RALEIGH – The NC State Football team is preparing for the 2024 season, its 133rd in program history and 12th under head coach Dave Doeren and what high expectations this season will hold.
On top of a very generous schedule, it’s also been a big year for athletics at NC State, with both the men’s and women’s basketball teams making it to the Final Four, the baseball team making it to Omaha, a back–to-back-to-back national title for women’s cross-country and so many more, so the pressure is on for the university’s largest and most influential sports program.
Last Year
The Wolfpack turned a near disaster of a season into one of the more impressive 9-4 records in college football.
Led by consensus All American in Payton Wilson and a hard-hitting defense, the Pack was able to overcome mid-season quarterback controversy – MJ Morris won the starting job from Brennan Armstrong, then decided to redshirt after four games and ultimately transferred – and rallied to win their final five games of the regular season including big wins over Clemson and UNC.
While things fizzled out once again in the postseason, as NC State lost 28-19 to Kansas State in the Pop-Tart Bowl, the season overall set the Pack up for a strong push heading into this year.
Changes and Newcomers
NC State is welcoming a fairly fresh, but experienced, offense with new faces leading the way in almost every position group on the offensive side of the ball.
However, one area that the Wolfpack don’t have to worry about is with the coaching as Doeren is returning nearly all of his staff from last season.
Players to Watch
In the modern game, you’re going nowhere if you don’t have a quarterback, so all that pressure falls to Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall.
But the resume is good for McCall who’s a three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year and has thrown for over 10,000 yards and 88 touchdowns in four seasons with the Chanticleers.
McCall’s number one man is projected to be standout wide receiver Kevin Concepcion, who dazzled last year in his true freshman season.
Concepcion had over 1,000 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns even with being NC State’s only consistent offensive threat.
The complement to the passing game will be former Duke running back Jordan Waters.
Last season, Waters ran for over 800 yards and 12 touchdowns which would be a very welcome sight for a program that has struggled to find a consistent run game in recent years.
Best Case
For the first time in a long time, the Wolfpack actually plays complementary football rather than the team being carried solely by the defense and Dave Doeren not only finally secures that elusive 10-win season, but NC State also challenges for an ACC Championship and a spot in the newly expanded college football playoffs.
Worst Case
The new offense fails to mesh leading to another lackluster season on that side of the ball.
Critical losses to the bottom stock of the ACC leads to widespread fan outcry and NC State fires Doeren leading to the Pack seeing an exodus of talent to the transfer portal.
Key Games
Overall, the Pack looks to have a schedule that should offer them every opportunity in the world to compete for the ACC crown, but there are a few key wins that will greatly help their case.
Sept. 7 vs. Tennessee – While not a conference game, a win over a top-ranked Tennessee squad would do wonders not only for the Wolfpack’s credibility, but also for the confidence of the players.
Sept. 21 @ Clemson – The Tigers aren’t viewed as the powerhouse they once were, but any ACC hopeful knows they have to get through Death Valley to make it to the top. With an x record at home, facing Clemson in their home turf is not an easy task.
Nov. 30 @ UNC – There’s never going to be a game against the Tar Heels that isn’t big for the Pack. If nothing else in a season goes well, beating UNC is a consolation that many would accept.
Outlook
The Wolfpack are poised for a big season and the opportunity to take a huge step forward as a program.
While the schedule does still have some heavyweights on it, the majority of it is a schedule which a program like the Pack should dominate.
They have the personnel to be very successful. It’s just about executing and limiting self-inflicted wounds, which is historically easier said than done for NC State football.
