ACC Football Recap – Wolfpack Upset #8 Yellow Jackets, 48-36

NC State Wolfpack 48, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 36 — Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 at Carter‑Finley Stadium, Raleigh, N.C.

RALEIGH — In a high-octane ACC showdown under the lights, NC State stunned No. 8 Georgia Tech 48-36, handing the Yellow Jackets their first loss of the season and providing a massive spark for the Wolfpack. (espn.com)

Game Summary & Key Stats

From the opening whistle, NC State (5-4, 2-3 ACC) looked to seize the moment. They marched down the field on their first possession — a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a Cody Hardy 5-yard pass from CJ Bailey for a touchdown. (theacc.com) Georgia Tech (8-1, 5-1 ACC) responded quickly with a Haynes King 12-yard run to tie it at 7-7. (theacc.com) Before long, NC State struck again with Bailey’s 11-yard run, taking a 14-7 lead after the first quarter. (theacc.com)

By halftime the Wolfpack held a 24-17 advantage. They flipped the game open in the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns and a field goal while Georgia Tech settled for two field goals — the pandemic of missed opportunities proved costly. (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets) In the fourth quarter, NC State sealed the deal when running back Duke Scott broke free for a 30-yard touchdown run with 4:07 left, putting the score at 48-30 before the Yellow Jackets added a late touchdown. (theacc.com)

Highlighted statistics:

• Total offense: NC State 583 yards, Georgia Tech 559 yards. (espn.com)
• NC State rushing: 243 yards on 34 carries (7.1 avg). (theacc.com)
• Georgia Tech passing: King 408 yards, 103 yards rushing (511 total), 4 TDs. (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets)
• NC State passing: Bailey 24-of-33 for 340 yards, 2 passing TDs, plus a rushing score. (espn.com)
• Scoring efficiency: NC State scored on eight of ten drives. (espn.com)

Stars of the Game

• CJ Bailey (NC State QB): Led the Wolfpack with poise, completing 24 of 33 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns, and added a rushing TD. His leadership anchored the offense. (SI)
• Duke Scott (NC State RB): Stepped up in a big way, filling in for injured lead rusher Hollywood Smothers. Scott carried the ball 24 times (or around that number) for 196 yards and a touchdown, including a long 69-yard burst that swung momentum. (espn.com)
• Haynes King (Georgia Tech QB): Despite the loss, King’s performance was historic — 408 passing yards, 103 rushing, four total touchdowns, and a new Georgia Tech school record for total offense in a game. The issue was a lack of help from his defense and red-zone inefficiency. (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets)

Coach’s Post-Game Comments

Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren was quick to point out the effort and resilience of his team. From his post-game remarks:

“First things first, I want to give all the glory to God. That was an amazing team effort. With the injuries we had … We needed guys to just really rise up. … And being at home for this one, I’m so proud of them. Resiliency is what this place is about. It’s definitely part of my DNA. The harder it gets, sometimes I think the better we are.” (247sports.com)
“CJ [Bailey] played like a captain… Duke Scott had a phenomenal game… Caden Fordham played his best football game. … And that was a tough offense we just beat.” (247sports.com)
“We’ve been through a lot. We needed this. Each guy that gets an opportunity, it’s his moment. It’s fun to see him seize those moments in a game like this.” (247sports.com)

What It Means Moving Forward

This victory is a turning point for NC State. Beating a top-10 opponent and doing so with multiple injured starters out speaks volumes about this team’s character. The win improves the Wolfpack to 5-4 overall, 2-3 in conference, and gives them a momentum boost heading into their bye week. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech slips to 8-1 (5-1 ACC) and must regroup; despite the dominant yardage, their inability to convert touchdowns in the red zone loomed large. (espn.com)

For NC State fans and the program alike, the message is clear: when this Wolfpack plays with complementary football — offense rolling, defense bending but not collapsing, and special teams holding firm — they can beat anyone. As Coach Doeren put it, “When we play like that… I don’t think anyone can beat us.” (247sports.com)

Final Word

Under the lights in Raleigh, the Wolfpack made a statement. GaTech came in unbeaten and with big expectations, but NC State’s belief, execution and big-play ability on offense carried the night. It wasn’t flawless — the defense allowed 36 points — but the statement win was delivered. If the Wolfpack can build on this kind of night, there’s reason for optimism the rest of the way.