The Vanderbilt Commodores pulled off an unexpected win over the NC State Wolfpack in a thrilling final minute of play. NC State had a chance to secure a 31-28 victory with just seconds left on the clock after intercepting Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis at their own two-yard line. The Wolfpack’s plan was to run down the clock and attempt a safety, but quarterback CJ Bailey tried to buy more time instead of going down in the end zone. Bailey ended up getting stripped in the end zone by Vanderbilt's defense. Miles Capers forced the fumble and Cayden Daniels recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown that gave Vanderbilt its first lead of the game. Vanderbilt won 35-31 with one second remaining. The Commodores had trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half before mounting their comeback. Vanderbilt said it was the largest comeback victory of the Clark Lea era.
Vanderbilt's success was especially impressive given how the game unfolded earlier in the third quarter, according to CBS Sports. NC State had built a 17-point lead after scoring a touchdown with about nine minutes left in the third period. However, the Wolfpack failed to drain much time off the clock during their next three drives. Despite long possessions, they only scored once in those drives, and Vanderbilt responded with touchdowns on each of its next three possessions.
In the first half, NC State limited Jared Curtis to just 72 passing yards and forced him to fumble once. Curtis also threw an interception in the first half. He finished the game with 277 passing yards as Vanderbilt's offense improved after halftime. After starting the season with a loss to Virginia, coach Dave Doeren needed a win against an SEC opponent. But the Wolfpack’s effort was undone by a costly mistake in the final seconds of the game. Doeren expressed disappointment with how things ended, saying it shouldn’t have come down to that moment.
This loss dropped NC State’s record to 1-2 on the season. The game was played in Nashville at Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium. Vanderbilt’s victory improved its record to 3-0 and set up the start of its SEC schedule. For NC State, the result added pressure on coach Doeren, who is in his 14th season with the team. The team’s performance against Vanderbilt was especially disappointing after a loss to Virginia in its opening game.
This marked a major setback for the Wolfpack as they look ahead to their next opponent, Appalachian State. NC State will host Appalachian State on Sept. 26 at Carter-Finley Stadium.