NC State is Tied for the 2nd Most Bowl Appearances in the ACC in the Past 11 Years

NC State will play ECU in the Military Bowl tomorrow at 5:45 on ESPN.

This will mark the 5th straight time that the Wolfpack have played in a bowl game, and the 10th time in the past 11 seasons.

To put that in perspective, that is tied for the 2nd best mark in the ACC over the past 11 years. Clemson has gone to a bowl game for the past 11 seasons, but the only two schools behind the Tigers that have gone to a bowl in 10 of the last 11 years are NC State and Miami.

I know NC State hasn’t won an ACC Football title since 1979, and I’m not trying to settle for mediocrity, but that stat is undeniable.

NC State head coach Dave Doeren has led the Wolfpack to more bowls than any coach in school history.

As everyone knows, going to bowls isn’t the goal…winning them is.

While Doeren has led NC State to more bowls than any coach in school history, his bowl record is only 3-5, with the Holiday Bowl being cancelled in 2021.

The Wolfpack are looking to snap a 4-game losing streak in bowl games, which is the longest losing streak in bowl games in NC State history.

Here’s the truth of all of this data.

While Doeren hasn’t led NC State to an ACC title, or an appearance in the ACC Championship Game, he has led NC State to 10 bowl games, which is tied for 2nd in the conference.

Conclusion: Doeren has led NC State to be one of the most consistent football programs in the ACC.

While Doeren has led NC State to 10 bowl games, finishing the season strong hasn’t always panned out. He has led the Wolfpack to four 9-win seasons, which is the most in school history. Doeren has been trying since 2013 to become the 2nd coach in NC State history to lead his team to a 10-win season. Two of Doeren’s 9-win seasons would have been 10-win seasons if the Wolfpack would have won their bowl game (2018 & 2023). Yes, NC State was the underdog in both games, but you have to find a way to win games you aren’t supposed to, in order to take your program to places it hasn’t been. Sadly, the opportunity for a 10-win season in 2021 was taken away from the Wolfpack, with the Holiday Bowl being cancelled due to Covid-19. NC State was favored against the Bruins.

In 2018, 2020 and 2022, NC State finished right outside of the Top-25 in the Final AP Poll, receiving votes, but not enough to have a number beside their name.

Conclusion: Doeren’s teams haven’t finished the season well in bowl games, forcing them to miss the 10-win mark, and a Top-25 ranking in the Final AP Poll.