Miami overlooked CJ Bailey in high school. That won’t happen on Saturday
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- CJ Bailey returns to Miami for a road game and aims to block out distractions.
- Bailey leads Wolfpack pursuit of bowl eligibility and upset vs. ranked Miami.
- Wolfpack emphasizes discipline, stops and scoring in hopes of upsetting ranked Miami.
CJ Bailey doesn’t want to turn his phone on “do not disturb” this week. He’d like to catch up with the friends and family who are excited for his return to Miami.
Except this is a business trip, not a vacation to South Beach. The sophomore quarterback is among the 14 N.C. State football players from Florida, including six from the Miami metro area, returning home as part of the Wolfpack’s final road trip of the season.
N.C. State (5-4) will play No. 16 Miami (7-2) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
It’s an opportunity for NC State to become bowl eligible, upset its second ranked team and maintain its slim chance of making the ACC Championship game.
Bailey expects 15 to 20 family members to attend, and he’s got another 15 or 20 friends and former teammates on the Miami sideline. It can be difficult to block out the distractions, in the days and moments leading up to kickoff, and he doesn’t like ignoring people.
“It definitely gives a little extra chip with the guys that have a lot more family coming to the games,” linebacker Kenny Soares said, though he’s mostly excited about the 70-degree weather. “Everybody is trying to prove themselves a little more, especially with it being the opponent that it is.”
Head coach Dave Doeren said Monday he understands when there is “some personal sauce” that accompanies a matchup but the staff would talk with Bailey, and the other local players, about this week and provide guidance about how to balance the homecoming aspect with a mature and blinders-on mentality.
The young quarterback confirmed on Wednesday he is committed to doing what it takes to win. Bailey will connect with everyone after the game. Until then, he’s going to practice and prepare like he did before the Georgia Tech game. That worked well, after all, and gave the team the results it wanted.
Plus, Miami’s leading rusher Mark Fletcher, its leading receiver Malachi Toney, and receivers Joshisa “JoJo” Trader and Keenan Marion are major trash-talkers. Bailey doesn’t want any smoke, so he’s focused on picking up a W.
“It kind of motivates me to know that they’re going to be there watching me,” Bailey said of his loved ones and opposing friends. “It’s pretty hard to not think about it while you’re there warming up and on the field. But when it’s time to go, it’s time to go. Gotta block it out. I feel like I’m good at that. I’m good at blocking out the noise. For some reason, when I get out there, everything just go quiet for me.”
Former Alabama head coach and ESPN broadcaster Nick Sagan has repeatedly complimented Bailey on College Game Day for his impact on the Wolfpack. Prior to the Georgia Tech matchup, other analysts were, rightfully, praising Yellow Jackets QB Haynes King, and Saban made sure to recognize the Wolfpack’s leader in the backfield.
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal knows what his team is facing, too.
“It starts with their quarterback, but it certainly doesn’t end there,” Cristobal said of the Wolfpack offense. “Just really dynamic. We know [Bailey]. Certainly a local product that has developed into a great player. Can do it with his arm, extremely accurate. Can do it with his feet.”
He is two yards shy this fall of matching his season total from last year. He currently ranks No. 4 in the ACC for total passing yards (2,411) and No. 3 in passing yards per game (267.9) and passing touchdowns (19).
Bailey committed to N.C. State in March 2023, following his junior season and about one month after the program offered him a scholarship. Miami did not offer him until November that year, after it picked up the commitment of Judd Anderson from Georgia.
Anderson was listed on 247Sports as the 53rd-best quarterback in the Class of 2023. Bailey was the 24th-best player at the position. The Hurricanes also went on to sign Cam Ward out of the portal for the 2024 season. Carson Beck joined the program this season.
Bailey remained true to his commitment to N.C. State, choosing the Wolfpack over Miami, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Texas A&M.
“I don’t have anything against Miami or anything to prove to them,” Bailey said. “I’ve been playing good. If that’s not enough to prove to them — winning overall would put a good stamp on the game. It’s not going to do anything to me and them personally.”
He was thrust into the starting role last year when Grayson McCall medically retired and put up some of the best statistics for a freshman quarterback in program history, similar to those of Philip Rivers and Russell Wilson.
Bailey also received attention from other schools last season but stayed with N.C. State.
“It’s good that other people have interest in me, but this is where my heart’s at. This is where my head’s at,” Bailey said last December. “I love Coach Rope. I love Coach Doeren. This is where I want to be.”
He’s proven that time and again for the Wolfpack this season, becoming the youngest team captain in Doeren’s tenure and constantly lauded for the positivity and leadership he brings to the team.
N.C. State is 1-3 in road games this season, but the Wolfpack believes now is as good of a time as ever to go out on a high note. Bailey will lead his team into a hostile environment and hopefully do what it did two weeks ago: Stun the college football world and upset another ranked team.
It sounds trite, but the team knows what it needs to do: Play with discipline, toughness and execute the game plan.
“We’ve got to find that energy, find that juice on our end and on our sideline,” Bailey said. “They’re gonna have their juice, they’re gonna have their momentum. We’ve got to try to take that from them. The way we do it is by getting stops and scoring points.”
