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Smothers Shares Feelings After Wolfpack's Win Over FSU

The ACC's leading rusher returned to form in NC State's 21-11 victory over the Seminoles.
Tucker Sennett|
Sep 11, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack running back Hollywood Smothers (3) runs the ball in the first half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Luke Jamroz-Imagn Images
Sep 11, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack running back Hollywood Smothers (3) runs the ball in the first half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Luke Jamroz-Imagn Images | Luke Jamroz-Imagn Images

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North Carolina State Wolfpack

RALEIGH — NC State entered Friday night's game with a bitter taste after scoring just seven points against Miami the week prior. The Wolfpack offense wanted to score and be efficient. Establishing the run was a major part of NC State's 21-11 win over Florida State. The win helped the Wolfpack achieve bowl eligibility once again, as it was the team's sixth victory of the season.

The ACC's leading rusher, Hollywood Smothers, got back on track in the win. Smothers carried the ball 21 times for 84 yards. He set the tone with a 27-yard run on his first touch of the night, quickly showing his negative yardage performance against the Hurricanes was a complete fluke. He didn't have quite as much luck in the passing game, as he caught three balls but gained no yardage.

Smothers allowed other members of the Wolfpack to get in the mix as well. Redshirt freshman running back Duke Scott worked in his usual change-of-pace duties, but freshman quarterback Will Wilson was the true difference for the Wolfpack on the ground. Wilson came and rushed for 33 yards and a key touchdown in the win, relieving some of the pressure on both Smothers and sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey.

After the spirited locker room celebration for the Wolfpack and head coach Dave Doeren, Smothers made his way to the podium in the Murphy Center to discuss his own performance, bouncing back from the Miami loss, playing complementary football and more.

Watch Smothers' Press Conference

Noteworthy Quotes from Smothers

On playing complementary football and establishing the run game with Will Wilson and Duke Scott

  • "It was great. Whenever we play complementary football, our best football, the result is a winning game. It wasn't as pretty as we wanted today, but a dub is a dub."
  • "(Scott and Wilson) are very important. Whenever you can get the run game going, it's always good for the offense. We've got a pretty good quarterback. The run game just opens up the pass game. It just gets the flow for the offense. Whenever we can get good runs, those tough, three-yard, four-yard gains, move the chains, or just get positive runs on first down, it just starts the drive off better."
Hollywood Smother
Nov 15, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; NC State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (11) hands off the football to running back Hollywood Smothers (3) during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

On earning bowl eligibility in his second season as a member of the Wolfpack

  • "We were working to get bowl eligible, and it's just another game with my guys, the seniors and just to finish out the year."

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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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