Saturday, October 4
Raleigh, NC
2 p.m.
NC State
56
vs
10
Campbell
Wolfpack Cruises to 56-10 Victory Over Campbell
10/4/2025 6:22:00 PM | Football
Raleigh, N.C. – NC State got back in the win column with a historic offensive outburst in the first half to set up a 56-10 win over Campbell at Carter-Finley in the program's first-ever meeting.
In the first half, the Pack went seven straight drives scoring a touchdown for a total of 49 points and 482 yards of total offense – that is the most by any FBS team in the first half this season and the most points scored by NC State in the first half since reaching the same number on Nov. 3, 2001, against Duke in Durham.
Philip Rivers threw four touchdowns in the first half of that game, and quarterback CJ Bailey matched him after throwing for a career-best four touchdowns in the first half against Campbell to go along with his 292 passing yards. He went on to finish the game with 337 yards giving him more than 300 passing yards for the third time this season.
Running back Hollywood Smothers was just as impressive on the ground, earning 123 yards and a score before the break on just four attempts. That marks the fourth time this season that the ACC's leading rusher has eclipsed 100 yards rushing in a game.
It was a team effort from the Pack offense with Bailey finding nine different receivers, including tight end Cody Hardy, who scored his first touchdown as a member of the Pack from 37 yards out for the longest reception of his collegiate career. Three individual rushers also found the end zone, leading to a 49-7 Wolfpack advantage at half. This was the first time that NC State had had a lead going into the half since their week one matchup with ECU.
The Wolfpack averaged 10.1 yards per play on offense – the highest number since 2003 against Kansas in the Citrus Bowl when the Wolfpack averaged 9.6 yards per play.
The NC State defense had a strong showing, forcing the Camels to punt nine times with two turnovers on downs. Campbell's ten points are the lowest number allowed by the Pack this season, as well as their first time holding a team under 200 yards of total offense.
Linebacker Kenny Soares, Jr. led the game with nine total tackles, to go along with sacks from defensive ends Sabastian Harsh and Tra Thomas.
The Wolfpack came out firing, needing just five plays to score on their opening drive, capped off by a Will Wilson two-yard touchdown run; set up by a 48-yard grab by Noah Rogers on the previous play – his longest of the season. The touchdown marks the third rushing score for the short-yardage specialist on what was just his tenth touch of the season.
Campbell would respond on the following possession, forcing a fumble on a punt deep in NC State territory to set up a 13-yard touchdown pass to even the score at seven. That would be the last Campbell points before the Pack went on a 42-point run to finish the half.
Terrell Anderson, Justin Joly, and Smothers closed out the final three drives of the half with a trio of receiving touchdowns, with Smothers' being his first receiving score of the season.
The Pack picked up right where they left off to resume play with the defense forcing a punt that led to Duke Scott punching it in from the two-yard line for his second score of the day.
The first Wolfpack punt of the day came with 14:53 left in the fourth quarter, with most of the starters already pulled from the game.
Lex Thomas and Wilson both got the opportunity to throw in the final period, with Wilson attempting and completing the first passes of his collegiate career. Campbell would intercept a Wilson pass, where he also recorded his first college tackle, to set up a 49-yard field goal for their first points since the first quarter to cut the Wolfpack's lead to 46.
The Wolfpack's win moves the all-time series to 1-0. NC State will be on the road for the next two games and won't be home until Nov. 1st. The Wolfpack will face off next against Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, on Saturday, October 11th, at 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on Peacock.
In the first half, the Pack went seven straight drives scoring a touchdown for a total of 49 points and 482 yards of total offense – that is the most by any FBS team in the first half this season and the most points scored by NC State in the first half since reaching the same number on Nov. 3, 2001, against Duke in Durham.
Philip Rivers threw four touchdowns in the first half of that game, and quarterback CJ Bailey matched him after throwing for a career-best four touchdowns in the first half against Campbell to go along with his 292 passing yards. He went on to finish the game with 337 yards giving him more than 300 passing yards for the third time this season.
Running back Hollywood Smothers was just as impressive on the ground, earning 123 yards and a score before the break on just four attempts. That marks the fourth time this season that the ACC's leading rusher has eclipsed 100 yards rushing in a game.
It was a team effort from the Pack offense with Bailey finding nine different receivers, including tight end Cody Hardy, who scored his first touchdown as a member of the Pack from 37 yards out for the longest reception of his collegiate career. Three individual rushers also found the end zone, leading to a 49-7 Wolfpack advantage at half. This was the first time that NC State had had a lead going into the half since their week one matchup with ECU.
The Wolfpack averaged 10.1 yards per play on offense – the highest number since 2003 against Kansas in the Citrus Bowl when the Wolfpack averaged 9.6 yards per play.
The NC State defense had a strong showing, forcing the Camels to punt nine times with two turnovers on downs. Campbell's ten points are the lowest number allowed by the Pack this season, as well as their first time holding a team under 200 yards of total offense.
Linebacker Kenny Soares, Jr. led the game with nine total tackles, to go along with sacks from defensive ends Sabastian Harsh and Tra Thomas.
The Wolfpack came out firing, needing just five plays to score on their opening drive, capped off by a Will Wilson two-yard touchdown run; set up by a 48-yard grab by Noah Rogers on the previous play – his longest of the season. The touchdown marks the third rushing score for the short-yardage specialist on what was just his tenth touch of the season.
Campbell would respond on the following possession, forcing a fumble on a punt deep in NC State territory to set up a 13-yard touchdown pass to even the score at seven. That would be the last Campbell points before the Pack went on a 42-point run to finish the half.
Terrell Anderson, Justin Joly, and Smothers closed out the final three drives of the half with a trio of receiving touchdowns, with Smothers' being his first receiving score of the season.
The Pack picked up right where they left off to resume play with the defense forcing a punt that led to Duke Scott punching it in from the two-yard line for his second score of the day.
The first Wolfpack punt of the day came with 14:53 left in the fourth quarter, with most of the starters already pulled from the game.
Lex Thomas and Wilson both got the opportunity to throw in the final period, with Wilson attempting and completing the first passes of his collegiate career. Campbell would intercept a Wilson pass, where he also recorded his first college tackle, to set up a 49-yard field goal for their first points since the first quarter to cut the Wolfpack's lead to 46.
The Wolfpack's win moves the all-time series to 1-0. NC State will be on the road for the next two games and won't be home until Nov. 1st. The Wolfpack will face off next against Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, on Saturday, October 11th, at 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on Peacock.
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