NC State Faces Duke in Key ACC Rivalry Game on Saturday

DURHAM, N.C. — NC State football (3-0, 1-0) looks to maintain its undefeated record as it travels to Durham to face Duke on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Although Duke leads the overall series dating back to 1924, NC State has an impressive 15-5 record against the Blue Devils since 1990, including an 11-game winning streak from 1994 to 2008. This game marks the fifth meeting between the teams in the last 12 years under head coach Dave Doeren, with four matchups occurring since 2020.

This season is particularly noteworthy for NC State as it marks the first time in 26 years that the team has opened its conference schedule with two road games. The last time this occurred was in 1999, when the Wolfpack opened with losses to Florida State and Wake Forest.

In its last two games, NC State has come back to win after trailing at halftime, which showcases its resilience. Notably, it’s the first time since 2014 that the Wolfpack has achieved this feat in back-to-back games.

Running back Hollywood Smothers leads the ACC in rushing and ranks sixth in the FBS. He has achieved career highs in rushing yards in three of his last four contests. With 951 rushing yards, Smothers is on the verge of becoming the Wolfpack’s 41st career 100-yard rusher if he continues at his league-leading pace.

Quarterback CJ Bailey has also made headlines, becoming the first NC State player since Philip Rivers in 2002 to record at least five touchdown passes and three rushing touchdowns through the first three games of a season. With an ESPN QBR of 85.0, he ranks 12th in the nation.

Defensively, NC State has been impressive, holding opponents to under 100 rushing yards in 55 games under Doeren. Notably, ECU and Wake Forest both struggled against the Pack defense, with the latter accumulating just 59 rushing yards in their recent matchup.

This game promises to be intense, as both teams have strong motivations. Duke, despite a struggling season at 1-2, has a talented quarterback in Darian Mensah, who is ready to lead the Blue Devils to a much-needed victory as they open ACC play. The battle between Mensah and Bailey is expected to be a key highlight.

The Wolfpack hopes to secure a victory to improve their record to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in ACC play. As fans prepare for what promises to be an exciting matchup, NC State looks to end its recent losing streak against Duke.