N.C. State pulled off a Week 1 win against Western Carolina, but the team’s performance was dicey at times. Though the Wolfpack’s final numbers were good, the team didn’t necessarily pass the eye test. It hopes to correct things in Week 2 with a big neutral-site test.
The No. 24 Wolfpack (1-0) faces No. 14 Tennessee (1-0) in Charlotte at the annual Duke’s Mayo Classic. Both teams are coming off wins in their season openers, though the Vols finished with a dominant 69-3 performance over Chattanooga. N.C. State won, 38-21, over Western Carolina.
Many players and Pack head coach Dave Doeren noted the presence of nerves and figuring out how the roster — it features 42 new players — plays best together. Doeren said on Monday there were plenty of positives and negatives to take away from the performance, and he’s tasked his team to make corrections by the end of the week.
Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson and offensive lineman Anthony Belton said much of the team’s preparations focus on playing efficiently under Tennessee’s tempo and communicating more effectively.
“We’re going to be better. I promise you that. Defensively, we will be better or they won’t play,” Gibson said. “It’s going to be a fun night, and I’m excited about it. What we have to do is just keep preparing and get our guys ready for the tempo piece.”
The Vols roster features one of the toughest defensive fronts the Wolfpack will face this fall, and an all-around efficient offense, Doeren added. The staff provided players with individual areas of improvement and it hopes to see those corrected.
N.C. State wants to win, but it doesn’t plan on panicking if things don’t go its way. It just needs to make improvements.
“It’s a one-game-at-a-time process. No seasons are determined in Week 1, Week 2,” Doeren said. “This thing’s going to go all the way through November. … People are quitting on certain teams already, and it’s a long season. There’s a lot that’s going to happen. We went from 4-3 to 9-3 last year. Kind of forgotten to popular. A lot can happen in the course of the season, but every game on the schedule is a game that you want to win. Every game on your schedule is a game that’s meaningful. This one’s no different.”
Fans who can’t make the trip to Charlotte can still watch the game from many locations.
Kickoff time + TV channel for NC State’s Week 2 game
Fans can watch the game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC. Viewers with DirecTV and AT&T U-verse, both owned by AT&T, are impacted by the current dispute with Disney and must find alternative viewing options.
Streaming options for Wolfpack, Vols matchup
Anyone without cable or impacted by the dispute can stream the game through fubo TV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV. ESPN’s family of networks is still available on Dish, according to the ACC.
How to watch the Duke’s Mayo Classic for free
If you’re not ready to commit to a new streaming service or you’re a cable customer impacted by the dispute, there are a few ways to watch the game for free. FuboTV, sling TV and YouTube TV all provide free trials. Fans can also go the traditional “bunny ears” route by attaching an antenna to their TV.
NC State vs Tennessee game and TV info
Teams: N.C. State Wolfpack (1-0) vs Tennessee Volunteers (1-0)
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Date: Saturday, Sept. 7
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ABC
Stream: fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV
Betting line: Initial odds from U.S. sportsbooks list Tennessee as a 4.5-point favorite, though a handful favor the Vols by as many as six points. The over/under is listed at 56.5. ESPN analytics give the Vols an 80.1% chance of winning.
Series history: The two programs are tied 2-2, but 3 of 4 games occurred before 1940. Tennessee won in the most-recent game in 2012, 35-21, in Atlanta during the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff. N.C. State’s last win over the Vols was in 1911.
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