RELEASE: NC State Will Play Memphis in the 2025 Gasparilla Bowl

Tampa, FLA – NC State Football has accepted an invitation to play in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa, Fla., against Memphis from the AAC. The game will be played on Friday, Dec. 19 at 2:30 pm at Raymond James Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN.

This is NC State’s 37th bowl qualification (17-18-1) and its 36th bowl game played. It is the Wolfpack’s 11th in head coach Dave Doeren’s 13 seasons at NC State.

It will mark the second time the Wolfpack has played in Raymond James Stadium, as NC State defeated USF, 49-17, there in a 2014 road game.

“Our staff and team are very excited about playing in a great bowl in the beautiful city of Tampa,” said Doeren. “We appreciate the opportunity and are looking forward to a great game.’

NC State has never faced Memphis on the gridiron.

The Wolfpack finished the season with back-to-back wins, earning bowl eligibility with a 21-11 victory over Florida State, then finishing with a 49-12 thumping of North Carolina – the fifth consecutive against the Tar Heels. NC State boasted the ACC’s leading rusher (Hollywood Smothers) and tackler (Caden Fordham) in 2025.