Venue, Date & Time
Location: Wayne Day Family Field at Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, North Carolina (Capacity: 58,000)
Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET
Broadcast: The CW / Fubo (regional streaming)
Weather Forecast (Raleigh, NC – Sept. 27)
Conditions: Clear skies, mild evening
Temperature: ~72°F (22°C) at kickoff, dipping into the mid-60s by the 4th quarter
Wind: 5–7 mph
Impact: Ideal football weather; no disruptions expected
Injury Report
Virginia Tech Hokies
No major new injuries reported; QB Kyron Drones and RB Marcellous Hawkins expected to start.
NC State Wolfpack
No significant injuries reported; QB CJ Bailey and RB Daylan Smothers healthy.
Key Player Matchups
QB Kyron Drones (VT, 928 yds, 6 TD, 3 INT; 144 rush yds, 4 TD) vs. QB CJ Bailey (NCSU, 1,083 yds, 7 TD, 4 INT; 93 rush yds, 3 TD)
Drones is a dual-threat who thrives in the red zone; Bailey is efficient but turnover-prone.
WR Donavon Greene (VT, 203 yds, 2 TD) vs. WR Terrell Anderson (NCSU, 273 yds, 2 TD)
Greene is VT’s deep threat; Anderson is Bailey’s go-to target.
RB Marcellous Hawkins (VT, 187 yds) vs. RB Daylan Smothers (NCSU, 503 yds, 4 TD, 125.8 YPG)
Hawkins provides balance; Smothers is one of the ACC’s top rushers.
LB Michael Short (VT, 20 TKL, 2 TFL, 1 sack) vs. LB Sean Brown (NCSU, 38 TKL, 3 TFL)
Both linebackers are defensive anchors; whoever controls the middle could swing momentum.
Recent Team Forms
Virginia Tech Hokies (1-3, 0-0 ACC)
W 38–6 vs. Wofford
L 45–20 vs. Vanderbilt
L 45–26 vs. Old Dominion
L 24–11 @ South Carolina
Trend: Offense averaging 23.8 PPG, defense allowing 29.8 PPG
NC State Wolfpack (3-1, 0-0 ACC)
L 45–33 @ Duke
W 34–24 @ Wake Forest
W 35–31 vs. Virginia
W 24–17 vs. East Carolina
Trend: Offense averaging 31.5 PPG, defense allowing 29.3 PPG
Conference Context
Virginia Tech: Entering ACC play after a rough non-conference slate; looking to avoid 1–4 start.
NC State: Aiming to rebound from Duke loss and stay in ACC contention.
Series History
All-time H2H: Virginia Tech leads 28–20–4
Last Meeting (2023): NC State 35–28 win in Blacksburg
Trend: NC State has won 2 straight (2022–2023).
Betting Trends
Virginia Tech:
0–4 ATS in 2025
2–2 O/U this season
1–3 SU overall
NC State:
2–2 ATS in 2025
3–1 O/U this season
3–1 SU overall
Historical Betting Results
2023: NC State +2.5 covered, won 35–28 (Over 41)
2022: NC State -13.5 failed to cover, won 22–21 (Over 39)
2020: Virginia Tech -6.5 covered, won 45–24 (Over 56.5)
2015: Virginia Tech -2.5 covered, won 28–13 (Under 45.5)
Game Odds
Virginia Tech Hokies 57.5
North Carolina St. Wolfpack – 9.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
