RALEIGH, N.C. – the NC State Wolfpack secured bowl eligibility and a meaningful victory over No. 20 Florida state, winning 24-17 on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. A dominant defensive performance, highlighted by standout play from Aydan White, propelled the Wolfpack to their sixth win of the season.
NC State’s defense consistently pressured the Seminoles, with White recording two pass breakups and an interception – including one on Florida State’s ten-yard line - in the first half alone. Safety Caden Fordham, who leads all Power Four conference players in tackles, matched his career-high with 15 tackles, a feat he’s now achieved three times this season. Redshirt Freshman Assad Brown Jr. also contributed a career-best 12 tackles.
The Wolfpack offense capitalized on the defensive stops. Wide receiver Terrell Anderson scored the first touchdown of the game with a 25-yard reception – his fifth of the season – giving NC State a 7-0 lead. Quarterback Will Wilson, a short-yardage specialist, added a career-high 33 rushing yards on nine attempts and a touchdown.Running back Hollywood Smothers contributed 84 yards on 21 carries.
NC State took a 7-3 lead into halftime,marking the fourth time this season they’ve led at the break and improving to 4-0 in those games. The three points allowed represented the fewest first-half points surrendered by the NC State defense since holding Wake Forest scoreless in 2023.
Wilson extended the lead with a one-yard rushing touchdown – his fifth of the season - completing a 15-play, 79-yard drive that lasted just under nine minutes.
Florida State scored its lone touchdown with 8:17 remaining in the fourth quarter, followed by a successful two-point conversion, narrowing the Wolfpack’s lead to 17-14. NC State responded with a gutsy fourth-down conversion, resulting in a 12-yard touchdown pass from MJ Morris to Kevin Concepcion, securing a 24-17 advantage. Marshall sealed the victory with an interception on the game’s final play.
The win moves the all-time series between NC State and Florida State to 17-26, and improves head coach Dave Doeren’s record against the Seminoles to 6-5.NC State will next face UNC at Carter-Finley on Saturday, November 29, at 7:30 p.m., with the game broadcast on the ACC Network.
