All Wolfpack

NC State vs. Pitt Live Game Thread

NC State (4-3, 1-2 ACC) is back for another road matchup, this time against Pitt (5-2, 3-1 ACC).
Tucker Sennett|
Oct 4, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; NC State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (11) looks on prior to the first half of the game against Campbell Fighting Camels at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
Oct 4, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; NC State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (11) looks on prior to the first half of the game against Campbell Fighting Camels at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

In this story:

North Carolina State Wolfpack

NC State is back from the open date with a hunger to turn the season around and go 5-0 the rest of the way. The first step in achieving that goal is another road matchup, this time against the Pitt Panthers.

Pitt enters the matchup riding a three-game winning streak. All three of the Panther wins have come since head coach Pat Narduzzi and his staff made the decision to bench quarterback Eli Holstein in favor of true freshman Mason Heintschel. However, Narduzzi has never beaten Doeren as the Pitt coach.

NC State will need to be on point and finally find a way to play complementary football, as Pitt boasts the nation's eighth-best run defense in terms of yards allowed.

The game is set to kick off on ACC Network at 3:30 P.M. EST at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Live Game Thread

Dave Doeren
Oct 4, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; NC State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren with his team prepare to run out prior to the first half of the game against Campbell Fighting Camels at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

First Quarter

NC State won the toss and elected to receive.

PUNT: CJ Bailey can't connect with Terrell Anderson on third-and-8. Pitt's Kenny Johnson returned the punt 26 yards, set up the Panthers on the Wolfpack 49.

SCORING UPDATE: Freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel found Cataurus Hicks for 29 yards and set Pitt up on the one-yard line. Two plays later, running back Ja'Kyrian Turner punched it in for a touchdown. Panthers lead 7-0, 11:13 Q1.

PUNT: This time, Bailey hits Anderson for six yards, but it's not enough for the first. Two drives, two three-and-outs for the Wolfpack.

SCORING UPDATE: On third down, Kenny Soares and Brandon Cleveland combined to tackle Heintschel for a loss. Pitt kicked a 34-yard field goal to go up 10-0. 6:05 Q1.

SCORING UPDATE: NC State gets on the board as Bailey hit tight end Justin Joly for a 25-yard touchdown. The sophomore quarterback completed every one of his passes during the drive. Wolfpack trails 10-7, 3:08 Q1.

PENALTY: Jackson Vick forced a loss of three for Pitt running back Desmond Reid, but grabbed the face mask of the back as he shoved him out of bounds. Pitt set up on the Wolfpack 25.

End of First Quarter

SCORING UPDATE: Reid scores from the two and puts the Panthers up 17-7 on the first play of the second quarter.

PENALTY: Pitt kicker Caleb Junko's kickoff went out of bounds. NC State will start its drive on the 35-yard line

SCORING UPDATE: Star running back Hollywood Smothers explodes for a 65-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive. Wolfpack still trails 17-14, 14:46 Q2.

PENALTY: Holding on the Pitt offense. Panthers now on their own seven-yard line.

PUNT: Anderson fair catch at the NC State 40.

PUNT: Noonkester punts, fair caught by Johnson at the Pitt 10.

SCORING UPDATE: Heintschel finishes a long drive from his own 10 with a tipped touchdown pass to Raphael Williams. Panthers lead 24-14, 7:15 Q2.

PUNT: Bailey missed Smothers on third down and the Wolfpack punted away once again.

PUNT: Pitt forced to punt once again.

SCORING UPDATE: NC State ran a double-pass. Bailey hit freshman wideout Teddy Hoffmann, who then found a wide open Joly for 59-yard touchdown. Joly injured himself while running to the end zone and was helped off the field. Wolfpack trails 24-21, 3:20 Q2.

SCORING UPDATE: Kenny Johnson reached for the pylon for another Pitt touchdown. Panthers go up 10 with just 12 seconds left in the first half.

End of First Half

Stats
Halftime Stats from StatBroadcast | StatBroadcast

Third Quarter

INJURY UPDATE: Doeren told ESPN Justin Joly will try to play in the second half.

KICKOFF: Deuce Spann ran the opening kickoff of the second half to the Pitt 34 to give the Panthers slightly better field position.

PENALTY: NC State shifted its players on the defensive line and was called for a delay of game on third down. Pitt promptly converted with a shorter line-to-gain.

INJURY UPDATE: NC State's Ronnie Royal III is out for the second half, Pitt wide receiver Kenny Johnson did not join the team on the field after the half.

SCORING UPDATE: NC State brought pressure on third down and forced Pitt to kick the 41-yard field goal. The Panthers extended their lead to 13.

PUNT: Quick three-and-out for the Wolfpack after holding Pitt to a field goal. Pitt will start next drive on its own 16.

SCORING UPDATE: Heintschel hit Hicks for a deep touchdown on the first play of the drive. 84 yards. Pitt went for two and did not convert. Panthers lead 40-21, 10:46 Q3.

TURNOVER: Bailey scrambled for a first down on third-and-8, but Pitt's Cameron Lindsay yanked the ball out of the quarterback's arm and forced a turnover.

SCORING UPDATE: Pitt field goal puts Panthers up 43-41.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Pitt contained Wesley Grimes on a third down jet sweep action. Bailey scrambled left and was tackled short of the first down marker. The Wolfpack also committed a pair of penalties on the play. Pitt takes over on the NC State 44.

PENALTY: Jackson Vick interfered with Williams on a Heintschel deep ball to wipe away an NC State interception.

SCORING UPDATE: Pitt with another field goal. 46-21, 1:55 Q3.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Bailey can't convert again. NC State enters the fourth quarter down 25.

End of Third Quarter

MISSED FIELD GOAL: Pitt fails to extend the lead early in the fourth quarter.

SCORING UPDATE: Bailey hits Hoffmann for a 30-yard touchdown. Wolfpack trails 46-28.

SCORING UPDATE: Turner with his second rushing touchdown of the night. Pitt leads 53-28.

TURNOVER: Tristan Teasdell intercepted a tipped Holstein pass in the end zone.

SCORING UPDATE: Bailey found Noah Rogers for a 2-yard touchdown. Will Wilson failed to convert on two-point attempt. NC State still trails 53-34.

END OF GAME

Published | Modified
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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