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NC State Takes On Memphis: Gasparilla Bowl Live Thread

Follow along with the action on the Live Game Thread right here.
Tucker Sennett|
Dec 19, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; a view of the Gasparilla Bowl trophy before a game between the NC State Wolfpack and Memphis Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Dec 19, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; a view of the Gasparilla Bowl trophy before a game between the NC State Wolfpack and Memphis Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

In this story:

North Carolina State Wolfpack

The final day of the 2025 NC State football season has arrived, as the Wolfpack is set to take on Memphis in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa, Florida. After winning three of the last four games, the Wolfpack finished the season 7-5, earning a bid to a postseason bowl game.

Despite the turbulent season from an injury standpoint and some off-field tragedies, NC State found a way to persevere and still finished the season strongly. The Pack earned the right, at least according to head coach Dave Doeren, to take on the Memphis Tigers in Friday's Gasparilla Bowl.

Memphis enters the bout with an 8-4 record. The Tigers were firmly in the mix for a potential trip to the College Football Playoff, but lost their final three games. Their coach, Ryan Silverfield, bolted for the opening on Arkansas, leaving Reggie Howard to lead Memphis in the Gasparilla Bowl against the Wolfpack. The Tigers will attempt to extend a four-bowl win streak in Tampa.

NC State hasn't won a bowl since the 2017 Sun Bowl. While many programs around the country don't place the same emphasis on non-CFP bowl games anymore, the Wolfpack doesn't feel the same way. Follow along right here for updates throughout the Gasparilla Bowl and find out if the Pack can end that lengthy bowl drought.

Live Game Thread

CJ Bailey
Nov 29, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; NC State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (11) prepares to throw the football during the first half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

PREGAME

The following NC State players were dressed during pregame warmups:

  • Cornerback Devon Marshall
  • Defensive lineman Brandon Cleveland
  • Tight end Justin Joly
  • Left tackle Jacarrius Peak

Running back Hollywood Smothers will not play after announcing his intention to enter the transfer portal. Redshirt freshman Duke Scott will start in his place for the first time since the Georgia Tech win.

FIRST QUARTER

KICKOFF: NC State elects to receive.

SCORING UPDATE: Sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey finishes NC State's opening drive with a 14-yard touchdown rush. Kanoah Vinesett's PAT is good. NC State leads Memphis 7-0, 11:32 Q1.

PUNT: The Memphis offense got nothing going on its first drive. NC State takes over on its own 26.

PUNT: Bailey can't hit senior wideout Wesley Grimes up the seam for a first down, forcing a punt from Caden Noonkester. Memphis ball at its own 30.

UPDATE: Memphis star wide receiver Cortez Braham Jr. inactive.

FOURTH-DOWN STOP: Cian Slone rises up for the Pack defense on 4th-and-short and makes the tackle.

SCORING UPDATE: Bailey finds Grimes for a 31-yard touchdown. Pack leads 14-0.

TURNOVER: Tiger quarterback Brendon Lewis has a pass batted in the air. Wolfpack LB Caden Fordham was in the right place at the right time and scooped the ball up before it hit the ground for an interception, returning it to the 3-yard line.

SECOND QUARTER

SCORING UPDATE: NC State freshman quarterback Will Wilson scores the 10th touchdown of his freshman season on another goal-to-go run. NC State leads Memphis 21-0, 14:56 Q2.

FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT: Memphis try from 56 yards is no good.

FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT: Vinesett drills a 51-yard field goal to put NC State up 24-0, 8:03 Q2.

SCORING UPDATE: Memphis gets on the board, as Lewis hits Jamari Hawkins for a 28-yard touchdown. The Wolfpack had him wrapped up, but the junior spun out of it to finish an 8-play, 75-yard drive for the Tigers.

PUNT: NC State can't get a drive going. Noonkester punt sets up the Tigers on their own 19 with just over three minutes in the half.

PENALTY: NC State appeared to have a nice start to the drive defensively, but just picked up a facemask penalty after junior nickel Jackson Vick ripped down Jadon Thompson.

PUNT: NC State gets a big stop on third down just before the two-minute timeout. The Wolfpack can try to add points before the half, but won't have any timeouts.

SCORING UPDATE: The Wolfpack finally hits on a deep shot, as CJ Bailey found a wide open Teddy Hoffmann down the sideline for a 40-yard touchdown. NC State leads 31-7, 1:28 Q2.

END FIRST HALF

THIRD QUARTER

PUNT: Memphis didn't get anything going on its first drive of the second half. Tigers booted it to the NC State 10.

PENALTY: Pass interference keeps NC State's drive alive, despite Bailey's incompletion to Joly on 3rd-and-long.

PUNT: NC State's drive stalls at the Memphis 39. Noonkester punt nearly downed at the 1-yard line, but it looks to be a touchback.

PUNT: Another Memphis punt, the fourth of the afternoon for the Tigers. The Wolfpack takes over on its own 29.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Will Wilson can't get the first down from the NC State 48. Memphis takes over in Wolfpack territory.

TURNOVER: On the first play after NC State's turnover on downs, Memphis tried a trick play but fumbled the ball in the backfield. Freshman defensive tackle Josiah Victor scooped it up for NC State.

FOURTH QUARTER

Scoreless second half leads to an NC State 31-7 win over Memphis. Caden Fordham wins the MVP award for the game.

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Tucker Sennett
TUCKER SENNETT

Tucker Sennett graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Sports Journalism from the esteemed Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. A former basketball player, he has gained valuable experience working at Cronkite News and brings a deep passion for sports and reporting to his role as the NC State Wolfpack Beat Writer On SI.

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