# 2023 NC State Wolfpack football team

The 2023 NC State Wolfpack football team represented North Carolina State University during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolfpack played their home games at Carter–Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, and competed as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by head coach Dave Doeren, in his 11th season. The NC State Wolfpack football team drew an average home attendance of 56,919 in 2023.

## Coaching staff

| Name | Title |
| Dave Doeren | Head Coach |
| Robert Anae | Offensive Coordinator/Inside Receivers/Tight Ends |
| Tony Gibson | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| Charlie Wiles | Defensive Line |
| Joe DeForest | Safeties |
| Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay | Nickels |
| Todd Goebbel | Running Backs/Special Teams |
| Garett Tujague | Offensive Line |
| Brian Mitchell | Cornerbacks |
| Kurt Roper | Quarterbacks |
| Joker Phillips | Receivers |
| Ruffin McNeill | Special Assistant to the Head Coach |
Source

## Schedule

NC State announced its 2023 football schedule on January 30, 2023. The 2023 season is the first that the Atlantic Coast Conference eliminated divisions, and thus the Wolfpack will face conference opponents on a rotational pod basis. The 2023 schedule consists of seven home games and five away games in the regular season. The Wolfpack will host ACC foes Clemson, Louisville, Miami and North Carolina and will travel to Duke, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest.
The Wolfpack will host three of the four non-conference opponents, Marshall from the Sun Belt Conference, Notre Dame from FBS Independents, and VMI from Division I FCS, and will travel to UConn from FBS Independents.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 7:30 p.m. | at UConn* | | Pratt & Whitney StadiumEast Hartford, CT | CBSSN | W 24–14 | 36,526 |
| September 9 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 10 Notre Dame* | | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC | ABC | L 24–45 | 56,919 |
| September 16 | 2:00 p.m. | VMI* | | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC | CW | W 45–7 | 56,919 |
| September 22 | 7:30 p.m. | at Virginia | | Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA | ESPN | W 24–21 | 42,979 |
| September 29 | 7:00 p.m. | Louisville | | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC | ESPN | L 10–13 | 56,919 |
| October 7 | 2:00 p.m. | Marshall* | | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC | CW | W 48–41 | 56,919 |
| October 14 | 8:00 p.m. | at No. 17 Duke | | Wallace Wade StadiumDurham, NC (rivalry) | ACCN | L 3–24 | 31,833 |
| October 28 | 2:00 p.m | Clemson | | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC (Textile Bowl) | CW | W 24–17 | 56,919 |
| November 4 | 8:00 p.m. | Miami | | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC | ACCN | W 20–6 | 56,919 |
| November 11 | 2:00 p.m | at Wake Forest | | Allegacy Federal Credit Union StadiumWinston-Salem, NC (rivalry) | CW | W 26–6 | 29,591 |
| November 18 | 3:30 p.m. | at Virginia Tech | | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ACCN | W 35–28 | 65,632 |
| November 25 | 8:00 p.m. | North Carolina | No. 22 | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC (rivalry) | ACCN | W 39–20 | 56,919 |
| December 28 | 5:45 p.m. | vs. No. 25 Kansas State* | No. 18 | Camping World StadiumOrlando, FL (Pop-Tarts Bowl) | ESPN | L 19–28 | 31,111 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after October 31) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### At UConn

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Wolfpack | 7 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
| Huskies | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NCSU –14.5 | 47.5 |
| Statistics | NCSU | CONN |
| First downs | 23 | 15 |
| Total yards | 364 | 273 |
| Rushing yards | 209 | 160 |
| Passing yards | 155 | 113 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 34:00 | 26:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| NC State | Passing | Brennan Armstrong | 17–26, 155 yards |
| NC State | Rushing | Brennan Armstrong | 19 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD |
| NC State | Receiving | Kevin Concepcion | 4 receptions, 36 yards |
| UConn | Passing | Joe Fagnano | 14–26, 113 yards, 1 INT |
| UConn | Rushing | Victor Rosa | 9 carries, 99 yards, 2 TD |
| UConn | Receiving | Justin Joly | 4 receptions, 38 yards |

### No. 10 Notre Dame

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 10 Fighting Irish | 3 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 45 |
| Wolfpack | 0 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ND –7 | 49.5 |
| Statistics | ND | NCSU |
| First downs | 16 | 20 |
| Total yards | 456 | 344 |
| Rushing yards | 170 | 84 |
| Passing yards | 286 | 260 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 32:53 | 27:07 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Notre Dame | Passing | Sam Hartman | 15–24, 286 yards, 4 TD |
| Notre Dame | Rushing | Audric Estimé | 14 rushes, 134 yards, 2 TD |
| Notre Dame | Receiving | Holden Staes | 4 receptions, 115 yards, 2 TD |
| NC State | Passing | Brennan Armstrong | 22–47, 260 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| NC State | Rushing | Brennan Armstrong | 12 rushes, 26 yards, 1 TD |
| NC State | Receiving | Juice Vereen | 4 receptions, 65 yards |

### VMI

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Keydets | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| • Wolfpack | 21 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 45 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NCSU –42.5 | 51 |
| Statistics | VMI | NCSU |
| First downs | 10 | 26 |
| Total yards | 176 | 498 |
| Rushing yards | 15 | 234 |
| Passing yards | 176 | 264 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 20:57 | 39:03 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| VMI | Passing | Collin Shannon | 14–24, 176 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| VMI | Rushing | Rashad Raymond | 6 rushes, 29 yards |
| VMI | Receiving | Egypt Nelson | 3 receptions, 107 yards, 1 TD |
| NC State | Passing | Brennan Armstrong | 27–32, 264 yards, 1 TD |
| NC State | Rushing | Kendrick Raphael | 16 rushes, 85 yards |
| NC State | Receiving | Julian Gray | 2 receptions, 80 yards |

### At Virginia

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Wolfpack | 0 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
| Cavaliers | 0 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 21 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NCSU –8.5 | 47.5 |
| Statistics | NCSU | UVA |
| First downs | 21 | 20 |
| Total yards | 319 | 384 |
| Rushing yards | 139 | 113 |
| Passing yards | 180 | 271 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:26 | 32:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| NC State | Passing | Brennan Armstrong | 15–30, 180 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| NC State | Rushing | Brennan Armstrong | 15 rushes, 64 yards |
| NC State | Receiving | KC Concepcion | 6 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD |
| Virginia | Passing | Anthony Colandrea | 18–30, 271 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Virginia | Rushing | Anthony Colandrea | 13 rushes, 43 yards |
| Virginia | Receiving | Malik Washington | 10 receptions, 170 yards, 2 TD |

### Louisville

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 13 |
| Wolfpack | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LOU –3.5 | 56.5 |
| Statistics | LOU | NCSU |
| First downs | 18 | 9 |
| Total yards | 306 | 201 |
| Rushing yards | 20 | 89 |
| Passing yards | 286 | 112 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 31:03 | 28:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisville | Passing | Jack Plummer | 21–35, 286 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT |
| Louisville | Rushing | Jawhar Jordan | 16 rushes, 32 yards |
| Louisville | Receiving | Chris Bell | 3 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD |
| NC State | Passing | Brennan Armstrong | 13–25, 112 yards, 2 INT |
| NC State | Rushing | Brennan Armstrong | 17 rushes, 65 yards |
| NC State | Receiving | Terrell Timmons Jr. | 3 receptions, 71 yards |

### Marshall

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thundering Herd | 14 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 41 |
| • Wolfpack | 7 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 48 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NCSU –6.5 | 44 |
| Statistics | HERD | NCSU |
| First downs | 22 | 16 |
| Total yards | 419 | 401 |
| Rushing yards | 104 | 136 |
| Passing yards | 315 | 365 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 32:44 | 27:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Marshall | Passing | Cam Fancher | 29–51, 315 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Marshall | Rushing | Rasheen Ali | 14 rushes, 63 yards |
| Marshall | Receiving | Darryle Simmons | 8 receptions, 87 yards |
| NC State | Passing | MJ Morris | 17–32, 265 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT |
| NC State | Rushing | Michael Allen | 9 rushes, 70 yards, 1 TD |
| NC State | Receiving | KC Concepcion | 8 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TD |

### At No. 17 Duke

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolfpack | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| • No. 17 Blue Devils | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| DUKE –4 | 42.5 |
| Statistics | NCSU | DUKE |
| First downs | 18 | 12 |
| Total yards | 305 | 301 |
| Rushing yards | 112 | 194 |
| Passing yards | 193 | 107 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 36:56 | 23:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| NC State | Passing | MJ Morris | 24–40, 193 yards, 1 INT |
| NC State | Rushing | MJ Morris | 14 rushes, 38 yards |
| NC State | Receiving | KC Concepcion | 6 receptions, 63 yards |
| Duke | Passing | Henry Belin IV | 4–12, 107 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Duke | Rushing | Jordan Waters | 13 rushes, 123 yards, 1 TD |
| Duke | Receiving | Jalon Calhoun | 1 reception, 69 yards, 1 TD |

### Clemson

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
| • Wolfpack | 7 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CLEM –9.5 | 44.5 |
| Statistics | CLEM | NCSU |
| First downs | 20 | 9 |
| Total yards | 364 | 202 |
| Rushing yards | 101 | 64 |
| Passing yards | 263 | 138 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 33:41 | 26:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Clemson | Passing | Cade Klubnik | 33–50, 263 yards, 2 INT |
| Clemson | Rushing | Phil Mafah | 16 rushes, 84 yards |
| Clemson | Receiving | Jake Briningstool | 8 receptions, 93 yards |
| NC State | Passing | MJ Morris | 11–20, 138 yards, 2 TD |
| NC State | Rushing | KC Concepcion | 2 rushes, 51 yards |
| NC State | Receiving | KC Concepcion | 5 receptions, 83 yards, 2 TD |

### Miami

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hurricanes | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| • Wolfpack | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MIA –6.0 | 44.5 |
| Statistics | MIA | NCSU |
| First downs | 19 | 12 |
| Total yards | 292 | 231 |
| Rushing yards | 119 | 108 |
| Passing yards | 173 | 123 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 35:16 | 24:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Miami | Passing | Tyler Van Dyke | 21–38, 173 yards, 3 INT |
| Miami | Rushing | Mark Fletcher Jr. | 23 rushes, 115 yards |
| Miami | Receiving | Jacolby George | 5 receptions, 59 yards |
| NC State | Passing | MJ Morris | 11–23, 123 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| NC State | Rushing | Brennan Armstrong | 8 rushes, 51 yards |
| NC State | Receiving | KC Concepcion | 5 receptions, 61 yards |

### At Wake Forest

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Wolfpack | 7 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 26 |
| Demon Deacons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WAKE –0.5 | 42.5 |
| Statistics | NCSU | WAKE |
| First downs | 19 | 8 |
| Total yards | 379 | 163 |
| Rushing yards | 268 | 7 |
| Passing yards | 111 | 156 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 40:16 | 19:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| NC State | Passing | Brennan Armstrong | 12–17, 113 yards, 1 TD |
| NC State | Rushing | Brennan Armstrong | 15 rushes, 96 yards, 1 TD |
| NC State | Receiving | Dacari Collins | 2 receptions, 40 yards |
| Wake Forest | Passing | Michael Kern | 14–26, 137 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Wake Forest | Rushing | Demond Claiborne | 8 rushes, 12 yards |
| Wake Forest | Receiving | Horatio Fields | 3 receptions, 31 yards |

### At Virginia Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Wolfpack | 0 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
| Hokies | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| VT –2.5 | 40.5 |
| Statistics | NCSU | VT |
| First downs | 24 | 17 |
| Total yards | 408 | 349 |
| Rushing yards | 188 | 124 |
| Passing yards | 220 | 225 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 40:37 | 19:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| NC State | Passing | Brennan Armstrong | 18–26, 203 yards, 2 TD |
| NC State | Rushing | Brennan Armstrong | 21 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TD |
| NC State | Receiving | KC Concepcion | 7 receptions, 63 yards, 2 TD |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Kyron Drones | 17–30, 225 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Kyron Drones | 9 rushes, 51 yards |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | Da'Quan Felton | 7 receptions, 87 yards, 2 TD |

### North Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tar Heels | 0 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 20 |
| • Wolfpack | 6 | 20 | 13 | 0 | 39 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UNC –2.5 | 55.5 |
| Statistics | UNC | NCSU |
| First downs | 21 | 27 |
| Total yards | 384 | 504 |
| Rushing yards | 130 | 170 |
| Passing yards | 254 | 334 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 19:54 | 40:06 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Carolina | Passing | Drake Maye | 22–38, 254 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Drake Maye | 9 rushes, 106 yards, 1 TD |
| North Carolina | Receiving | John Copenhaver | 5 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD |
| NC State | Passing | Brennan Armstrong | 22–31, 334 yards, 3 TD |
| NC State | Rushing | KC Concepcion | 11 rushes, 55 yards |
| NC State | Receiving | KC Concepcion | 7 receptions, 131 yards, 2 TD |

### Vs. Kansas State–Pop-Tarts Bowl

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 18 Wolfpack | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 19 |
| • No. 25 Wildcats | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| KSU –3.5 | 47.5 |
| Statistics | NCSU | KSU |
| First downs | 17 | 22 |
| Total yards | 399 | 435 |
| Rushing yards | 235 | 257 |
| Passing yards | 164 | 178 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:06 | 30:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| NC State | Passing | Brennan Armstrong | 14/28, 164 yards, INT |
| NC State | Rushing | Brennan Armstrong | 17 carries, 121 yards, TD |
| NC State | Receiving | KC Concepcion | 7 receptions, 72 yards |
| Kansas State | Passing | Avery Johnson | 14/31, 178 yards, 2 TD |
| Kansas State | Rushing | DJ Giddens | 28 carries, 151 yards, TD |
| Kansas State | Receiving | Jayce Brown | 5 receptions, 52 yards, TD |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | 21т | 19 | 21 |
| Coaches | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | 24 | 20 | 18 | 21 |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | 22 | 19 | 18 | Not released |

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 3 | 98 | Payton Wilson | LB | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 6 | 190 | Dylan McMahon | OG | Philadelphia Eagles |