A month into its season, NC State football has produced four underwhelming performances. With two uncompetitive losses in three weeks and the Pack’s chances of an ACC championship likely out the window, the red-and-white’s season is going downhill fast. Without a transcendent star like linebacker Payton Wilson to will the Wolfpack to wins, NC State is a rudderless ship in a year where it was expected to compete for an ACC championship.
The Wolfpack’s 2-2 record is certainly cause for concern. However the bigger red flag is how NC State has reached 2-2. In its opener against Western Carolina, the Pack entered the fourth quarter down 21-17 against its FCS competition before coming back in the final quarter.
Often some of the most in-season development takes place between the first and second games, yet NC State played arguably its worst game of head coach Dave Doeren’s tenure in a 41-point blowout loss at the hands of Tennessee. The red-and-white then found itself needing a second-half comeback to beat Louisiana Tech before opening ACC play by getting obliterated at Clemson.
While Doeren’s teams have made impressive turnarounds in the past, most recently last season, there’s little reason for optimism this season. Under defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, NC State has consistently been one of the top defenses in the ACC. This season however, NC State is statistically the worst defense in the conference, allowing 37.8 points per game. While that number will likely improve as the Wolfpack’s schedule eases up, it indicates a real problem for the Pack.
Elite linebacker play has been the hallmark of NC State’s defense in previous years. Along with Wilson, the 2023 Butkus award winner, the Wolfpack has enjoyed the benefits of current Seattle Seahawk Drake Thomas and former Kansas City Chief Isaiah Moore in past seasons. Without a linebacker near the caliber of that trio, the Pack looks lost defensively, missing tackles and failing to disrupt the run. Allowing an ACC-high 5.9 yards per carry, NC State is getting exposed in its run defense on a weekly basis. Unless there’s an unexpected midseason breakout, expect the Pack to continue getting gashed on the ground.
In the air, the Pack has also struggled. Starting up front, NC State hasn’t pressured opposing quarterbacks, with only four sacks through four games — tied for worst in the conference. Without even challenging opposing quarterbacks, the Pack’s secondary will be picked apart, regardless of how good the coverage is.
Offensively, things are slightly sunnier for the Pack, but still underwhelming. The insertion of freshman quarterback CJ Bailey injected excitement and potential for a sputtering NC State offense and may help the Pack scrape out wins in ACC play. With his impressive composure for a freshman and natural ability, Bailey is one of the few bright spots this season in Raleigh. However, the situation around the true freshman remains concerning.
Despite the hope that Bailey offers, issues remain in the NC State offense, most notably in the rushing attack. All season, the Pack has insisted on pounding the football with little success. Through three quarters against Clemson, the Wolfpack averaged less than two yards a carry, yet ran the ball 26 times. Against Tennessee, NC State managed to put up even worse numbers, producing only 39 yards on 28 attempts. With a dysfunctional offensive line and struggling running backs, the Pack’s offense has been reduced to a one dimensional attack on the shoulders of a freshman quarterback — not a recipe for success.
Despite the hype and additions to the team, it’s clear that 2024 is not that year of the Wolfpack. Both defensively and offensively the red-and-white is underperforming against all levels of competition. NC State lacks an identity that it can hang its hat on, a rare occurrence recently in Raleigh. Dysfunctional on both sides of the ball, the Pack is stumbling towards a disappointing finish after setting its sights on an ACC championship before the season.
