Duke Tops NC State 45-33 in High-Scoring ACC Matchup
Duke defeated NC State 45-33 in Week 4 action, with the Blue Devils' defense making key plays throughout the contest. The game featured four lead changes and remained competitive, with Duke ultimately pulling away in the second half.
NC State's CJ Bailey led all passers with 364 yards, connecting with Terrell Anderson twice for scores, including a 75-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Brandon Cleveland led the Wolfpack in receiving with 9 catches. Despite the offensive production, NC State couldn't maintain momentum against Duke's defensive efforts.
Duke's Anderson Castle rushed for 92 yards and scored on a 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that proved pivotal down the stretch. Darian Mensah added a passing touchdown to Cooper Barkate in the third quarter for 37 yards. The Blue Devils controlled the second half, outscoring NC State 24-13 after halftime.
The game exceeded the over-under of 57 points, with the combined 78 total points reflecting an offensive showcase. Duke covered the 3-point spread, improving their record on the season.
AI-generated recap · Aug 15, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 NC State | 7 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 33 |
 Duke | 7 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 45 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | NC State | Duke |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 29-39 | 19-28 |
| Pass Yards | 364 | 269 |
| Rush Yards | 171 | 149 |
| Total Yards | 535 | 418 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| 3rd Down | 7-12 | 5-12 |
| Penalties | 6-49 | 8-103 |
| Possession | 32:29 | 27:31 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Todd Pelino kickoff for 61 yds , Jayden Scott return for 22 yds to the NCSU 26
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 25
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Justin Joly
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 75 yds for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett KICK)
Charlie Birtwistle kickoff for 64 yds , Peyton Jones return for 29 yds to the DUKE 30
Darian Mensah pass complete to Jeremiah Hasley for 15 yds to the DUKE 45 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Sahmir Hagans for 12 yds to the NCSU 43 for a 1ST down
Jaquez Moore run for 1 yd to the NCSU 42
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Jaquez Moore
Darian Mensah pass incomplete
PENALTY NCSU Offside 5 yards from NCSU42 to NCSU37. NO PLAY.
Darian Mensah pass complete to Jeremiah Hasley for 21 yds to the NCSU 16 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 3 yds to the NCSU 13
Nate Sheppard run for 10 yds to the NCSU 3 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 1 yd to the NCSU 2
Anderson Castle run for 2 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Hollywood Smothers run for 2 yds to the NCSU 27
CJ Bailey pass intercepted DaShawn Stone return for no gain to the NCSU 45
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Jaquez Moore
Jaquez Moore run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 46
Jaquez Moore run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 47
PENALTY DUKE Delay Of Game 5 yards from NCSU47 to DUKE48. NO PLAY.
Kade Reynoldson punt for 44 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the NCSU 1
CJ Bailey pass complete to Keenan Jackson for 14 yds to the NCSU 15 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 2 yards to the NCSU 13
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 18 yds to the NCSU 31 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 8 yds to the NCSU 39
Jayden Scott run for 6 yds to the NCSU 45 for a 1ST down
Jayden Scott run for 15 yds to the DUKE 40 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Keenan Jackson for 5 yds to the DUKE 35
Jayden Scott run for 7 yds to the DUKE 28 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Teddy Hoffmann for 3 yds to the DUKE 25
PENALTY NCSU False Start (Locklear,Ashton) 5 yards from DUKE25 to DUKE30. NO PLAY.
CJ Bailey run for 6 yds to the DUKE 24
CJ Bailey pass complete to Keenan Jackson for 7 yds to the DUKE 17 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 8 yds to the DUKE 9
(01:47) Shotgun Bailey,CJ rush right for 8 yards gain to the DUKE01 (Freeman,Tre; Mergott,Luke), out of bounds PENALTY NCSU Holding (Erickson,Val) 10 yards from DUKE09 to DUKE19. NO PLAY.
CJ Bailey run for 11 yds to the DUKE 8
Hollywood Smothers run for 4 yds to the DUKE 4 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey run for a loss of 2 yards to the DUKE 6
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 6 yds for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett KICK)
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 8 yds to the DUKE 33
Nate Sheppard run for 4 yds to the DUKE 37 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah sacked for a loss of 3 yards to the DUKE 34
(12:54) No Huddle-Shotgun Mensah,Darian pass incomplete short middle to Brown,Que'Sean thrown to DUKE45 PENALTY NCSU Pass Interference (Royal, III,Ronnie) 14 yards from DUKE34 to DUKE48, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Nate Sheppard run for 2 yds to the 50 yard line
Anderson Castle run for 5 yds to the NCSU 45
Anderson Castle run for a loss of 4 yards to the NCSU 49
Kade Reynoldson punt for 49 yds for a touchback
Hollywood Smothers run for no gain to the NCSU 20
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 7 yds to the NCSU 27
CJ Bailey pass complete to Teddy Hoffmann for 2 yds to the NCSU 29
Brandon Cleveland run for 4 yds to the NCSU 33 for a 1ST down
Duke Penalty, Face Mask (15 yards) (15 Yards) to the NCSU 48 for a 1ST down
Jayden Scott run for no gain to the NCSU 48
CJ Bailey pass complete to Jayden Scott for 5 yds to the DUKE 47
CJ Bailey pass complete to Noah Rogers for 25 yds to the DUKE 22 for a 1ST down
Will Wilson run for 1 yd for a TD Duke Penalty, unsportsmanlike conduct (Vincent Anthony Jr.) to the DUKE 0 (Kanoah Vinesett PAT MISSED)
Charlie Birtwistle kickoff for 44 yds , Nate Sheppard return for 22 yds to the DUKE 28
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Andrel Anthony
Darian Mensah run for no gain to the DUKE 28 Duke Penalty, Offensive Holding (Yards) declined
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 15 yds to the DUKE 43 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
Darian Mensah pass complete to Nate Sheppard for 6 yds to the DUKE 49
Darian Mensah pass complete to Jeremiah Hasley for 5 yds to the NCSU 46 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Nate Sheppard for 6 yds to the NCSU 40
Nate Sheppard run for 13 yds to the NCSU 27 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah run for 10 yds to the NCSU 17 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Landen King for 17 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 24
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 44 yds to the DUKE 32 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 5 yds to the DUKE 27
CJ Bailey sacked for a loss of 1 yard to the DUKE 28
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 4 yds to the DUKE 24
CJ Bailey pass intercepted Tre Freeman return for 67 yds to the NCSU 12
(00:45) No Huddle-Shotgun Mensah,Darian pass incomplete short left to Hasley,Jeremiah thrown to NCSU00 PENALTY NCSU Pass Interference (Royal, III,Ronnie) 10 yards from NCSU12 to NCSU02, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Anderson Castle run for 1 yd to the NCSU 1
Anderson Castle run for 1 yd for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Todd Pelino kickoff for 48 yds , Coleson Fields return for 9 yds to the NCSU 26
(00:07) Kneel down by NC State at NCSU24 for loss of 2 yards.
End of 2nd Quarter
Darian Mensah pass complete to Sahmir Hagans for 18 yds to the DUKE 43 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 9 yds to the NCSU 48
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 15 yds to the NCSU 33 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass complete to Sahmir Hagans for 33 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Hollywood Smothers run for no gain to the NCSU 25
CJ Bailey pass complete to Noah Rogers for 16 yds to the NCSU 41 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 8 yds to the NCSU 49
Hollywood Smothers run for 51 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)
Darian Mensah pass complete to Nate Sheppard for 8 yds to the DUKE 33
Anderson Castle run for 4 yds to the DUKE 37 for a 1ST down
Anderson Castle run for 4 yds to the DUKE 41
Darian Mensah pass complete to Anderson Castle for 13 yds to the NCSU 46 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
Nate Sheppard run for 2 yds to the NCSU 44
Darian Mensah pass complete to Chase Tyler for 7 yds to the NCSU 37
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 37 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
Todd Pelino kickoff for 65 yds , Jayden Scott return for 20 yds to the NCSU 45 Duke Penalty, Personal Foul (-15 Yards) to the NCSU 35
Hollywood Smothers run for 2 yds to the NCSU 37
Hollywood Smothers run for 42 yds to the DUKE 6 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey run for a loss of 2 yards to the DUKE 8
CJ Bailey pass complete to Teddy Hoffmann for no gain to the DUKE 8
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Noah Rogers
Kanoah Vinesett 25 yd FG BLOCKED blocked by Wesley Williams (05:44) Vinesett,Kanoah field goal attempt from 25 yards NO GOOD blocked by Williams,Wesley (H: Noonkester,Caden, LS: Mann,Jake), clock 05:40 recovered by DUKE Callahan,Landan at DUKE16, End Of Play.
(05:40) No Huddle-Shotgun Mensah,Darian pass complete short right to Barkate,Cooper caught at DUKE25, for 7 yards to the DUKE23 (Johnson,Jamel), out of bounds PENALTY DUKE Holding (Hasley,Jeremiah) 8 yards from DUKE16 to DUKE08. NO PLAY.
Nate Sheppard run for 2 yds to the DUKE 10
Darian Mensah pass complete to Jeremiah Hasley for 2 yds to the DUKE 12
Darian Mensah pass incomplete
PENALTY NCSU Offside 5 yards from DUKE12 to DUKE17. NO PLAY.
Kade Reynoldson punt for 26 yds , Teddy Hoffmann returns for 3 yds to the DUKE 40
CJ Bailey pass complete to Teddy Hoffmann for no gain to the DUKE 40
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Terrell Anderson
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 3 yds to the DUKE 37
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Justin Joly
Darian Mensah pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 20 yds to the NCSU 43 for a 1ST down
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
Nate Sheppard run for 5 yds to the NCSU 38
Darian Mensah pass complete to Que'Sean Brown for 11 yds to the NCSU 27 for a 1ST down
Nate Sheppard run for 3 yds to the NCSU 24
Nate Sheppard run for a loss of 2 yards to the NCSU 26
Darian Mensah pass incomplete to Andrel Anthony
Todd Pelino 43 yd FG GOOD
Todd Pelino kickoff for 65 yds , Jayden Scott return for 20 yds to the NCSU 20
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Justin Joly
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 11 yds to the NCSU 31 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey run for 2 yds to the NCSU 33 CJ Bailey fumbled, recovered by NCSU Wesley Williams
Darian Mensah sacked by Brandon Cleveland for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 34
Anderson Castle run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 35
Darian Mensah sacked by Tra Thomas for a loss of 8 yards to the NCSU 43
Kade Reynoldson punt for 38 yds, fair catch by Teddy Hoffmann at the NCSU 5
Hollywood Smothers run for 18 yds to the NCSU 23 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Brandon Cleveland for 9 yds to the NCSU 32
Jayden Scott run for 1 yd to the NCSU 33 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Keenan Jackson for 1 yd to the NCSU 34
(09:22) No Huddle-Shotgun Bailey,CJ pass incomplete short right to Anderson,Terrell thrown to NCSU50 PENALTY DUKE Pass Interference (Callahan,Landan) 15 yards from NCSU34 to NCSU49, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Jayden Scott run for 6 yds to the DUKE 45
Jayden Scott run for no gain to the DUKE 45
CJ Bailey pass complete to Noah Rogers for 7 yds to the DUKE 38 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for no gain to the DUKE 38
(07:18) No Huddle-Shotgun Bailey,CJ pass incomplete short left thrown to NCSU50 QB hurried by Williams,Wesley and Johnson,Kendall PENALTY DUKE Roughing The Passer offsetting NCSU Intentional Grounding offsetting. NO PLAY.
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 15 yds to the DUKE 23 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey sacked for a loss of 5 yards to the DUKE 28
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Teddy Hoffmann
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 26 yds to the DUKE 2 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 1 yd to the DUKE 1
Hollywood Smothers run for no gain to the DUKE 1
Will Wilson run for 1 yd for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett KICK)
Nate Sheppard run for 5 yds to the DUKE 30
Nate Sheppard run for 4 yds to the DUKE 34
Anderson Castle run for 66 yds for a TD (Todd Pelino KICK)
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 14 yds to the NCSU 39 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 2 yds to the NCSU 41
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Justin Joly
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 2 yds to the NCSU 43
CJ Bailey pass intercepted Moussa Kane return for 2 yds to the NCSU 49
Duke Penalty, unsportsmanlike conduct (DaShawn Stone) to the DUKE 37
Anderson Castle run for 4 yds to the DUKE 41
Anderson Castle run for 3 yds to the DUKE 44
Anderson Castle run for 7 yds to the NCSU 49 for a 1ST down
(00:43) Kneel down by Duke at NCSU50 for loss of 1 yard.