Wolfpack
WolfpackNCAAF NC State Wolfpack
General Information
NCAA Division: Division I
Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference (1953-present)
Past Conferences: Southern
City: Raleigh, N.C.
Stadium: Carter-Finley Stadium
Championships
- National Championships: None
- Conference Titles: 7 (1957, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1973, 1979)
Team History
The NC State Wolfpack are a Division I program located in Raleigh, N.C. NC State, a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, is coached by Dave Doeren.
NC State has won the ACC seven times, but not since 1979. Still, the program has remained a consistent contender over the last few decades, in addition to being a hotbed for pro talent. The Wolfpack have been to 34 bowls, most recently in 2022 when Maryland overcame slight odds to beat them 16-12 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. They finished 8-5, having been ranked as high as 10th in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Doeren has been at the helm for 10 years, making him the second-longest tenured coach in program history behind Earle Edwards (1954-70). He’s taken the Wolfpack to seven bowls, with a mark of 3-4. The school’s last bowl victory came in the 2017 Sun Bowl, 52-31 over Arizona State.
Under Doeren, NC State has continued to churn out NFL talent. The Wolfpack have had at least one player selected in 25 of the last 26 drafts, including nine in the first round during that period: Torry Holt, sixth overall in 1999; Koren Robinson, ninth in 2001; Philip Rivers, fourth in 2004; Mario Williams, first in 2006; Manny Lawson, 22nd in 2006; John McCargo, 26th in 2006; Bradley Chubb, fifth in 2018; Garrett Bradbury, 18th in 2019; Ikem Ekwonu, sixth in 2022.
Holt amassed a school-record 3,379 receiving yards from 1995-98 before being drafted by the Rams, with whom he became one of the NFL’s most dynamic receivers. Holt made seven Pro Bowls and helped lead the 1999 Rams — dubbed the “Greatest Show on Turf” because of their record-scoring offense — to a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and had his number retired by the school.
Meanwhile, Rivers set school records for career passing yards (13,484), completions (1,087) and touchdown passes (95). Selected by the Giants, then during the draft to the Chargers, Rivers made eight Pro Bowls and was named to San Diego’s 50th Anniversary Team. Like Holt, Rivers’ number is retired by NC State.
Since Rivers, NC State has produced more NFL quarterbacks such as nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson, Mike Glennon and Jacoby Brissett.
Prior to joining the ACC in 1953, NC State competed in the Southern Conference. In the ACC, one of the country’s premier college football conferences, the Wolfpack have won seven league titles and 17 bowl games.
Bo Rein guided NC State to its last ACC title in 1979. The Wolfpack went 5-1 in conference play and 7-4 overall, though they declined an invitation to a bowl game. Following the season, Rein, who had gone 27-18-1 from 1976-79 with the Wolfpack, was hired away by LSU. Rein never ended up coaching a game for LSU though, as he tragically died during a plane crash on Jan. 10, 1980. He was succeeded at NC State by Monte Kiffin.
All-Time Records
Passing Yards
- Philip Rivers: 13,484
- Ryan Finley: 10,501
- Jamie Barnette: 9,461
- Russell Wilson: 8,545
- Mike Glennon: 7,411
Rushing Yards
- Ted Brown: 4,602
- Joe McIntosh: 3,642
- Tremayne Stephens: 3,553
- Matt Dayes: 2,856
- Ray Robinson: 2,781
Receiving Yards
- Torry Holt: 3,379
- Jerricho Cotchery: 3,119
- Emeka Emezie: 2,895
- Kevin Harmon: 2,665
- Thayer Thomas: 2,484
What is NC State’s overall record in bowl games?
The Wolfpack have participated in 34 bowl games, with an overall record of 17-16-1. The lone tie came in the 1974 Bluebonnet Bowl, 31-31 with Houston.
How many weeks has NC State been ranked in the AP poll?
The Wolfpack have spent 186 weeks in the Associated Press poll. They’ve also been ranked 14 times in the final poll, peaking at No. 11 in 1974.
What is the winningest season in NC State program history?
The 2002 Wolfpack won a school-record 11 games and beat Notre Dame 28-6 in the Gator Bowl. Coached by Chuck Amato, they were ranked as high as No. 10 during the season before ending the year at No. 12.
