Photo by: Phil Ellsworth
‘Dream game’ approaching as No. 10 NC State heads to No. 5 Clemson
9/27/2022 2:55:00 PM | Football
When No. 10 NC State heads to No. 5 Clemson Saturday, all the ingredients will be there for a bigtime college football game.
It's a primetime showdown on ABC. The game will be preceded that morning by ESPN's College GameDay. Both teams are undefeated, and – to make it interesting - throw in a potential Hurricane.
The Wolfpack (4-0) heads to Death Valley for the first time since 2018, in a game that's, on paper, bigger than any of the previous 38 trips to Clemson to face the Tigers (4-0, 2-0).
"Dream game," N.C. State defensive back Devan Boykin said on Tuesday. "The biggest game I've ever been in. The biggest game a lot of these players have ever been in."
Only seven players on the current roster (Isaiah Moore, Tanner Ingle, Teshaun Smith, Christopher Dunn, Bryson Speas, Grant Gibson) have played at Clemson. Moore and Ingle started there as a redshirt and true freshman, respectively.
For the first time since 2018, the Pack is off to a 4-0 start. Saturday night will be just the third time in the history of the series that both teams are undefeated and the fifth time both have been ranked. It will be the first meeting with both teams ranked in the top 10. The last time the Wolfpack won at Clemson was in 2002.
NC State was picked behind Clemson in the ACC predicted order of finish. The Pack knocked off the ninth-ranked Tigers last season in Raleigh, and all signs pointed to a clash of the undefeateds when schedules were released.
After the Pack beat UConn last weekend, the showdown was set.
"It's two top-10 teams competing on a national stage," NC State head coach Dave Doeren said. "That's why we do this. The kids have worked hard. The staff has worked hard, and we expected to be in this position. We expected to be 4-0 going into Clemson. We look forward to playing a great team."
There is precedent to the Wolfpack beating a Clemson team ranked in the top 10. NC State knocked off the No.7 Tigers, 30-28, in 1987 in Death Valley. A year later Clemson rolled into Raleigh ranked No. 9. The Pack came away with a 10-3 victory. In addition to last season, the Pack posted a 37-13 home win over the No. 7 Tigers in 2011.
Saturday will be the seventh time NC State has taken on a Clemson team ranked in the top five. It will be the ninth time the Pack has played in Death Valley as a ranked team.
Doeren acknowledged it's probably the biggest game during his 10 years in Raleigh.
"It's a great opportunity against a great team in a great venue," Doeren said. "It's everything you want as a coach and a player, and we're excited for the opportunity."
A STORM IS BREWING
As of Tuesday morning, Hurricane Ian had grown to a Category 3 and was expected to make landfall in Florida. By the end of the week the Carolinas are expected to get at least three inches of rain.
Winds in South Carolina could reach up to 5 to 10 miles per hour Saturday evening.
Luckily, NC State has plenty of Hurricane experience.
Since 1933, the Wolfpack has played host to 19 games affected by hurricanes or tropical storms. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew and its eight inches of rain made Carter-Finley Stadium a splash park. NC State defeated Notre Dame, 10-3.
"That was nuts," Doeren said. "We'll be prepared if it is raining. Hopefully it won't be one of those things that has devastation that comes with it, either. Sometimes these things fizzle out and sometimes they get pretty strong, so we'll just have to see where it goes. We'll plan for the worst and hope for the best."
It's a primetime showdown on ABC. The game will be preceded that morning by ESPN's College GameDay. Both teams are undefeated, and – to make it interesting - throw in a potential Hurricane.
The Wolfpack (4-0) heads to Death Valley for the first time since 2018, in a game that's, on paper, bigger than any of the previous 38 trips to Clemson to face the Tigers (4-0, 2-0).
"Dream game," N.C. State defensive back Devan Boykin said on Tuesday. "The biggest game I've ever been in. The biggest game a lot of these players have ever been in."
Only seven players on the current roster (Isaiah Moore, Tanner Ingle, Teshaun Smith, Christopher Dunn, Bryson Speas, Grant Gibson) have played at Clemson. Moore and Ingle started there as a redshirt and true freshman, respectively.
For the first time since 2018, the Pack is off to a 4-0 start. Saturday night will be just the third time in the history of the series that both teams are undefeated and the fifth time both have been ranked. It will be the first meeting with both teams ranked in the top 10. The last time the Wolfpack won at Clemson was in 2002.
NC State was picked behind Clemson in the ACC predicted order of finish. The Pack knocked off the ninth-ranked Tigers last season in Raleigh, and all signs pointed to a clash of the undefeateds when schedules were released.
After the Pack beat UConn last weekend, the showdown was set.
"It's two top-10 teams competing on a national stage," NC State head coach Dave Doeren said. "That's why we do this. The kids have worked hard. The staff has worked hard, and we expected to be in this position. We expected to be 4-0 going into Clemson. We look forward to playing a great team."
There is precedent to the Wolfpack beating a Clemson team ranked in the top 10. NC State knocked off the No.7 Tigers, 30-28, in 1987 in Death Valley. A year later Clemson rolled into Raleigh ranked No. 9. The Pack came away with a 10-3 victory. In addition to last season, the Pack posted a 37-13 home win over the No. 7 Tigers in 2011.
Saturday will be the seventh time NC State has taken on a Clemson team ranked in the top five. It will be the ninth time the Pack has played in Death Valley as a ranked team.
Doeren acknowledged it's probably the biggest game during his 10 years in Raleigh.
"It's a great opportunity against a great team in a great venue," Doeren said. "It's everything you want as a coach and a player, and we're excited for the opportunity."
A STORM IS BREWING
As of Tuesday morning, Hurricane Ian had grown to a Category 3 and was expected to make landfall in Florida. By the end of the week the Carolinas are expected to get at least three inches of rain.
Winds in South Carolina could reach up to 5 to 10 miles per hour Saturday evening.
Luckily, NC State has plenty of Hurricane experience.
Since 1933, the Wolfpack has played host to 19 games affected by hurricanes or tropical storms. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew and its eight inches of rain made Carter-Finley Stadium a splash park. NC State defeated Notre Dame, 10-3.
"That was nuts," Doeren said. "We'll be prepared if it is raining. Hopefully it won't be one of those things that has devastation that comes with it, either. Sometimes these things fizzle out and sometimes they get pretty strong, so we'll just have to see where it goes. We'll plan for the worst and hope for the best."
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