Second Straight Ranked Road Foe for Pack

Saturday, October 3

Pittsburgh, Pa.

12 p.m.

NC State

Pitt

10/2/2020 9:03:00 AM | Football

Game to kick at 12 p.m., televised on the ACC Network

Game Notes | Game Program

	NC State (1-1) at #24 Pitt (3-0)
Date	Saturday, Oct. 3
Time	12:00 p.m.
Location	Pittsburgh, Pa.
Stadium	Heinz Field
TV	ACC Network
Streaming	WatchESPN
Radio in NC	Wolfpack Sports Network
National Radio	Tunein, Sirius 137, XM 385
Live Stats	PittsburghPanthers.com
Social Media	Twitter: @PackFootball \| Instagram: PackFootball

PITTSBURGH, PA. – NC State will be in road action for the second straight week, the second straight week against a ranked ACC foe, as the Wolfpack (1-1) heads to #24 Pitt (3-0).

The game will kick off at 12 p.m., and will be televised on the ACC Network.

"As we head into this week against Pitt, (head coach) Pat Narduzzi does a really good job with this football team and he's got an experienced staff," said NC State head coach Dave Doeren. "They're a very physical, experienced team. They play complimentary football."
All eyes will be on the which NC State quarterback starts the content under center.

R-Jr. Bailey Hockman started the first two games of the season, and led the Pack to its opening win against Wake Forest. R-So. Devin Leary came off the bench in the Pack's loss at Virginia Tech last weekend and and completed 12-of-16 passes for 165 yards and a TD in less then two quarters of action.

"I thought Devin came in off the bench and moved our offense, scored a couple drives for us," said Doeren. "I thought he threw the football well.

"We need them both, they're both going to get reps this week (in practice) and we'll see who's the most ready to lead our team this weekend."

Whomever is taking snaps at QB this week will be dealing with one of the nation's top ranked defenses.

Pitt boasts top-10 national rankings in total defense (second, 177.0 yards per game), rushing defense (second, 56.0 yards per game), passing defense (third, 121.0 yards per game) and scoring defense (sixth, 10.0 points per game).

"Their defense is fast, they're disruptive, they pressure, press coverage," said Doeren. "They do a good job of disguising, they're going to put a lot of guys in the box, they're going to force you to throw against press coverage."

The Panthers' pass rush has produced 17 sacks through the first three games of their season, an average of 5.67 per contest which ranks fifth nationally.

"Pittsburgh's got a really good defensive line, and their linebackers come hard, their nickels, their corners," said Doeren. "It's going to be a great opportunity to face a really good defense."

NC State is hoping for continued success in its running game, led by a three-back attack. The Pack currently ranks fifth in the ACC averaging 204.5 yards rushing per game, a mark that is 20^th nationally.

The Pack features a pair of backs ranked in the top-10 in the ACC in rushing, Zonovan Knight is fourth with an average of 95.5 yards per game while Ricky Person, Jr., sits eighth in the conference at 81.5 yards. Jordan Houston has also had success in the running attack.

"I do think we ran the football efficiently (at Virginia Tech)," said Doeren. "I thought our backs were physical and we had one negative play in the backfield in the run game, the rest of them were very efficient runs and some explosive runs."

On the defensive side of the ball, NC State will be looking to get back a pair of starters who last week's game at Virginia Tech: LB Payton Wilson and SAF Tanner Ingle. The duo were the Pack's two top tacklers last season (69 and 68 apiece).

"We do expect to have Payton back with full go and with Tanner, we're hopeful," said Doeren.

Not only is NC State facing an undefeated Pitt squad looking for its first 4-0 start since 2000, but the Panthers are also ranked #24 in this week's AP poll. The Pack will now have faced back-to-back ranked foes on the road (#21 Virginia Tech last week) for the first time since 2016.

"A great challenge for us and a great opportunity just to get back on the field and get better, so look forward to that," said Doeren.

This will mark only the 11^th meeting ever between the two schools, and the second as ACC rivals since Pitt joined the conference in 2013. The Pack won its last trip up to Pitt's Heinz Field, a 35-17 win in 2017.