CJ Bailey will be the 1st True Freshman to Start at QB on the Road for NC State Since Philip Rivers

On Saturday, NC State will be starting True Freshman CJ Bailey at Quarterback against Clemson on the road.

Last Saturday in the Wolfpack’s game against Louisiana Tech, Redshirt Senior Grayson McCall left the game late in the first half due to injury. At the time, NC State was losing, and True Freshman CJ Bailey came into the game, and helped lead the Wolfpack to a 30-20 comeback victory.

The last time NC State started a True Freshman Quarterback in a road game?

You have to go all the way back to 2000, when a guy by the name of Philip Rivers was the Wolfpack’s starting Quarterback.

As a True Freshman, Rivers was NC State’s Quarterback from Day 1.

While his first road game was against Indiana, Rivers’ first ACC road game was ironically also against the Clemson Tigers.

Rivers’ was 21 of 48 for 370 yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. His spectacular effort wasn’t enough to propel NC State to a victory in Death Valley, with the Wolfpack losing 27-34.

Despite winning the turnover margin 3-0, NC State couldn’t muster enough rushing yards against the Tigers, rushing for only 32 yards on 23 carries.

The loss was the first of Philip Rivers’ collegiate career, after winning his first 4 games as a starter as a True Freshman.

Regardless of when McCall returns this season, it was apparent before the season began that NC State believes that Bailey is the future at the Quarterback position. Even though it wasn’t a perfect performance, Wolfpack fans got the opportunity to see what his coaches have seen in him to give them that confidence.

Sometimes your opportunity comes sooner than expected, and sometimes it presents itself to you when the odds seem to be stacked against you. Currently, the Wolfpack is a 20.5-point underdog heading into Saturday’s rivalry matchup.

Bailey has an opportunity to go into Death Valley and do what Rivers’ wasn’t able to do as a True Freshman…walk off the field after a win over the Tigers.