When North Carolina hired head football coach Bill Belichick in December 2024, NC State sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey didn’t hesitate to call out the Tar Heels.
“I seen that. Shoot, Bill Belichick will get it too,” Bailey said. “We’re going five [consecutive] years. No matter who the coach is for UNC, we’re going to kick them. It means a lot to play against Bill Belichick, but if he comes to play, we’re going to kill them.”
Bailey, with the help of a four-touchdown performance from backup freshman quarterback Will Wilson, backed up his words as the Wolfpack rolled past North Carolina 42-19 on Saturday night.
Bailey accounted for two scores for NC State (7-5, 4-4 ACC) to go along with 266 total yards, but again and again, it was Wilson who delivered the decisive blows in short-yardage situations, punching in four rushing touchdowns on just 12 carries and 54 yards. Like the Philadelphia Eagles’ “tush push,” the Tar Heels (4-8, 2-6) looked demoralized every time Wilson stepped on the field, as he converted three third downs and three fourth-down attempts.
Used almost exclusively in goal-line and power packages, the freshman’s role is designed for moments exactly like Saturday’s rivalry showdown. By the end of the night, his four scores pushed his season total to nine and turned what is normally a specialized role into the defining storyline of the game.
“I’m already getting ready for the next play because I know he’s going to go get the first down,” Bailey said.
NC State never trailed after taking an early 14-0 lead, building steady pressure on a North Carolina defense that struggled to match the Wolfpack physically in both trenches. Bailey led the way with a season-high 65 yards on the ground in a 185-to-70 rushing-yard advantage over the Tar Heels.
For head coach Dave Doeren, the win marked another chapter in what has become one of the most successful rivalry stretches in program history.
“Losing to them is unacceptable,” Doeren said. “I take a lot of pride in that rivalry game. Nine wins out of 13, eight of the last 10? That sounds pretty good. Feels good, sounds good, I’m gonna enjoy it.”
Earlier in the week, when asked what the rivalry still meant to him in year 13, Doeren offered a more personal reflection — one that Saturday’s result only reinforced.
“It means a lot. I probably wouldn’t be here if I didn’t [win], and that’s the reality,” Doeren said. “These games mean a lot. They mean a lot to everybody who supports these programs. The rivalry game matters, matters a lot, and I take a lot of pride in it.”
The night also carried added significance as the Wolfpack honored its seniors in their final game at Carter-Finley. For players like graduate linebacker Caden Fordham, who leaves Raleigh having never lost to North Carolina, the ending felt fitting.
“It’s been an amazing journey, obviously, never losing to them,” Fordham said. “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of coming here, and it’s something that’s emphasized here every year. It was awesome to go out with a bang.”
Fordham added 12 tackles against Carolina to finish the regular season with a Power 4-leading 130 tackles.
NC State closes the regular season at 7-5 and now turns its attention to its postseason destination.
