North Carolina State University Athletics
Saturday, September 19
Raleigh, N.C.
8 p.m.
NC State
vs
Wake Forest
Pack Opens 2020 Season with Wake Forest Saturday Night
9/18/2020 8:23:00 AM | Football
Game to kick at 8 p.m., televised on ACC Network
GameDay Central | Game Notes | Thursday Notebook | Game Program
| NC State (0-0) vs. Wake Forest (0-1) | |
| Date | Saturday, Sept. 19 |
| Time | 8:00 p.m. |
| Location | Raleigh, N.C. |
| Stadium | Carter-Finley Stadium |
| TV | ACC Network |
| Streaming | WatchESPN |
| Radio in NC | Wolfpack Sports Network |
| National Radio | Tunein, Sirius 84, XM 84 |
| Live Stats | GoPack.com |
| Social Media | Twitter: @PackFootball | Instagram: PackFootball |
RALEIGH, N.C. – In an offseason with so many unknowns, finally a return to normalcy as the Wolfpack opens the 2020 football season this weekend. The Wolfpack (0-0) will host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0-1) under the lights Saturday night.
The game will kickoff from Carter-Finley Stadium at 8 p.m., and will be televised on the ACC Network.
"Excited to be in game week more than anything," said NC State head coach Dave Doeren. "I'm looking forward to watching our team play and compete. This group has endured a lot."
This has been an offseason unlike any other around college football.
Coming off a 4-8 campaign last season, the NC State coaching staff went through considerable changes in the offseason. New coordinators were installed on both offense and defense, and four other assistant coaches were new to the program.
But all those new coaches only got to have their squad together for five practices in the Spring, before COVID-19 shut down all sports in the NCAA and players were sent home through both the spring and summer before returning to campus in full in late June.
Just went things looked to be back to normal when the Pack hit the practice field to start camp on August 4, practice was paused for eight days due to COVID concerns.
"They've been through a lot, staff and players came back and did a tremendous job with all the things that were in place with the COVID protocol," said Doeren.
"The way they've stuck it out through all the announcements, the ups and downs, are we playing, moving our opening game back, all the civil unrest, we just kept fighting and fighting together."
After a postponement of the original season opener at Virginia Tech and having to wait an extra week to play last weekend, the Pack can finally focus on the start of the season.
"I think we're starving for a routine," said Doeren. "This allows us to hopefully have one, just to get into game week. Every day has really been a day where change could happen."
Every team went through those long list of changes dating back to the spring semester, but the Pack has also reshaped its coaching staff.
New offensive coordinator and QBs coach Tim Beck joined the Pack was one of the first changes in the offseason. Dating back to 2011, he was the offensive coordinator at Nebraska, then Ohio State and then Texas for the last nine seasons.
"You're going to see the offense grow as the season goes," said Doeren. "You think you know who your guys are going into the first game, but as we all know, some guys all of a sudden will emerge on game day as a playmaker.
On defense, Tony Gibson joined the Pack prior to last season, as was elevated to coordinator this offseason. He will be joined by four new assistants on that side of the ball.
"With regard to the lineup, Tony has cross-trained, I talked about that a lot during fall camp," said Doeren. "We have to be able to match their tempo and also have fresh bodies to do so."
The biggest change to start the 2020 season might just be playing inside an empty Carter-Finley Stadium. Due to state restrictions in North Carolina, no fans will be allowed inside the Pack's home field to open the 2020 season.
Doeren enters his eighth season with the Wolfpack, tying him for second among the longest tenured coaches in NC State history (only behind Earle Edwards' 17 seasons). Doeren has a 6-1 record in season openers with the Pack, and this will the first time NC State opens with a conference foe since 2005.
"Game one, to me, it's about getting out with these guys and letting them play and have a good time doing it," said Doeren. "Be physical and executing at a high level playing complementary football.
NC State has faced Wake Forest more times than any other opponent in its 128 years of football. Saturday's game will make the 114th meeting between the two squads, with NC State holding a 66-41-6 advantage despite the Demon Deacons winning the last three contests in the series.
"I think the mindset of opening with a conference game is no different than opening with a Power Five nonconference game," said Doeren. "I think the antennas go up, it counts for more, in the guys' opinions.
"It's going to be fun to see these guys. For us as coaches, it will be nice to get back on the field together again."
Coach Doeren Signing Day Presser (Dec. 3rd)
Wednesday, December 03
FB Players Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Nov. 24)
Monday, November 24