CJ Bailey Addresses Bowl Game and Future Amid Transfer Portal Speculation

NC State quarterback CJ Bailey met with reporters on Thursday ahead of the Wolfpack’s Gasparilla Bowl matchup against Memphis on Dec. 19 in Tampa.

While the focus was on the game, Bailey’s comments definitely left room for questions about his plans for next season.

Bailey, who has started every game this season for a 7–5 NC State team, pretty much confirmed he’ll play in the bowl game, which is a good sign for the Wolfpack.

“Yeah, I plan to go home and talk to my mom, my dad,” he said when asked about his offseason.

When asked about his future, CJ Bailey said he’s just thinking about the upcoming game.

After that, he’s going to “go home and talk to my mom and my dad and enjoy my time off.” pic.twitter.com/gjegpJNTSw

— Jadyn Watson-Fisher (@jwatsonfisher) December 11, 2025

When asked more directly about his future, Bailey said he’s just focused on the upcoming game.

“Just relax and enjoy my time off… just think about this game coming up. Let everything else handle itself.”

While the talk about “thinking about the upcoming game” is positive, NC State fans were probably hoping to hear him outright say he’s staying.

But be honest. If you were in his shoes, would you do that? Even if you were likely staying? Wouldn’t you want to hear the plan for next year? Wouldn’t you want to discuss money? Wouldn’t you want to make sure they offered you the most they were willing to?

With the portal opening soon after the Dec. 19 kickoff, Bailey’s decision to suit up avoids an opt-out and gives NC State a short window to discuss his future.

The portal opens January 2, so the early bowl game is actually good for NC State’s program. Dave Doeren certainly wants this win, and having Bailey behind center makes that more likely. If the bowl were later, say after the portal had already opened, you’d wonder if Bailey would play. But it’s not, so that’s not a concern.

But without a doubt, programs are going to come for CJ Bailey. As a sophomore with two years of eligibility remaining, Bailey enters the offseason as a top portal prospect. His 70% completion rate and mobility have drawn interest from Florida State, Miami, and SEC schools like Ole Miss. Those programs could offer significant NIL deals to pair with immediate starting roles and, in some cases, more exposure.

Still, Bailey has consistently spoken positively about NC State, including crediting the staff for his development toward the NFL.

If he has a big game on a national stage, it’s only going to raise his profile and bring more money to the table. But NC State wants this win, and they want to keep Bailey. To make both of those things happen, they’ll likely have to write a pretty hefty check — and honestly, I don’t think they’ll mind if it means keeping Bailey for at least one more season.

The Gasparilla Bowl kicks off at 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday, December 19, on ESPN.