The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542201
TRACKING THE PACK 12 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Nonconference Series Versus Georgia Called Off NC State tried to establish several nonconference home- and-home series with SEC teams, but the Wolfpack has now had two of them scrapped due to upcoming nine-game con- ference schedules. Last year, the Wolfpack's home-and-home series with Florida for the 2026 and '32 seasons was canceled, and now Georgia and NC State have "agreed" to call off the future home-and-home battles set for 2033 and '34. The games, which were to be played Sept. 17, 2033, in Athens and Sept. 16, 2034, in Raleigh, are not going to be rescheduled. Georgia also canceled a home-and- home series with Louisville that was set to begin next season, though the two sides are still exploring the possibility of playing a neutral-site game. NC State and Georgia's game contract, which was signed in 2021, called for a $2 million penalty if one of the schools were to cancel on the other. However, that provision is voided if the cancellation is mutual. It ap- pears that both parties agreed to move on, likely forgo- ing the cancellation fee. Although the Wolfpack has now had a pair of SEC nonconference home-and-home series fall through, there is still a series with Vanderbilt on the books. Dave Doeren's squad will visit the Commodores on Sept. 19, 2026, before hosting them on Sept. 16, 2028. Additionally, the Pack has a home-and-home series with South Carolina scheduled for the 2030 and '31 seasons. NC State has four nonconference games set for the 2027 and '28 seasons but will have to cancel one of those games in each campaign to fit the ACC's nine-game league slate mov- ing forward. — Noah Fleischman Dave Doeren Set To Return As The Wolfpack's Coach Head coach Dave Doeren will return for his 14th season at the helm of the NC State football team. Athletics director Boo Corrigan confirmed in a statement to The Associated Press on Nov. 30 that Doeren would be back on the Wolfpack's sideline in 2026. "Dave has built a program that is cen- tered on culture and player development — on and off the field," Corrigan said. "You can see his passion for this program and the student-athletes in how hard our team plays and competes. I look forward to continuing to find new ways to sup- port him and the football program." Prior to NC State's matchup with Memphis in the Gasparilla Bowl on Dec. 19, Doeren had compiled a 94-70 overall record in his 13 seasons with the Wolf- pack. He's the program's winningest coach, including seven campaigns with eight or more victories and 11 bowl ap- pearances. Doeren guided NC State to a 3-1 record in November, including a win over then- No. 8 Georgia Tech, followed by victories over Florida State and North Carolina at Carter-Finley Stadium, leaving the Pack at 7-5 going into its bowl game against the Tigers. At an October news conference, the 53-year-old Doeren squashed a rumor that he was intending to step down after the 2025 season. During a media appear- ance on National Signing Day in early December, he reiterated that stance, not- ing that he was still having fun coaching the team and was eager to keep going. "I'm enjoying myself," Doeren said. "I love this team, I love these guys, I'm fired up about our recruiting class, and my staff chemistry is excellent." He added that there was never any truth to the speculation that the 2025 season would be his last. "Nobody called me and asked me," he said. "They just put some BS out there that they think is going on. Now, we just get on podcasts and tell everybody that we have a source and we know what Dave Doeren is going to do. That's such BS. I love what I'm doing. I'm coaching my butt off, and I'm having fun doing it. I love where I'm working. I'm going to keep doing it and see where it takes me." Doeren is under contract through the 2029 season. His assistant coaches are all under contract with the Wolfpack through next fall. — Noah Fleischman ■ RED AND WHITE NOTEBOOK Doeren had compiled a 94-70 record in 13 seasons prior to the Pack's appearance in the Gasparilla Bowl versus Memphis. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS ■ NC State's Future Nonconference Opponents 2026: Richmond (Sept. 12), at Vanderbilt (Sept. 19), App State (Sept. 26) 2027: North Carolina A&T (Sept. 11), at Texas Tech (Sept. 18), Kansas State (Sept. 25), Louisiana Tech (Oct. 2) 2028: at East Carolina (Sept. 2), Vanderbilt (Sept. 16), Campbell (Sept. 23), at App State (Sept. 30) 2029: at USF (Sept. 8), Notre Dame (Oct. 6) 2030: Charlotte (Sept. 7), at South Carolina (Sept. 14) 2031: South Carolina (Aug. 30), at Charlotte (Sept. 6), at Notre Dame (Nov. 22) 2032: at Kansas State (Sept. 18) 2035: Notre Dame (Nov. 10) 2037: at Notre Dame (Oct. 3)