The NC State Wolfpack and coach Dave Doeren take the field in Raleigh against the Virginia Cavaliers, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 in Raleigh. The game, normally a staple of the ACC season is no longer considered a conference game in the crazy world of the expanded and restructured ACC.
Both teams scored touchdowns early in the game and Virginia scored again at the 3:35 mark of the first quarter, making the score 14-7 UVA. The Wolfpack answered early in the second quarter knotting the game at 14-14 at the 14:23 mark.
The Cavarliers added a field goal and followed up with a touchdown to make it 24-14 at the half.
NC State starts the second half hot and takes a 28-24 lead at the 6:30 mark in the third, but J’Mari Taylor breaks a long touchdown run and Virginia leads 31-28.
Not a lot of defense by either team in this one. The Wolpack surges for another touchdown. Wolfpack 35-31.
NC State’s defense shows up and stops a Virginia drive inside the 8-yard line.
NC State grabs an interception in the endzone , halting another Virginia drive with 1:02 left in the game.
Wolfpack wins 35-31.
N.C. State quarterback CJ Bailey (11) breaks free to score on a 30-yard touchdown run during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Sat. Sept. 6, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s Caden Fordham (1) and Sean Brown (0) tackle Virginia tight end Dakota Twitty (9) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Sat. Sept. 6, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State quarterback CJ Bailey (11) tries to escape from Virginia defensive tackle Jason Hammond (91) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Sat. Sept. 6, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
On fourth and one, Virginia running back J'Mari Taylor (3) breaks free to score on a 39-yard touchdown run during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Sat. Sept. 6, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Wolfpack fans react after a Virginia touchdown during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Sat. Sept. 6, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren walks the sidelines during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Sat. Sept. 6, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State quarterback CJ Bailey (11) passes while pursued by Virginia linebacker Landon Danley (32) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Sat. Sept. 6, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State running back Hollywood Smothers (3) gains yards during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Sat. Sept. 6, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren talks to Caden Fordham (1) before they run out onto the field to warmup before N.C. State’s game against Virginia at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Sat. Sept. 6, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published September 6, 2025 at 12:28 PM.
