NC State’s 2021 football schedule is out. Here’s who the Wolfpack plays.
N.C. State opens the 2021 football season at home on a Thursday night, gets an early visit from Clemson and finishes with a Black Friday home game against North Carolina, the ACC announced Thursday.
The Wolfpack, which finished 8-4 after a loss to Kentucky in the Gator Bowl, will return to Carter-Finley Stadium on Sept. 2 against South Florida, a the first of three nonconference games to start the season before the ACC schedule kicks off on Sept. 25 at home against Clemson.
The USF game is followed by a trip to Starkville, Miss., to play Mississippi State on Sept. 11 -- a rematch of the 2015 Belk Bowl that featured future NFL quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Dak Prescott -- and a home game on Sept. 18 against FCS opponent Furman. N.C. State’s other nonconference game is against Louisiana Tech at home on Oct. 2.
With divisions back in the ACC, the Wolfpack’s rotating crossover opponent from the Coastal Division is Miami and N.C. State will head there on Oct. 23. N.C. State’s open date is Oct. 9 and the Wolfpack will also host Louisville and Syracuse and travel to Boston College, Florida State and Wake Forest.
N.C. State went 3-2 against this season’s ACC opponents last season.
Final exam comes early
N.C. State dodged Clemson last season but the six-time defending ACC champions loom early on the schedule in Week 4. The Tigers have won eight straight against the Wolfpack, winning the past two after a combined 79 points after a pair of one-possession games in 2016 and 2017.
Frequent fliers
While N.C. State plays four of its first five games at home, it pays the price in the middle of the season. After an open date on Oct. 9, the Wolfpack plays four of five on the road: at Boston College, at Miami, at Florida State and at Wake Forest. It’s not a stretch to say N.C. State’s season will be decided by how it performs during that difficult stretch, so it will be important for the Wolfpack to build some momentum early and rest up during the off week before hitting the road.
When Black Friday comes
The rivalry game against North Carolina will be played on the day after Thanksgiving for the first time since 2016, a rough-and-tumble 28-21 upset of the Tar Heels that secured bowl eligibility for the Wolfpack. The Tar Heels have won both meetings since Mack Brown returned to Chapel Hill after the Wolfpack had won nine of 12.
Hurricane warning
N.C. State unexpectedly hosted Miami last season thanks to the pandemic, a narrow 44-41 loss, and gets a shot at revenge with the Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. The Wolfpack hasn’t beaten Miami since 2008, but thanks to the ACC’s schedule format that’s only three games. N.C. State is 1-1 at Miami since the Hurricanes joined the ACC.
NC State 2021 football schedule
Sept. 4 vs. South Florida
Sept. 11 at Mississippi State
Sept. 18 vs. Furman
Sept. 25 vs. Clemson
Oct. 2 vs. Louisiana Tech
Oct. 9 open date
Oct. 16 at Boston College
Oct. 23 at Miami
Oct. 30 vs. Louisville
Nov. 6 at Florida State
Nov. 13 at Wake Forest
Nov. 20 vs. Syracuse
Nov. 26 vs. North Carolina
This story was originally published January 28, 2021 at 7:15 AM.
