RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — For the twelfth time in school history, North Carolina State will open its football season against in-state rivals East Carolina when they face off Thursday night.
Though the rivalry is always a little heated, this year there’s a little extra fuel to the fire, as the teams also ended last season against each other. The two programs faced off in the Military Bowl on Dec. 28, 2024, with the Pirates taking that game in Annapolis, Md. by a score of 26-21.
But head coach Dave Doeren, who is in his 13th year as the leader of the Pack, said he’s ready to get another season going and get back to winning.
“My competitive drive has done nothing but increase over the years,” Doeren said earlier this week. “Every one of these games is meaningful. I appreciate wins more than I ever have … Over time, you start to really see how hard it is to win games, and you value that. Every loss as a coach sits on you.”
NC State has had over half a year to both stew over the last loss and prepare to avenge it.
Doeren spoke at the start of the preseason about the luxury of having a returning quarterback. CJ Bailey, who stepped in to the starting role as a true freshman last year due to injuries, threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns last year against ECU. But he also threw an interception — his only one of the game — with just under a minute left to seal the game for the Pirates.
Despite that ending, the return of Bailey as well as leading running back Hollywood Smothers gave Doeren and his new coordinators an offensive core to build around. Beyond those guaranteed starters, the Wolfpack’s head coach said he has been impressed and pleased with how competitive training camp has been at multiple positions, giving the team coveted depth.
That depth will begin to be tested Thursday night. NC State and ECU kick off at 7 p.m. at a sold-out Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. The Wolfpack is set to don new jerseys that will honor its home, the “City of Oaks.”