North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
0-1 , 0-1
Virginia
1-0 , 1-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC State | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Virginia | 10 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
NC State Opens 2026 Season With Loss to Virginia
8/29/2026 7:52:00 PM | Football
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - After being shut out in the first half and with just one score on the day, NC State didn't have much success in the 2026 season opener as the Wolfpack fell to Virginia 34-8 at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville Saturday afternoon.
It is the first time since 2017 that NC State has started the season 0-1. The 34 points given up by the Pack are also the most in an opening game since 2020, when they allowed 42 to Wake Forest.
The Cavaliers succeeded in the run game, totaling 251 yards on 53 attempts. It is the most rushing yards given up by the Pack since these two teams met last season in Raleigh, when Virginia ran for 257 yards. It was also the first time since 2020 the Pack had allowed over 50 rushes by an opponent.
Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula was 9-of-11 passing. The 11 attempts are the fewest by an opposing quarterback since 2014 and just the ninth time a quarterback has had 11 attempts or fewer.
For the Wolfpack, quarterback CJ Bailey was just 12-of-23 in the air and added 33 yards on the ground. The longest reception came from tight end Vander Ploog, who had a 21-yard reception on fourth down to get the Wolfpack to the one-yard line.
That catch would lead to the Wolfpack's only score of the game as Will Wilson came in and did what he does best and converted a short-yardage situation by getting into the end zone for the first touchdown of the year. Last season, as a freshman, Wilson rushed for 10 touchdowns in just 53 offensive snaps. That tied for the second-highest total in school history for a quarterback and most rushing TDs regardless of position since 2018.
Linebacker Popo Aguirre led the game with 18 tackles; the highest since Peyton Wilson's 19 in a 2020 victory against Duke.
Junior Jojo Trader had the second-most receiving yards for the Pack behind Ploog with 19 yards on two receptions.
Veteran Harvey Dyson III and sophomore linebacker LaCorian Hodge combined for the Pack's lone sack of the contest. Davion Dozier also racked up two receptions for 14 yards.
The Cavaliers opened the scoring on a 47-yard field goal after forcing back-to-back Wolfpack three-and-outs. The Pack's offensive struggles continued their next possession with a tipped ball at the line of scrimmage turning into an interception at the NC State 32-yard line.
Virginia took advantage of the turnover, punching it in the end zone on a one-yard touchdown run four plays later to bring their early lead to 10. Both Virginia units continued to excel, turning another Wolfpack punt into seven, this time with a 45-yard touchdown pass.
The Wolfpack offense started to show some life towards the end of the half, making it down to the Virginia seven-yard line before a Bailey fumble on a quarterback run, which Virginia recovered. It ended the Pack's first trip to the red zone.
The Pack entered half with a 17-0 deficit. It was their first scoreless half in a season opener since falling to South Carolina 7-3 to kick off the 2009 season.
The Cavalier offense continued to have its way coming out of the half, scoring on a 47-yard touchdown pass to extend their lead to 24.
The Wolfpack turned in their first points of the new season on a Wilson one-yard touchdown run, set up by a Ploog reception to convert on a 3rd & 21 on the previous play. Virginia responded with a 23-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that spanned over 12 minutes, where they converted on three fourth-down attempts. It was the longest drive in both plays and the most time taken in Virginia program history.
Everything continued to go the Cavaliers' way, as they capped off the scoring with a 42-yard field goal to bring the final score to 34-8 in favor of Virginia, where it would finish.
The Cavalier victory was their first in the series since 2012, and their first in Charlottesville since 2006.
The NC State loss moves the all-time series to 38-23-1 and 4-1 under Dave Doeren.
The Wolfpack will next face Richmond from Carter-Finley Stadium on Friday, September 11th, at 7:00 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
NCS 0, UVA 3
UVA - Bettridge,Will 47 yd field goal 7 plays, 31 yards, TOP 03:47
NCS 0, UVA 10
UVA - Brown,Xavier 1 yd run (Bettridge,Will kick), 4 plays, 32 yards, TOP 02:06
NCS 0, UVA 17
UVA - Brown,Xavier 45 yd pass from Pribula,Beau (Bettridge,Will kick) 7 plays, 77 yards, TOP 04:18
NCS 0, UVA 24
UVA - Martin,DaShawn 47 yd pass from Pribula,Beau (Bettridge,Will kick) 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:25
NCS 8, UVA 24
NCS - Wilson,Will 1 yd run (Desinor,Deandre pass), 9 plays, 60 yards, TOP 05:24
NCS 8, UVA 31
UVA - Davis,Xay 1 yd run (Bettridge,Will kick), 23 plays, 75 yards, TOP 12:15
NCS 8, UVA 34
UVA - Bettridge,Will 42 yd field goal 4 plays, 8 yards, TOP 02:11
