The N.C. State football schedule for 2025, Dave Doeren's 13th with the Wolfpack, looks to be favorable for a bounce-back season.
Doeren returns several playmakers on both sides of the ball, including quarterback CJ Bailey and defensive lineman Brandon Cleveland, with new coordinators Kurt Roper and DJ Eliot. N.C. State's nonconference schedule includes games against in-state rival East Carolina and a trip to national runner-up Notre Dame.
The Wolfpack's biggest ACC games are at Miami and against Florida State at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Which games will be the most difficult for the Wolfpack? Here’s a ranking of each matchup, based on the level of difficulty. Location of the game and quality of opponent are factored into the breakdown
Campbell (Oct. 4)
Notes: The lone FCS opponent on the Wolfpack's schedule, in-state foe Campbell offers N.C. State the chance for an early October tune-up game before traveling to Notre Dame the following week. The Fighting Camels have a great nickname, but the Wolfpack shouldn't face much resistance in this one.
Virginia (Sept. 6)
Notes: In a rare non-conference game against a conference opponent, N.C. State and Virginia will meet for the first time since the Wolfpack's 45-7 win against the Cavaliers at Carter-Finley Stadium in 2023. The Pack has won five of the last six games in the series and hasn't lost to the Hoos at home since 2012.
East Carolina (Aug. 28)
Notes: The Wolfpack don't get to ease into the 2025 season. ECU is coming to Raleigh for a Thursday night opener at Carter-Finley Stadium, where Pirates and Pack fans are sure to provide a rowdy atmosphere. N.C. State has won three of the last four games in the series, but ECU won the 2024 Military Bowl in a game that ended with a brawl. The Pack hasn't lost at home to the Pirates since 2013, winning the last two games in Raleigh by an average margin of 41.5 points.
Wake Forest (Sept. 11)
Notes: The second Thursday night game in three weeks to start the year, N.C. State heads to Wake Forest for its ACC opener and first road game. The Demon Deacons earned a 34-30 comeback win against the Wolfpack last season in Raleigh and N.C. State has lost three of its last four games in Winston-Salem. In its last trip to Wake, the Pack won by 20. The score could be similar this season.
North Carolina (Nov. 29)
Notes: The Wolfpack has dominated its series against rival UNC in recent years, winning four straight against the Tar Heels. N.C. State, which hasn't lost to UNC in Raleigh since 2019, will welcome a mostly-unknown squad under first-year coach Bill Belichick to Carter-Finley Stadium in the regular-season finale. There's no doubt this is one of the biggest games on State's schedule, but if history is an indicator, it also figures to be one of the Pack's easiest matchups.
Pitt (Oct. 25)
Notes: For the first time since 2020, the Wolfpack will head to Pittsburgh for a road matchup against the always-physical Panthers. N.C. State has won three in a row against Pitt, including consecutive road games. The Pack also gets the benefit of facing the Panthers following an off week, which gives State another advantage in preparation.
Virginia Tech (Sept. 27)
Notes: Following road games at Wake Forest and Duke, the Wolfpack returns home to host Virginia Tech for the first time since earning a 22-21 win against the Hokies in 2022. That game was the second of back-to-back wins in the series for N.C. State, which lost the previous five against VT. But the Pack hasn't lost at home to the Hokies since 2010.
Duke (Sept. 20)
Notes: The Wolfpack has lost four of its last five games against the Blue Devils, including a 29-19 loss at Carter-Finley Stadium last season. N.C. State hasn't won at Wallace Wade Stadium since 2008, losing a pair of games by an average margin of 19.5 points in Durham. This game rounds out back-to-back road games against in-state rivals and it won't be an easy task for the Pack.
Georgia Tech (Nov. 1)
Notes: In the 2025 homecoming game for Wolfpack alumni, N.C. State faces a Georgia Tech squad that has won four of the last five games in the series. The Yellow Jackets, who earned a 30-29 win against the Pack last season in Atlanta, have won seven of their last nine games at Carter-Finley Stadium. This is a big opportunity for State before an off week.
Florida State (Nov. 21)
Notes: This is the lone Friday night game of the season for the Wolfpack, which always has a great crowd in these situations. Following a historically-bad season, Florida State should look more like Florida State in 2025. But N.C. State has won three straight in the series and hasn't lost to the Seminoles in Raleigh since 2016.
Miami (Nov. 15)
Notes: The Pack gets an off week before its final road game of the season, but it'll be a tough one. Miami, a team expected to challenge Clemson for the ACC championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff, will host N.C. State in mid-November. The Hurricanes have won five of the last six games in the series and haven't lost a home game to the Pack since 2008.
Notre Dame (Oct. 11)
Notes: If the Fighting Irish continue to play like they did in 2024, Wolfpack fans might be glad this is a streaming-only game on Peacock. The programs have split the four games in the series, but Notre Dame has secured victories in the last two meetings, winning those games by three touchdowns. Coming off a runner-up finish in the College Football Playoff, the Irish appear primed for a similar run in 2025. This game will be the toughest on N.C. State's schedule.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to [email protected].