Wolfpack Falls to Vanderbilt on Last Second Touchdown

Saturday, September 19

Nashville, TN

12:45 PM

NC State

1-2 , 0-1

Vanderbilt

3-0 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
NC State	14	3	7	7	31
Vanderbilt	0	7	7	21	35

Huddle prior to game at Vanderbilt 9/19/26

Wolfpack Falls to Vanderbilt on Last Second Touchdown

9/19/2026 5:39:00 PM | Football

Box Score

NASHVILLE, TENN. - NC State fell to Vanderbilt 31-35, Saturday at FirstBank Stadium after the Commodores scored the game-winning touchdown with one second remaining.

The Wolfpack held a 31-28 advantage in the final minute as Brody Barnhardt intercepted a Vanderbilt pass on the Pack's own two-yard line with a minute left in the game. However, the Commodores forced a fumble as NC State attempted to run out the clock, recovering the loose ball for the game-winning touchdown.

Quarterback CJ Bailey went 25-of-37 for 275 yards through the air with 3 touchdowns and an interception. His favorite target on the day was Keenan Jackson, who brought in 9 passes for 102 yards – including a 30-yard touchdown reception. He finished the contest with three receiving scores, the most in a game by an NC State receiver since Thayer Tomans in 2020.

Sophomore Will Wilson finished the day with 49 rushing yards on 8 attempts and one touchdown. He has now rushed for a touchdown in each of the last seven games that he has played going back to last season, with a total of 12 over that span.

Interceptions from Jaren Sensabaugh and Barnhardt, along with lineman Adrian Farrow's fumble recovery that was forced out by Popo Aguirre on a quarterback carry, accounted for the trio of NC State takeaways on the day. Aguirre also led the team in tackles with six, closely followed by sophomore Bailey Benson, who came away with five.

The Pack struck first on the opening possession of the game, marching down the field until Wilson made it through on a third-and-short to break away for a 38-yard rushing touchdown.

Victor Snow ripped a 32-yard punt return on the ensuing possession to set the Pack up around midfield. The offense took advantage with Bailey finding Jackson down the sideline on a busted coverage for a 30-yard score to extend the advantage to 14 points.

The Wolfpack defense continued to stand strong forcing turnovers on consecutive possessions as Vanderbilt quarterback, Jared Curtis was picked off by Sensabaugh on a deep ball over the middle before Aguirre stripped him on a designated run with Farrow coming in for the recovery – the latter led to a 24-yard field goal from Kanoah Vinesett.

The Pack attempted and converted on a fourth-and-inches on their own 14-yard line coming out of the two-minute warning. The Wolfpack would punt on their next set of downs with enough time left on the clock for the Commodores to score their first points of the game on a touchdown with 14 seconds until the break. The NC State defense committed its first penalties of the season on the drive with a pass interference call to help put Vanderbilt in the red zone.

The score brought the halftime count to 17-7 in favor of the Pack.

Following a Vanderbilt three-and-out, Bailey committed his second interception of the season on a pass thrown deep into Commodore territory. The Pack defense responded quickly forcing a punt to set the NC State offense up on their own 49-yard line.

Bailey and company only needed five plays for Jackson to cap off the drive with his second receiving touchdown of the day, this time from six yards out.

The Vanderbilt offense started to come to life, needing only four plays to respond with a passing score of their own. The Commodores then forced a punt and took advantage with another touchdown through the air to cut their deficit to three as the fourth quarter ensued.

The Wolfpack responded with Bailey and Jackson combining in the end zone for the third time today to seal a 75-yard touchdown drive. The back and forth action of both teams in the second half continued with the Commodores scoring on a 43-yard touchdown pass to bring the game back within three.

The Pack tried to run out the clock once again but turned the ball over on downs deep into Vanderbilt territory. Barnhardt picked off Curtis for his second thrown interception of the day before the Pack fumbled in their own end zone to give the game to the Commodores.

The late score handed Vanderbilt a 35-31 victory.

The Wolfpack returns home next week to face Appalachian State on Saturday, September 26th, at 7:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN U.