Wolfpack Offense Stalls in 41-3 Loss to Duke - NC State University Athletics

Saturday, November 7

Raleigh, NC

12:30 p.m.

NC State

4-5 , 2-4

Duke

7-2 , 4-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Duke	7	24	7	3	41
NC State	3	0	0	0	3

Game Book

11/7/2026 5:05:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Raleigh, NC – NC State fell to Duke 41-3 at Carter-Finley on Saturday afternoon in their largest loss to the Blue Devils since 1956, failing to score a touchdown for the first time since 2023, also coming against the Blue Devils.

The Wolfpack offense never got going, punting seven times and crossing into Duke territory on only four drives for their second-lowest total-offense output this season. Duke's Nate Sheppard, the ACC's leading rusher, had the same amount of yards rushing as the Pack had in total offense – 217 yards on 18 carries. The 217 rushing yards by Sheppard is the most a Wolfpack defense has allowed to a single player since 2024.

Quarterback CJ Bailey finished 15-24 for 123 yards. Senior tight end Hunter Provience caught five passes for a career-best 51 yards.

Senior quarterback Tad Hudson finished the game under center for the Pack, going 3-for-7 for 62 yards. He found freshman Amiri Acker twice for his first receptions as a member of the Pack – he finished with a team-leading 54 yards.

Punter Jackson Waller had a career day behind the sluggish offense. Waller finished with seven punts, totaling 326 yards, averaging 46.6 yards per punt. His 62-yard punt in the first quarter was a career best.

Despite exiting the game in the third quarter with an injury, senior linebacker Popo Aguirre finished with a game-leading eight tackles. Cornerback King Mack finished second on the team with six takedowns, all solo.

Freshman Elijah Satchell had the Pack's lone sack of the night, extending his team-leading tally to five.

Duke quickly broke the ice on the first drive, ripping off a 69-yard touchdown run on the fourth play from scrimmage. The Pack responded with a 39-yard Kanoah Vinesett field goal. The drive was jumpstarted by a 21-yard flea-flicker to Keenan Jackson on the opening play – it would go on to be the Wolfpack's only points in the game.

The Blue Devils offense caught fire, scoring on their last three possessions of the half. An eight-yard touchdown run followed by a red zone stand by the Pack defense to force a field goal preceded an 18-yard Duke touchdown pass on their next drive.

The Pack offense started to show some life as the second half wound down, gaining 37 yards in 26 seconds to set up a 50-yard field goal as time expired. The kick didn't have the distance and was caught in the back of the end zone by a Duke returner before it was returned 100 yards for a touchdown.

The return put NC State down 31-3 going into the break. It is the fewest points the Pack has scored in the first half since being shut out in the first two periods of this campaign's opening contest against Virginia.

The Wolfpack offense tried to get a spark early in the second half, attempting a fourth-and-one on their own 40-yard line. A failed run set up the Devils in prime field position, where they took advantage with a four-yard touchdown run.

Duke closed the scoring with a 46-yard field goal with five minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The NC State loss moves the all-time series deficit to 37-45-5 as NC State has now lost four straight games to the Blue Devils. The Wolfpack will next face Syracuse at home on Saturday, November 14th, with kickoff set for noon on the ACC Network.