No. 24/23 NC State clashes with No. 14/12 Tennessee in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at
7:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC in Charlotte.
The Vols were picked to finish seventh in the expanded 16-team SEC, and the Wolfpack were picked to finish fourth in the expanded 17-team ACC. This is the fourth meeting between the two teams and first since the Vols’ 35-21 win in Atlanta in 2012. This is the first time that the two teams will square off as ranked teams.
NC State has played Tennessee just four times, with only one contest taking place this century. Tennessee was the first college opponent NC State ever faced when the teams first met in 1893. The game was UT’s fourth in four days, following games at UNC, Trinity (now Duke), Wake Forest (which was then located in Wake Forest, N.C.). That game was tied at halftime before the A&M Farmers pulled out the 12-6 victory.
The Wolfpack shut out the Vols, 16-0, in Riddick Stadium in 1911 and in 1939, Tennessee won, 13-0, in Raleigh.
NC State and Tennessee also played in the 2012 Chick Fil A Kickoff game in Atlanta, with the Pack falling 21-35.
This will mark Dave Doeren’s first time facing the Vols. This will be the Wolfpack’s 10th game played in Charlotte’s Bank of American Stadium. NC State has played in four bowl games and five regular season contests on the Panthers’ home field.
About NC State
- Ten Wolfpack players are on the preseason watch lists for 15 national awards.
- QB Grayson McCall has thrown 91 career touchdowns with just 15 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 18 scores.
- In the past three seasons, no other P4 school has picked off more passes than the Wolfpack. NC State has tallied 51 interceptions in the 2021, ‘22, ‘23 and ‘24 seasons combined.
- NC State leads the nation in consecutive PATs made. The Wolfpack hasn’t missed an extra point since the regular season finalé of the 2017 season – 252 straight.
- The Wolfpack and Volunteers boast two of the most experienced offensive lines in college football for 2024. Tennessee’s starting o-line entered the season with a combined 284 games played (3rd), while the Pack’s boasted 229 (8th).
About Tennessee
- Tennessee opened its 128th season with 718 yards of total offense in an emphatic 69-3 victory over Chattanooga on Saturday in Neyland Stadium.
- Tennessee is one of two SEC teams (South Carolina) starting a redshirt freshman at QB in 2024 as Nico Iamaleava takes the reins.
- The Vols have 24 games producing 200 rushing yards in the Josh Heupel era and own a 22-2 record when doing so (won 16 in a row when doing so).
- Tennessee is 14-2 against non-conference opponents in Josh Heupel era, including 12-1 in regular season (put up at least 30 points in all 16 games).
- The Vols have gone eight consecutive quarters without allowing a touchdown (13 straight quarters without allowing a TD vs. non-SEC teams).
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