After years of light scheduling by NC State football head coach Dave Doeren and company, 2016 will be vastly different. The Wolfpack will play five teams ranked in the preseason top 25 rankings, and the nonconference schedule takes a strong step forward in Doeren’s fourth year. Of course, NC State and the rest of the Atlantic Division will have the dubious honor of playing Clemson and Florida State due to the structure of ACC scheduling.
No. 10 (FCS) William and Mary (9-4 in 2015)
What appears to be an early season cupcake against a lowly FCS program should turn out to be a possible trap game for the young Wolfpack. The Tribe won the talented Colonial Athletic Association and possesses a strong secondary that will test whomever the Wolfpack chooses as its starting quarterback. In addition, the Tribe has an experienced signal caller in senior quarterback Steve Cluley, and talent at the skill positions to give NC State fits. Don’t be surprised if this game is closer than you think heading into the fourth quarter.
At East Carolina (5-7 in 2015)
Looking on the schedule and seeing a road game to ECU can be scary for most fans but fear not, as long as the Wolfpack shows up to play, it should easily leave Greenville with a victory. With a new head coach and an unsettling quarterback situation, the scariest thing about this game is the crowd and how it will affect the young players on the Pack’s roster.
Old Dominion (5-7 in 2015)
The Monarchs have put a scare into the Wolfpack two years in a row, and sophomore quarterback Shuler Bentley has another year of experience under his belt. In a perfect world, this is the final tune-up game for NC State before conference play. The Wolfpack’s defensive line should have a field day in this one and senior running back Matt Dayes will have a breakout game as the two high-powered offenses battle.
Wake Forest (3-9 in 2015)
One of the few ACC games that NC State will be favored in, the Wolfpack will meet the Demon Deacons in early October. The Deacs will again have a good defense and a supreme talent in tight end Cam Serigne, but the Wolfpack should pick up its fourth with of the year here.
No. 10 Notre Dame (10-3 in 2015)
The Wolfpack has a realistic chance to enter this game 4-0 and face off against the Irish on national television to much fanfare. Unfortunately, the world will probably see the Wolfpack lose by multiple touchdowns, as the Irish is a legitimate playoff contender and the Pack simply is not. This should start off a chain reaction of losing that, hopefully for NC State, will only last two games.
At No. 2 Clemson (14-1 in 2015)
Say your prayers that this game doesn’t turn out like the last time NC State traveled to Clemson. With junior playmaking quarterback Deshaun Watson at the helm for another year, there’s a good chance it will. The Wolfpack simply doesn’t have the firepower or experience to walk into Clemson and pull the upset. Truly, few teams in the country do.
At No. 19 Louisville (8-5 in 2015)
The Cardinals are the one of only three teams in the ACC with a winning record in conference play in each of the last two seasons. They are also the only team with a realistic chance of unseating either Clemson or Florida State at the top of the Atlantic Division. The Cardinals have an electric playmaker at quarterback and a stout defense, but this is a game the Wolfpack could win. No one will bat an eyelash if it doesn’t, but it would be a major victory for Doeren.
Boston College (3-9 in 2015)
A must-win game at home in late October, the Eagles are one of two teams that stand between the Wolfpack and bowl eligibility. The Eagles will get better play out of their quarterbacks this season, but the Wolfpack should handle the Eagles at home. If the Pack doesn’t win this game, it’s going to be a long year.
No. 4 Florida State (10-3 in 2015)
Carter-Finley Stadium is a house of horrors for the Seminoles, and even though they possess much greater talent than the Wolfpack, the possibility for an upset is always there. Coupled with the fact that the Seminoles are still trying to figure out their quarterback situation, this means the Wolfpack has an excellent chance to keep the deficit to under 30 points. The Seminoles are just too loaded defensively to believe the Wolfpack has a chance outside of Carter-Finley’s magic.
At Syracuse (4-8 in 2015)
The second of two teams standing the Pack’s way, this will also be a crucial swing game in the Pack’s season. New coach Dino Babers will make the Orange more deadly through the air and test the Wolfpack secondary. This game could mean the difference between going to Detroit for Christmas and staying home.
Miami (FL) (8-5 in 2015)
With former University of Georgia head coach Mark Richt taking over, there is anticipation that the Hurricanes can finally live up to their true potential. They have a top-tier quarterback in junior Brad Kaaya, who could be a high first-round pick in the NFL Draft.
At No. 22 North Carolina (11-3 in 2015)
It is widely assumed that North Carolina will take a step back with the loss of graduated quarterback Marquise Williams, but it appears senior Mitch Trubisky is ready to take the reins and run. A road game late in the season against this veteran and talented squad will be tough, and whether the Wolfpack can emerge victorious will depend on how much development takes place between now and this game.
