NC State football report card: Grading the Pack's 31-7 win over Memphis at Gasparilla Bowl

by: Noah Fleischman12/20/25fleischman_noah

Dec 19, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; NC State Wolfpack defensive end Cian Slone (8) tackles Memphis Tigers running back Frank Peasant (22) in the second quarter during the Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

TAMPA, Fla. — NC State coach Dave Doeren wanted his team to finish the season on a high note. The Wolfpack seemed to hit its stride across the final month of the season, winning three of its last four regular season games, and the Gasparilla Bowl provided the team a chance to reach eight wins for the eighth time under the 13th-year coach. And, well, he wasn’t disappointed. NC State used a dominant first half on offense to roll to a 31-7 win over Memphis at Raymond James Stadium on Friday afternoon to earn its first postseason win since the 2017 Sun Bowl victory over Arizona State. Let’s take a look at each phase of the Pack’s game and how they did in the victory. Here are the week’s grades for NC State’s offense, defense and special teams.