What NC State football learned last season that it can carry into 2025

Roughly 200 people packed the main ballroom at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown when North Carolina coach Bill Belichick took the stage Thursday for his ACC Kickoff press conference. That number dropped exponentially less than an hour later when N.C. State capped off the preseason media event, with only a couple dozen reporters remaining.

The Wolfpack, however, didn’t seem miffed by the lack of fanfare. Press conference attendance or preseason hype doesn’t win games. Worrying about that, or anything other than taking the steps necessary to build a cohesive team, isn’t a helpful use of time.

“No offense to any of y’all, but we’re not really worried about what anyone else says; we’re worried about what in-house says,” tight end Justin Joly said. “At the end of the day, we’re the ones who play football, so I love all of y’all and I appreciate y’all for coming out, but it really don’t matter.”

What does matter to N.C. State? Not repeating what it showed on the field last season, athletically and emotionally. The Wolfpack finished 6-7 overall and went 3-5 in ACC play, ranking No. 10 in the league standings. It was the worst finish by a team coached by Dave Doeren since the conference eliminated divisions.

The season was also marred by two brawls — the first against North Carolina in the regular season finale, the second against East Carolina in the teams’ bowl game — and a handful of unsportsmanlike penalties during the season.

The Wolfpack has never had back-to-back losing seasons in Doeren’s tenure.

“I don’t think pressure really exists,” Doeren said. “To me, I come into this job with the exact same expectations — to be the very best football team we can be and win every game we can win with the ambition of being the conference champion. It’s never changed.”

Wolfpack’s 2024 on-field fights

N.C. State’s final two games of 2024 against UNC and East Carolina devolved into on-field brawls. Eight players were ejected in the final seconds of the Military Bowl game

The Wolfpack and Tar Heels both received a public reprimand and institutional fine from the ACC. Earlier in the game each team received unsportsmanlike penalties, as well.

No official fines or consequences were incurred by N.C. State or ECU.

“I learned that we weren’t tested a lot when it came to keeping our composure. We weren’t tested a lot, and that’s why those fights broke out,” Bailey said. “That’s something that we wanted to change this year. It was really embarrassing last year that we had those two fights at the end of the year. That’s one thing we preach in this year and in the spring and in fall camp: Every fight we have, we’re on the line. We’re running. You cannot. You’ve got to know how to control your emotions.”

Doeren said he looks forward to playing ECU in the season opener and rectifying the team’s performance.

“I told our team in the locker room, that’s the most embarrassed I’ve been as a coach — not because we lost but because of how we behaved at the end of it,” Doeren said. “I’m not going to be part of football like that, so they can change or they can find a new coach, because I’m not going to do it anymore. To me, it’s disrespectful to the game of football. It’s disrespectful to the staff and the fans. They understand. They understand what this game is about. It’s about winning the football game. If it’s my way, it’ll be in blowout fashion.”

CJ Bailey entering Year 2

After unexpectedly taking over the starting job after Grayson McCall’s injury and medical retirement last season, Bailey returns to the Pack feeling more prepared to lead N.C. State’s 2025 offense.

Bailey said the preparation is far different this season than last year, getting “way more reps” than he did last spring and summer.

“I expect a lot for myself. I always expect a lot for myself. I don’t settle,” Bailey said. “When the season comes, I feel like I should be where I want to be, which is, the best quarterback in the ACC.”

Bailey struggled at times with consistency last season but still finished with one of the best freshman campaigns in program history. He recorded 2,413 yards and threw 196 of 302 (.649), ranking No. 2 for most passing yards and passing attempts by a freshman. He also set a new record for completion percentage by a freshman.

The sophomore from Florida said he’s experienced a lot of growth with his patience in the pocket. Last year, he often scrambled and made plays. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. Bailey isn’t opposed to scrambling and creating plays for himself, but he feels more confident and less panicked when he experiences pressure.

“Staying in the pocket comes with understanding where to look at, where you stand, where there’s people going to be on offense,” Bailey said. “Now, I’ve got a better understanding of that.”

Expected improvement on both sides of the ball

N.C. State’s staff experienced a major overhaul after changes at defensive and offensive coordinator. The team believes, in spite of the changes, it will be better than it was last season.

Kurt Roper was elevated from quarterbacks coach to QB coach and offensive coordinator. Doeren brought in DJ Eliot as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Bailey said the offense is going to “score way more points and get more wins” for the team, while playing at a higher tempo. He credits Roper and the combined role. The Pack averaged 28.5 points per game last fall.

“He’s a good teacher. He’s gonna explain everything to a T, so you can understand it fully, so the offense could understand it fully,” Bailey said. “It’s a big change having him as the OC. I’m glad that he is the OC, and it helps build that consistency, because we have a better understanding level and better connection. He understands how I can be consistent.”

“Every day I come into that room with him, in that meeting room, I gain some type of knowledge and some type of understanding of the game better,” Bailey added.

The defense struggled last season, unable to stop the run, make tackles and win one-on-one battles. Cleveland said Eliot has elevated the team.

“He has an NFL mindset,” Cleveland said. “He coached in the NFL, so how he goes about his business is legit. It’s great to have an NFL coach that’s been with the Eagles and the best of the best. I think we’ll be good.”

When asked what success looks like at his position, Cleveland was clear: Disruption. He won’t always record big numbers but he can impact plays.

“If I knock the center back and Caden comes in through the gap and makes the tackle, I feel like that’s the play that I made, too,” Cleveland said. “I would say plays that you deny from happening is how I measure my success.”

NC State players on NIL

“Transactional” is the word that continually pops up when describing the state of college athletics, specifically recruiting. N.C. State has participated in NIL and opted into the House settlement revenue sharing terms, and players have made decisions based on financials.

The Wolfpack, however, doesn’t want to be known for that. Bailey, Joly, linebacker Caden Fordham and defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland all, at some point during their media availability, spoke about the importance of keeping football and relationships at the center of the program.

The money and success will follow.

“Put your head down to work. That’s the best thing I could tell you,” Joly said. “I know I didn’t redshirt, and it was because I came in and I was like, ‘Hey, if y’all don’t want your job, I’m gonna come and take it.’ That’s exactly what I said. You could call any of the guys I played with, too. But yeah, man, just work. It’s not about the money. I promise the money’s gonna come. Just play ball.”

Fordham, who is returning from an ACL injury, said NIL wasn’t a concern when he was recruited and was in its infancy during his freshman year. He’s grateful for the financial aspect — there were no disagreements about what the program decided to pay him — but that’s not the end-all, be-all.

“It’s such a blessing just to even be here and be able to play football,” Fordham said. “That’s another thing I took away from my injury. The game of football means a lot more than the money ever does. I just try to focus those kids on that; being able to play this sport of football is so much more of a blessing than trying to worry about money.”

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This story was originally published July 26, 2025 at 8:57 PM with the headline "What NC State football learned last season that it can carry into 2025."

Jadyn Watson-Fisher

The News & Observer