#18 NC State will play #25 Kansas State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Thursday. What would the Wolfpack defense have to do to set school Bowl Records?
Could NC State shut out Kansas State? All things are possible, but the Wolfpack didn’t shut out a single opponent in the regular season. NC State shut out South Florida in the 2005 Car Care Bowl.
Back in 1989, NC State held Arizona to only 8 First Downs in the Copper Bowl. The Wolfpack held Wake Forest to 8 earlier this season, and held VMI to 10.
The performance by the Wolfpack defense against Arizona in the Copper Bowl in 1989 was dominant. They held the Wildcats to 163 yards of Total Offense. NC State held Wake Forest to 163 yards of Total Offense this season, and held VMI to 191.
The Wolfpack’s Rush Defense was stalwart against Iowa in the 1988 Peach Bowl, holding the Hawkeyes to a meager 19 yards rushing, on 19 attempts. Believe it or not, the Wolfpack held two opponents to less than 19 yards rushing this season, holding Wake Forest to 7 yards rushing, and VMI to 15. They also held Louisville to 20 yards rushing.
In the realm of a Bowl Record that is close to unbreakable, NC State held Mississippi State to 28 yards passing in the 1963 Liberty Bowl. The lowest Passing Yard total the Wolfpack defense held an opponent to this season, was 107 yards at Duke.
What’s the lowest Completion Percentage the Wolfpack have held an opponent to in a Bowl Game? 33.3%…on 3 separate occasions. Ironically, NC State did hold Duke to a 33.3% Completion Percentage this year.
Could NC State pick off Kansas State 4 times (accomplished twice in bowl games)? NC State picked off Miami three times this season.
In 2010, West Virginia had fumble fingers, losing 4 fumbles against the Wolfpack in the 2010 Champs Sports Bowl. The most fumbles NC State recovered this season was 2 against Marshall.
The final record I’ll highlight, I also think might be unbreakable. In 1988, the Wolfpack forced Iowa to commit 7 turnovers. The most turnovers forced this season was 4 against Miami.