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NC State is one of only 12 Power 5 schools that will not be playing a Power 5 school in a non-conference game this season according to ESPN’s David Hale.

This season NC State will be playing Troy, Eastern Kentucky, Old Dominion and South Alabama.  Every ACC team is going to be required to schedule one non-conference game against a Power 5 opponent beginning in 2017.  While they don’t have one on the slate this year, they do fulfill the requirement one year early in 2016 with a game against Notre Dame.

It’s obvious that NC State plays in the toughest of the two ACC Divisions, annually having to play all of their division foes, which include annual national contenders Clemson and Florida St.  They also annually face Atlantic Division opponent Louisville, who has finished the past three seasons ranked in the Top-25.

With a heavy annual divisional slate, an annual matchup with UNC, and another annual Coastal Division opponent, NC State has seemingly planned out their future non-conference schedules with the goal of increasing their chances of going to bowl games at this point, and not increasing their strength of schedule.

The Wolfpack’s future non-conference opponents at this point are as follows:

2016: Notre Dame, at ECU, Old Dominion, William & Mary
2017: at Notre Dame, Marshall, at Troy, Furman
2018: West Virginia, at Marshall, Georgia State, James Madison
2019:  at West Virginia, Ball State, East Carolina, Western Carolina
2020: Mississippi State, Delaware
2021: at Mississippi State, Furman
2022: Notre Dame, at East Carolina, Charleston Southern
2023: TBD
2024: Western Carolina

David Hale did research on the future ACC football non-conference schedules over the next 5 years as they stand at this point and NC State’s came back ranked as the second weakest in the ACC.  According to ESPN Stats & Info an average FBS football team would win 66.4% of NC State’s scheduled non-conference opponents of the next 5 years.

The philosophy of NC State’s non-conference scheduling at this point will annually include 1 Power 5 opponent, 2 FBS opponents, and 1 FCS opponent.  With that being said, NC State Athletic Director Debbie Yow is open to future, marquee neutral site match-ups, provided they make sense.

“We continue to consider opportunities in Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington D.C. and other markets for the right combination of opponent, date, television exposure and revenue,” said Yow.

It will be interesting to see if any of these marquee neutral site match-ups are added in the near future.  Strength of schedule is extremely important when it comes to the College Football Playoff, but NC State isn’t necessarily in a position to schedule around that at this point.  Making it to bowl games in the midst of a difficult ACC schedule is key now. But if the Wolfpack continues to improve, it will be interesting to see if the schedule stays as it currently stands.

 

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Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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NC State Football

Ohio St. Transfer Safety Ja’Had Carter is Officially Visiting NC State Today

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May 7, 2024

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Ohio State Transfer Safety Ja’Had Carter (6’1″/205) is taking an Official Visit to NC State beginning today according to a source.

Carter played in 8 games as a reserve (6 at Safety/2 on strictly Special Teams) for the Buckeyes this past season, recording 5 tackles.

Prior to joining Ohio St., Carter played his first 3 seasons at Syracuse. In 2022, he was All-ACC Honorable Mention, tallying 36 tackles, 3 interceptions and 3 pass breakups. In 2020, as a True Freshman, Carter earned Freshman All-American status. Over three seasons with the Orange, Carter started in 28 of the 31 games he has played in.

PFF

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NC State Football

Colorado DT Transfer Chazz Wallace is Taking an Official Visit to NC State Tomorrow

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May 6, 2024

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NC State has offered Colorado Defensive Tackle Transfer Chazz Wallace (6’2″/295), and he confirmed with me that he will be taking an Official Visit to Raleigh tomorrow.

Wallace played in 10 games for Coach Prime this past season, starting in 4. He finished with 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His PFF Grade was 56.4.

Prior to Colorado, Wallace spent his first three years at Old Dominion.

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NC State Football

NC State Offers FCS DT Brandon Lane

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1 day ago

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May 6, 2024

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NC State offered Stephen F. Austin (FCS) Transfer Defensive Tackle Brandon Lane (6’3″/300) yesterday.

Lane started in 6 of the 11 games he played in for Stephen F. Austin this past season. He finished the year with 44 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His PFF Grade was 74.6, which ranked 4th on the Lumberjacks Defense. His 79.9 Run Defense Grade ranked 3rd on the team. In 2022, Lane played 7 games as a reserve for Stephen F. Austin, recording 11 tackles 2.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.

Lane spent his first two collegiate seasons at South Dakota State (2000-21). In 2000, he played in 1 game. In 2021, he played in 3 games as a reserve for the Jackrabbits. The 2000 season was the Covid Year, and the 2021 season was his redshirt year. As a result, Lane still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Around a week-and-a-half ago, Lane committed to Michigan St., but then he decommitted from the Spartans on May 2nd.

I don’t think Michigan St. is necessarily off the table, and he has visited Washington and West Virginia.

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NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

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4 days ago

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May 3, 2024

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Congratulations to the 7 NC State Football Players that just graduated this Spring.

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2024 Football Spring Graduates

Linebacker Devon Betty (1 year of eligibility)

Defensive End Davin Vann (1 year of eligibility)

Cornerback Aydan White (1 year of eligibility)

Offensive Guard Anthony Carter Jr. (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Matt McCabe (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Tackle Patrick Matan (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Brendan Lawson (no longer on the roster)

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