Wolfpack Prepares for Homecoming Matchup With Georgia Tech
10/31/2025 10:48:00 AM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. – For the first time since the beginning of the month, of October NC State football will return home to Carter-Finley Stadium as it gets set to welcome No.8 Georgia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m. for homecoming. The game will be braodcast on Acc Network.
NC State trails 11-21 in the overall series with Georgia Tech and is 7-9 in games played in Raleigh. This will mark the fifth meeting between the two teams under Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren. The last three games were close ones, with an average margin of victory of 4.3 points. The Wolfpack won the last meeting in Raleigh: 23-13 - in 2020. That was NC State's first home win over Georgia Tech since an 30-23 overtime victory in 2000.
NC State has not faced a top 10 team at home since 2021. That season, the Wolfpack upset No. 9 Clemson in double overtime: 27-21. The Wolfpack's next opponent (Miami on 11/15) is currently ranked 10th in the AP poll. If the rankings hold true, it will mark the first time since 2017 (No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 6 Clemson) that NC State has played back-to-back games against top-10 teams.
This week's Homecoming game will be truly that for the 2025 Wolfpack, as the team has not played a home game since Oct. 5 and hasn't played an ACC game at home since Sept. 27. NC State has won 30 of its last 38 games in Carter-Finley Stadium (since 2020). In 2022, NC State tied the school record for the longest home winning streak at 16 before falling in the last home game of the season. That streak, which tied the mark set under head coach Lou Holtz from 1972-75, was the sixth-best active home winning streak in the FBS at the time. Since the beginning of the 2017 season, the Wolfpack has posted a 45-12 mark in games played at Carter-Finley Stadium. As far as ACC games go, the Pack has won 14 of its last 20 at home.
NC State's tight end room has caught seven touchdowns this season (five by Justin Joly and one each by Cody Hardy and Dante Daniels). That ties with Missouri and New Mexico for the most TDs for TEs in the FBS this season. The Pack tight ends rank fifth in the P4 with 40 total receptions.
NC State's offense has been pretty good when it gets in the red zone this season. The Wolfpack currently ranks third in the ACC in red zone offense (22nd in the FBS). The offense has scored 92% of the time it's entered the zone. The Pack has scored a touchdown 80% of it's trips to the redzone (20-25) - the best percentage in the ACC. Unfortunately, the team is tied for 12th in the league in trips inside the red zone with just 25. In the past two games combined, NC State has been in the red zone just once (that one trip was at Pitt. Against Notre Dame, NC State didn't enter the red zone on offense. That hadn't happened since a 34-0 loss at Florida State on Oct. 29, 2011).
One of the side effects of fewer trips to the red zone has been a lack of field goals attempted this season. NC State ranks last in the ACC in field goal attempts (6) and field goals made (3) this season. That FG made mark is the lowest among P4 teams this season. The Pack hasn't attempted a field goal in the last four games and hasn't made one since Game 3 (Wake Forest).
Linebacker and team captain Caden Fordham currently ranks second in the ACC and 14th in the FBS in tackles with an average of 9.6 per game. That mark ranks fourth among Power 4 linebackers in 2025. He has led or tied the team in tackles five times this season and has four double-figure tackle outputs in eight games in 2025. His 15 stops versus Virginia Tech were a career high.
Not only does Hollywood Smothers lead the ACC in rushing, but he's been pretty solid as a receiver as well. He's caught 28 passes on 32 targets with no drops. That reception total is tied for second on the team. He boasts 215 yards after the catch. Smothers leads the league in all-purpose yards as his 124.4 yards per game is the 13th-best mark in the FBS as well.
NC State trails 11-21 in the overall series with Georgia Tech and is 7-9 in games played in Raleigh. This will mark the fifth meeting between the two teams under Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren. The last three games were close ones, with an average margin of victory of 4.3 points. The Wolfpack won the last meeting in Raleigh: 23-13 - in 2020. That was NC State's first home win over Georgia Tech since an 30-23 overtime victory in 2000.
NC State has not faced a top 10 team at home since 2021. That season, the Wolfpack upset No. 9 Clemson in double overtime: 27-21. The Wolfpack's next opponent (Miami on 11/15) is currently ranked 10th in the AP poll. If the rankings hold true, it will mark the first time since 2017 (No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 6 Clemson) that NC State has played back-to-back games against top-10 teams.
This week's Homecoming game will be truly that for the 2025 Wolfpack, as the team has not played a home game since Oct. 5 and hasn't played an ACC game at home since Sept. 27. NC State has won 30 of its last 38 games in Carter-Finley Stadium (since 2020). In 2022, NC State tied the school record for the longest home winning streak at 16 before falling in the last home game of the season. That streak, which tied the mark set under head coach Lou Holtz from 1972-75, was the sixth-best active home winning streak in the FBS at the time. Since the beginning of the 2017 season, the Wolfpack has posted a 45-12 mark in games played at Carter-Finley Stadium. As far as ACC games go, the Pack has won 14 of its last 20 at home.
NC State's tight end room has caught seven touchdowns this season (five by Justin Joly and one each by Cody Hardy and Dante Daniels). That ties with Missouri and New Mexico for the most TDs for TEs in the FBS this season. The Pack tight ends rank fifth in the P4 with 40 total receptions.
NC State's offense has been pretty good when it gets in the red zone this season. The Wolfpack currently ranks third in the ACC in red zone offense (22nd in the FBS). The offense has scored 92% of the time it's entered the zone. The Pack has scored a touchdown 80% of it's trips to the redzone (20-25) - the best percentage in the ACC. Unfortunately, the team is tied for 12th in the league in trips inside the red zone with just 25. In the past two games combined, NC State has been in the red zone just once (that one trip was at Pitt. Against Notre Dame, NC State didn't enter the red zone on offense. That hadn't happened since a 34-0 loss at Florida State on Oct. 29, 2011).
One of the side effects of fewer trips to the red zone has been a lack of field goals attempted this season. NC State ranks last in the ACC in field goal attempts (6) and field goals made (3) this season. That FG made mark is the lowest among P4 teams this season. The Pack hasn't attempted a field goal in the last four games and hasn't made one since Game 3 (Wake Forest).
Linebacker and team captain Caden Fordham currently ranks second in the ACC and 14th in the FBS in tackles with an average of 9.6 per game. That mark ranks fourth among Power 4 linebackers in 2025. He has led or tied the team in tackles five times this season and has four double-figure tackle outputs in eight games in 2025. His 15 stops versus Virginia Tech were a career high.
Not only does Hollywood Smothers lead the ACC in rushing, but he's been pretty solid as a receiver as well. He's caught 28 passes on 32 targets with no drops. That reception total is tied for second on the team. He boasts 215 yards after the catch. Smothers leads the league in all-purpose yards as his 124.4 yards per game is the 13th-best mark in the FBS as well.
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