RALEIGH, N.C. — NC State hosts Duke in Raleigh on Saturday, Nov. 7, in an in-state ACC rivalry game that gives the Wolfpack one more chance at a signature win in a season that has already cost its head coach his job.
Duke arrives at 6-2 and is the only team left on the NC State schedule with a winning record. The Blue Devils have won their last two games, over Virginia and Boston College, by a combined 63-18, and they head to Miami next week with an ACC Championship berth still in play. Coach Manny Diaz is 4-0 against NC State.
The Duke offense runs through running back Nate Sheppard, who has an ACC-best 972 rushing yards to go with 18 touchdowns from scrimmage. Duke has started a Heisman Trophy push for Sheppard this week. The Blue Devils also bring a defense ranked among the top 20 nationally, while quarterback Walker Eget is still building a steady passing game.
NC State fired Dave Doeren in October and is playing under interim coach Todd Goebbel while the school conducts a coaching search. Goebbel said Thursday the team is not looking back or ahead and is focused only on each day of practice, a message he plans to keep until the season ends. The Wolfpack come in off a lopsided win over Cal.
Running back Duke Scott, NC State’s leading rusher with 358 yards, is listed as questionable after missing the last three games. Offensive lineman Teague Andersen is also questionable. For Duke, right guard Bradley Smith, receiver Jeremiah Hasley and defensive back Kyon Loud all moved up to probable on Thursday after being listed as questionable.
NC State is 1-4 this season when it allows more than 80 rushing yards, which puts the spotlight on how the Wolfpack defense handles Sheppard.
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