One of the hottest teams in college football resides in the Triangle…and it’s not the team many thought it would be. The 18th ranked NC State Wolfpack will look to extend their winning streak to six games as they travel to Miami Gardens, FL to face the Hurricanes Saturday evening. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN 2.
The Wolfpack (5-1 overall, 2-0 ACC) are coming off a dominating road win at Boston College last week. NC State turned a three-point lead at the half into a 33-7 rout of the Eagles. Quarterback Devin Leary led the way with 251 passing yards and three touchdown passes carrying the NC State offense in a night where the running game was less productive than usual. Defensively, Isaiah Moore continues to lead the Pack – tallying nine tackles and one interception in last week’s victory.
Miami (2-4, 0-2 ACC) returns to action after dropping a heartbreaker to UNC last Saturday, 45-42 in an offensive showdown in Chapel Hill. To say this season has been a disappointment for the Hurricanes is an understatement, including losing starting quarterback D’Eriq King to injury. Miami is looking to get on a late roll to become bowl eligible, needing four more wins with six games remaining.
King, who I’m sure some NC State fans won’t forget after the show he put on during last season’s matchup in Raleigh, has been replaced by the steady Tyler Van Dyke who is more than able to steer the offense. On the defensive side, the Hurricanes will look to Bubba Bolden in the secondary (who will also be adding Avantae Williams in the mix – making his Miami debut) will need all hands on deck as the Hurricanes are one of the nation’s leaders in missed tackles.
Game Notes
- Since Miami became a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2004, NC State has faced the Hurricanes just five times. Miami head coach Manny Diaz spent six years on the Wolfpack staff under head coach Chuck Amato (2000-05).
- The last five games between NC State and Miami have been close, with an average margin of victory of 7.4 points.
- Wolfpack quarterback Devin Leary has not thrown an interception in the past four games. During that span he’s thrown 12 touchdowns and completed 69% (93-135) of his throws.
- In terms of receiving, eight different players have caught TD passes and 16 have caught passes overall. Three different players – Emeka Emezie (377), Thayer Thomas (312) and Devin Carter (310) have over 300 receiving yards but no player has over 400.
- Over on defense, the Wolfpack leads the ACC and ranks 13th in the FBS in interceptions with eight, with seven different players picking off a pass this season.
