a different kind of challenge in Week 4, even with the in-state rivalry element. Doeren and his staff will need the Wolfpack to stay disciplined and clean in that game.
If NC State handles those two spots, it can enter the Louisville matchup at 3-1. But that October showdown with the Cardinals looks like the real measuring stick in this run.
In Other News...
Gophers Just Triggered An Early Warning Sign In ESPNs Ratings
After two weeks of college football, ESPNs FPI ratings have already started to shuffle the board, and NC State is among the teams that quietly benefited from the early movement. The Wolfpack moved back up after their 73-0 win over Richmond, a lopsided result that gave their projection a noticeable boost as the national model recalibrated around the early results across the sport.
The bigger picture, though, is still about where the season can take NC State from here. ESPN now projects the Wolfpack to six wins, which keeps bowl eligibility firmly in view while leaving plenty of room for the schedule to decide whether this team can turn a fast start into something more meaningful. The playoff talk remains a long shot, but even in September, the numbers are already showing a team that has put itself back in a more favorable spot. [Read more 🡒]
NC States Defensive Rotation Suddenly Created A New Role Battle
NC States lopsided 73-0 win over Richmond turned into a showcase for the depth on the defensive side, with 36 different players getting into the action. The rotation was deep enough to give several Wolfpack defenders either their first collegiate snaps or a new personal benchmark, and it also created a clearer look at how much competition is brewing for playing time beyond the top of the depth chart.
Brody Barnhardt ended up leading the defense with 32 snaps even though he did not start, a telling detail in a game that rewarded readiness more than pedigree. AJ Prim and Adrian Farrow were among the reserves who logged career highs, while Asaad Brown Jr. did not play and will be monitored heading into Vanderbilt, leaving a few more spots in that rotation very much up for grabs. [Read more 🡒]