NC State's Power 5 visitor logistical problems should end Saturday
NC State football’s fortunes against Power 5 opponents at Carter-Finley Stadium in recent years have been doomed. If not by outcome, then by circumstance.
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Heading into this weekend’s visit by Big 12 member Texas Tech at Carter-Finley Stadium — set to kick off just before sunset at 7:00 p.m. — consider that the last three home games against Power 5 opponents have been either canceled or disrupted by events of nature.
Since 2000, the Wolfpack has hosted five teams from the group of five conferences and independents that make up college football’s 69 power programs. However, non-conference games against then-Big East and now-ACC teams like Pittsburgh, Louisville and Syracuse are not included because the old Big East was never considered part of the Power 5, a term that has been used commonly since 2006.
In all, visits to Carter-Finley by Power 5 teams are significantly rare, with only five such games played under the Wolfpack’s three most recent coaches: Chuck Amato (2000-2006), Tom O’Brien (2007-2012) and Dave Doeren (2013-present). That also doesn’t include previous home games against future Power 5 teams Central Florida and Cincinnati.
Last three NC State games against a Power 5 team at Carter Finley Stadium
Two years ago, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wolfpack was supposed to face Mississippi State in the second game of the season in an intersectional matchup between Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference foes.
The pandemic, however, forced a total realignment of the schedule, with the game against the Bulldogs being canceled. Instead, the Wolfpack played an 11-game regular-season schedule that included 10 ACC contests and nearby independent Liberty as the only out-of-conference opponent.
The Wolfpack made its return trip to Starkville, Mississippi, last year to face the Bulldogs, but Mississippi State is not returning to Raleigh for the first time since 1940 on any of its future schedules through 2037.
Hurricanes have often affected Wolfpack home games, and a handful of games against visiting Power 5 teams were broadly affected because of them.
On Sept. 15, 2018, State was slated to play a highly anticipated contest against nationally ranked West Virginia in a night game at Carter-Finley Stadium. It was a big weekend that included the induction of the 2018 Class of the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame that included men’s basketball player Rodney Monroe, the 1983 NCAA Champion team’s basketball team, Olympic and NCAA champion swimmer Cullen Jones, athletics director Willis Casey, women’s basketball player Trudi Lacey and golfer Tim Clark.
However, Hurricane Florence dumped seven trillion gallons of water over a 72-hour period on that plan, forcing most athletic contests across the state to be canceled or postponed.
State’s game against the Mountaineers was not rescheduled, though the Wolfpack did hastily add a 12th regular-season contest at the end of the season, beating East Carolina 58-3 at Carter-Finley Stadium, a win that helped the Wolfpack earn a berth in the Gator Bowl. The victory over the Pirates gave head coach Doeren the second 9-win season of his Wolfpack tenure and his first 9-win regular-season win total.
And, most famously, the Wolfpack’s Oct. 8, 2016, home game against Power 5 independent Notre Dame was doused with a similar amount of rain from Hurricane Matthew, and the second half was played in water-logged conditions.
The game was supposed to be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Carter-Finley Stadium, the off-campus home of the Wolfpack that opened exactly half-century earlier with a loss to South Carolina, but conversations quickly turned to the decision to play the game in possible unsafe conditions for players, staff and fans.
The 2 teams managed only 311 total yards of offense and combined for 10 fumbles in just the second meeting of the quasi-ACC foes and the Fighting Irish’s first trip to Raleigh. The lone touchdown in the Wolfpack’s 10-3 win was scored by State’s Dexter Wright on a fourth-quarter blocked punt by Pharoah McKever.
The good news? Heading into the weekend, there are no longer any COVID-19 restrictions after two previous seasons of multiple safety measures at Carter-Finley, and the game-time weather looks to be perfect, with cool temperatures, clear skies, a light breeze and zero chance of rain.
There is an emerging tropical system in the Atlantic, but Fiona is forecast to be near Puerto Rico at the time of kickoff.
Tim Peeler is a regular contributor to The Wolfpacker and can be reached at [email protected].
Power 5 Visitors Since 2000
| Date | Result | Power 5 Conference |
| Sept. 6, 2001 | NC State 35, Indiana 14 | Big 10 |
| Sept. 20, 2003 | NC State 49, Texas Tech 21 | Big 12 |
| Sept. 18, 2004 | No. 9 Ohio State 22, NC State 14 | Big 10 |
| Sept. 3, 2009 | South Carolina 7, NC State 3 | SEC |
| Oct. 6, 2016 | NC State 10, Notre Dame 3 | Independent |
| Sept. 17, 2022 | Texas Tech at NC State (TBD) | Big 12 |
