NC State Rallies Past North Carolina in Thrilling ACC Contest
NC State defeated North Carolina 35-30 in a back-and-forth Week 14 matchup that featured 14 lead changes and significant momentum swings throughout. The Wolfpack covered the spread as underdogs despite trailing for much of the game.
North Carolina dominated the third quarter, with Omarion Hampton scoring on a 75-yard rushing touchdown and Jacolby Criswell connecting with Chris Culliver on a 50-yard touchdown pass to build what appeared to be a commanding lead. Criswell finished as the game's leading passer with 273 yards.
However, NC State mounted a fourth-quarter comeback. The Wolfpack's defense forced critical stops, and the offense answered with another Criswell-to-Hampton touchdown connection, this one covering 47 yards. NC State's resilience down the stretch proved decisive in securing the victory.
The game exceeded the over-under of 53.5 points, with both offenses finding success through the air and on the ground. Daylan Smothers led NC State's rushing attack with 83 yards. The contest remained competitive throughout, with the outcome decided in the final moments of regulation.
AI-generated recap · Aug 27, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 NC State | 7 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 35 |
 North Carolina | 0 | 6 | 14 | 10 | 30 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | NC State | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 14-20 | 19-34 |
| Pass Yards | 242 | 275 |
| Rush Yards | 220 | 193 |
| Total Yards | 462 | 468 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| 3rd Down | 2-9 | 3-14 |
| Penalties | 6-55 | 9-94 |
| Possession | 35:45 | 24:15 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
CJ Bailey run for 1 yd to the NCSU 26
CJ Bailey run for 4 yds to the NCSU 30
CJ Bailey pass incomplete
Caden Noonkester punt for 32 yds
Omarion Hampton run for no gain to the UNC 38
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to Nate McCollum
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to Jordan Shipp
Tom Maginness punt for 44 yds , Jalen Coit returns for 2 yds to the NCSU 20
Jordan Waters run for 5 yds to the NCSU 25
CJ Bailey run for 14 yds to the NCSU 39 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey sacked by Desmond Evans for a loss of 4 yards to the NCSU 35
CJ Bailey pass complete to Dacari Collins for 7 yds to the NCSU 42
CJ Bailey pass complete to Dacari Collins for 12 yds to the UNC 46 for a 1ST down North Carolina Penalty, Roughing The Passer (Charleston French) to the UNC 31 for a 1ST down
Kevin Concepcion sacked by Amare Campbell for a loss of 7 yards to the UNC 38
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Wesley Grimes
Shotgun Bailey,CJ rush right for 9 yards gain to the UNC29 (Huzzie,Alijah), out of bounds PENALTY NCSU Holding (Waters,Jordan) 10 yards from UNC38 to UNC48. NO PLAY.
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for no gain to the UNC 48
Caden Noonkester punt for 34 yds, fair catch by Alijah Huzzie at the UNC 14
North Carolina Penalty, Personal Foul (-15 Yards) to the UNC 17
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to Nate McCollum for 2 yds to the UNC 19
Omarion Hampton run for 2 yds to the UNC 21
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to Nate McCollum
Tom Maginness punt for 40 yds
Kendrick Raphael run for 11 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Kendrick Raphael run for 3 yds to the UNC 47
CJ Bailey run for 7 yds to the UNC 40 for a 1ST down
Jordan Waters run for 3 yds to the UNC 37
CJ Bailey pass intercepted, touchback.
Omarion Hampton run for no gain to the UNC 20
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to Chris Culliver
Jacolby Criswell sacked by Davin Vann for a loss of 9 yards to the UNC 11 Jacolby Criswell fumbled, recovered by NCSU Sean Brown , return for 0 yards
Shotgun Bailey,CJ pass incomplete short left to Joly,Justin thrown to UNC00 PENALTY UNC Pass Interference (Cost,Kaleb) 9 yards from UNC11 to UNC02, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Hollywood Smothers run for 2 yds for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett KICK)
Collin Smith kickoff for 53 yds , Nate McCollum return for 20 yds to the UNC 32
Caleb Hood pass complete to Nate McCollum for 2 yds to the UNC 34
No Huddle-Shotgun Hampton,Omarion rush middle for 7 yards gain to the UNC41 (Brown,Sean) PENALTY UNC Holding (Blaske,Austin) 10 yards from UNC34 to UNC24. NO PLAY.
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to J.J. Jones for 11 yds to the UNC 35
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to Jordan Shipp
Tom Maginness punt for 42 yds
CJ Bailey run for 11 yds to the NCSU 34 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 7 yards to the NCSU 27
Kevin Concepcion run for no gain to the NCSU 27
Hollywood Smothers run for 6 yds to the NCSU 33
Caden Noonkester punt for 37 yds, fair catch by Alijah Huzzie at the UNC 30
Omarion Hampton run for 5 yds to the UNC 35
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to Nate McCollum for 9 yds to the UNC 44 for a 1ST down
Omarion Hampton run for 3 yds to the UNC 47
Omarion Hampton run for 19 yds to the NCSU 34 for a 1ST down North Carolina Penalty, UNR: Unnecessary Roughness (Howard Sampson) to the NCSU 49 for a 1ST down
Omarion Hampton run for 11 yds to the NCSU 38 for a 1ST down
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to Omarion Hampton for 5 yds to the NCSU 33
PENALTY UNC False Start (Blaske,Austin) 5 yards from NCSU33 to NCSU38. NO PLAY.
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to Christian Hamilton for 4 yds to the NCSU 34
Omarion Hampton run for 3 yds to the NCSU 31
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to Christian Hamilton
No Huddle-Shotgun Criswell,Jacolby pass incomplete deep right to Hamilton,Christian thrown to NCSU11 PENALTY NCSU Pass Interference (Marshall,Devon) 15 yards from NCSU31 to NCSU16, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to John Copenhaver
Omarion Hampton run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 17
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to J.J. Jones for 17 yds for a TD (Noah Burnette PAT MISSED)
Kendrick Raphael run for 1 yd to the NCSU 26
Kendrick Raphael run for 9 yds to the NCSU 35 for a 1ST down
Kendrick Raphael run for 4 yds to the NCSU 39
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Noah Rogers
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Noah Rogers
Caden Noonkester punt for 54 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the UNC 7 , Alijah Huzzie returns for no gain to the UNC 7
PENALTY NCSU Delay Of Game (Vann,Davin) 5 yards from UNC07 to UNC12. NO PLAY.
Omarion Hampton run for a loss of 1 yard to the UNC 11
Omarion Hampton run for 8 yds to the UNC 19 for a 1ST down
Omarion Hampton run for 5 yds to the UNC 24
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to Kobe Paysour for 10 yds to the UNC 34 for a 1ST down
Omarion Hampton run for 3 yds to the UNC 37
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to John Copenhaver for 19 yds to the NCSU 44 for a 1ST down
Davion Gause run for 2 yds to the NCSU 42
Jacolby Criswell run for 13 yds to the NCSU 29 for a 1ST down
Omarion Hampton run for 1 yd to the NCSU 28
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to J.J. Jones for 2 yds to the NCSU 26
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to John Copenhaver
Noah Burnette 43 yd FG MISSED
Jordan Waters run for 4 yds to the NCSU 30
Jordan Waters run for 3 yds to the NCSU 33
End of 2nd Quarter
Omarion Hampton run for a loss of 1 yard to the UNC 24
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to John Copenhaver
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to Nate McCollum
Tom Maginness punt for 36 yds, fair catch by Jalen Coit at the NCSU 40
CJ Bailey run for 9 yds to the NCSU 49
Hollywood Smothers run for 8 yds to the UNC 43 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 9 yds to the UNC 34
Hollywood Smothers run for 6 yds to the UNC 28 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey run for 5 yds to the UNC 23
Hollywood Smothers run for 2 yds to the UNC 21
CJ Bailey sacked by Alijah Huzzie for a loss of 3 yards to the UNC 24
Kanoah Vinesett 41 yd FG GOOD
Omarion Hampton run for 75 yds for a TD (Noah Burnette KICK)
Lucas Osada kickoff for 60 yds , DK Kaufman return for 18 yds to the NCSU 23
Jordan Waters run for 13 yds to the NCSU 36 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey run for 1 yd to the NCSU 37
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 37 yds to the UNC 26 for a 1ST down
Kendrick Raphael run for 8 yds to the UNC 18
Shotgun Raphael,Kendrick rush left for 1 yard loss to the UNC19 (Campbell,Amare), out of bounds PENALTY NCSU Holding (Daniels,Dante) 10 yards from UNC18 to UNC28. NO PLAY.
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 5 yds to the UNC 23
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Justin Joly
Kanoah Vinesett 40 yd FG GOOD
Omarion Hampton run for 2 yds to the UNC 27
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to J.J. Jones
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to Paul Billups II for 7 yds to the UNC 34
Jacolby Criswell run for 5 yds to the UNC 39 for a 1ST down
PENALTY UNC False Start (Sampson,Howard) 5 yards from UNC39 to UNC34. NO PLAY.
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to Omarion Hampton for 2 yds to the UNC 32
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to Kobe Paysour
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to Nate McCollum for 18 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to Chris Culliver for 50 yds for a TD (Noah Burnette KICK)
Lucas Osada kickoff for 51 yds , DK Kaufman return for 17 yds to the NCSU 31
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 22 yds to the UNC 47 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 18 yds to the UNC 29 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 6 yds to the UNC 23
Jordan Waters run for 7 yds to the UNC 16 for a 1ST down
Kevin Concepcion run for 2 yds to the UNC 14
CJ Bailey pass complete to Dante Daniels for 14 yds for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett KICK)
Collin Smith kickoff for 65 yds , Nate McCollum return for 41 yds to the UNC 41
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to Chris Culliver for 46 yds to the NCSU 13 for a 1ST down
Omarion Hampton run for 3 yds to the NCSU 10
Omarion Hampton run for 2 yds to the NCSU 8
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to J.J. Jones
Noah Burnette 25 yd FG GOOD
Lucas Osada kickoff for 63 yds , DK Kaufman return for 29 yds to the NCSU 31
Hollywood Smothers run for 21 yds to the UNC 48 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Kevin Concepcion for 21 yds to the UNC 27 for a 1ST down
Kevin Concepcion run for 5 yds to the UNC 22
CJ Bailey run for 5 yds to the UNC 17 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for no gain to the UNC 17
CJ Bailey run for 4 yds to the UNC 13
CJ Bailey pass complete to Kevin Concepcion for 13 yds for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett PAT BLOCKED)
Collin Smith kickoff for 46 yds , Ryan Ward return for 7 yds to the UNC 26
Caleb Hood run for 2 yds to the UNC 28
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to John Copenhaver for 4 yds to the UNC 32
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to J.J. Jones
Tom Maginness punt for 48 yds
North Carolina Penalty, Personal Foul (15 Yards) to the NCSU 37 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Dacari Collins for 43 yds to the UNC 20 for a 1ST down
Kendrick Raphael run for 12 yds to the UNC 8 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey run for 5 yds to the UNC 3
Kendrick Raphael run for a loss of 2 yards to the UNC 5
CJ Bailey sacked for a loss of 5 yards to the UNC 10
Kanoah Vinesett 28 yd FG GOOD
PENALTY NCSU Delay Of Game 5 yards from NCSU35 to NCSU30. NO PLAY.
Omarion Hampton run for 9 yds to the UNC 34
Omarion Hampton run for 19 yds to the NCSU 47 for a 1ST down
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to Omarion Hampton for 47 yds for a TD (Noah Burnette KICK)
CJ Bailey pass complete to Kevin Concepcion for 10 yds to the NCSU 35 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 7 yds to the NCSU 42
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 7 yds to the NCSU 49 for a 1ST down
Shotgun Bailey,CJ rush middle for 6 yards gain to the UNC45 (Lane,Antavious) PENALTY NCSU Holding (Peak,Jacarrius) 10 yards from NCSU49 to NCSU39. NO PLAY.
CJ Bailey pass complete to Noah Rogers for 44 yds to the UNC 17 for a 1ST down
Shotgun Raphael,Kendrick rush middle for 2 yards gain to the UNC15 (Lane,Antavious; Ritzie,Jahvaree) PENALTY UNC Illegal Substitution 5 yards from UNC17 to UNC12. NO PLAY.
Hollywood Smothers run for 10 yds to the UNC 2 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 2 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)
Collin Smith kickoff for 59 yds , Nate McCollum return for 11 yds to the UNC 17
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to Omarion Hampton for 15 yds to the UNC 32 for a 1ST down
Jacolby Criswell pass incomplete to Omarion Hampton
Jacolby Criswell sacked by Jackson Vick for a loss of 5 yards to the UNC 27
Jacolby Criswell pass complete to John Copenhaver for 9 yds Austin Blaske fumbled, recovered by NCSU Kelvon McBride