NC State 2020 football season analysis: Toughest, easiest and can’t miss games
N.C. State coach Dave Doeren finally knows who to prepare for in Week One.
The ACC released its latest football schedule Thursday, and the Wolfpack will now open its season against Virginia Tech on Sept. 12 in Blacksburg. It will be the first time in 15 years the two have met in the opener.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the league reconfigured its original football schedule to eliminate all but one non-conference game per team and rearrange all ACC games. This upcoming season, there will be no Coastal and Atlantic division split of the league. Each team will play 10 conference games — five at home, five on the road — one home nonconference game. Each team will also have two bye weeks.
N.C. State will be off Sept. 26 and Oct. 24. The Wolfpack will play its nonconference game against Liberty on Nov. 21 and will have one Friday night game — at home against Miami on Nov. 6.
Here’s a breakdown of N.C. State’s season:
Sept 12 at Virginia Tech
The last time N.C. State opened its season against the Hokies was in 2005, a 20-16 loss for the Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Virginia Tech returns 10 starters on defense. That should provide a good challenge for Wolfpack quarterback Devin Leary from the start. N.C. State hasn’t won in Blacksburg since 2004 and hasn’t played there since 2015, when it lost 28-13.
Sept. 19 vs. Wake Forest
The Deacs roll into Raleigh for the Wolfpack’s home opener on a three-game winning streak over N.C. State. Wake Forest returns just three starters on offense, which, on paper, seems good for the Wolfpack. However, things are never as easy as they seem against the Demon Deacons. N.C. State’s secondary will be tested early in the season by Wake’s redshirt junior Sage Surratt, the ACC’s top returning receiver.
Oct. 3 at Pittsburgh
The Panthers made a surprise run to the ACC championship game in 2018 and went 8-5 last year. Pittsburgh’s top three defenders all turned down the NFL to return to school, so the Panthers should have one of the best defenses in the ACC. They also return their top three leading rushers on offense. The Panthers are tough at home, they’ve had a winning record at Heinz Field four out of the last five years.
Oct. 10 at Virginia
The Cavaliers will be breaking in 6-2, 220 sophomore quarterback Brennan Armstrong after losing Bryce Perkins, who led the team in passing and rushing last season. This will be the first time the two teams play since the 2018 season and State’s first trip to Charlottesville since 2011. The Cavs made a trip to the ACC title game a year ago, but replacing Perkins will be tough. Facing a young quarterback early in the season could play in favor of the Wolfpack, but Virginia’s defense, with eight starters back, should be tough.
Oct. 7 vs. Duke
Remember the Blue Devils? It’s been a while since Duke and N.C. State played, even though they are in the same area code. The Blue Devils last trip to Raleigh was in 2009. Duke hosted the Wolfpack in 2013, and won both of those last two meetings. Even though State doesn’t get Clemson on the schedule, they will face a former Tiger in Chase Brice, who transferred to Duke and will be the starting quarterback for David Cutcliffe. The Blue Devils will have 14 starters back.
Oct. 24 at North Carolina
It’s been a while since the Wolfpack and Tar Heels didn’t play each other to close the regular season. UNC embarrassed N.C. State last year in Raleigh, 41-10, as UNC freshman quarterback Sam Howell threw for 401 yards and 3 touchdowns. But Doeren is undefeated in Chapel Hill since taking over the Wolfpack in 2013. N.C. State escaped with an overtime win at Kenan Stadium in 2018. State has won nine of the last 13 games versus UNC.
Nov. 6 (Fri) vs. Miami
The Hurricanes are expected to be one of the most improved teams in 2020 as they welcome in Houston transfer D’Eriq King at quarterback. It will be Miami’s first trip to Raleigh since the 2016 season. The Hurricanes have won their last two games against N.C. State by an average of 13.5 points.
Nov. 14 vs. Florida State
FSU coming to Raleigh isn’t as intimidating as it might have been in the 90s. Something about the Noles in Carter-Finley Stadium brings out the best in N.C. State. The Wolfpack has won three out of the last five home games against FSU. The home team is 10-4 in the last 14 games of the series. The Seminoles have their third head coach in four years.
Nov. 21 vs. Liberty
This is the lone nonconference game for the Wolfpack. Former Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze now leads the Flames and took Liberty to a 7-5 record and the school’s first bowl trip last season. After going through the ACC gauntlet for eight weeks, the Wolfpack should catch a break with a visit from the Flames. It’s the second meeting between the two schools and first since 2011.
Nov. 28 at Syracuse
The Wolfpack’s only ACC win last season was against the Orange, a low-scoring 16-10 victory. State has won two of its last three games at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse is 1-5 at home all-time versus the Wolfpack.
Dec. 5 at Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets are still trying to adjust to getting away from the triple-option offense and should be better in year two under Geoff Collins. In a trip to Atlanta last year, N.C. State lost to the Yellow Jackets, 28-26, for one of their three wins. Tech returns its top six rushers from a year ago and top three receivers.
Toughest game
It has to be the opener in Blacksburg. Lane Stadium is always a tough place to play. If there are fan restrictions it won’t be as loud, but the Hokies are stubborn at home. In three out of the last four seasons, Virginia Tech has lost just once at home. It hasn’t lost a home opener since 2015.
Can’t miss game
Clear your schedule for this Oct. 24 game in Chapel Hill. Doeren has owned Kenan Stadium, going 3-0 there since 2013. Last season, Mack Brown’s first in his second stint as coach, the Tar Heels sold out each home game for the first time since 1983. The last time the two heated rivals met in Kenan, the game ended in a brawl in the end zone. Carolina embarrassed N.C. State by 31 points last season in Raleigh.
Easiest game
On paper, N.C State’s easiest game should be against Liberty. Unfortunately for the Wolfpack, this game doesn’t come until Nov. 21. The last time the Flames played in Raleigh, N.C. State was a four touchdown favorite, but the game was 43-21 win was closer than some expected. Still, the Wolfpack should have no problems with the Flames, especially this late in the season.
