NC State football closes the 2025 season with a trip to Tampa, where the Wolfpack will face Memphis in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. It’s the first-ever football meeting between the programs and a chance for NC State to end a near decade-long postseason drought against a battle-tested American Conference opponent.
Game Information: NC State (7-5) vs Memphis (8-4)
- Bowl: Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
- Date: Friday, December 19, 2025
- Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN
- Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Fla.)
Betting Snapshot:
- NC State -5.5
- Over/Under: 58.5
(via DraftKings)
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Memphis 53.7%
👉 First-ever meeting between NC State and Memphis in football.
How NC State Arrived in Tampa
NC State enters the Gasparilla Bowl at 7-5 overall and 4-4 in ACC play, continuing the program’s long run of postseason appearances under head coach Dave Doeren. The Wolfpack have made bowl games in nearly every season of Doeren’s tenure, though postseason success has been harder to come by in recent years.
NC State has not won a bowl game since 2017, dropping five straight bowl appearances since its last victory — a 52-31 win over Arizona State in the 2017 Sun Bowl. The Wolfpack also fell to ECU in last season’s Military Bowl.
Still, NC State heads to Tampa with momentum. After a midseason slump that saw the Wolfpack lose four of five games from late September through October, the Pack finished the regular season strong. NC State upset a ranked Georgia Tech team on national TV Nov. 1, then closed the year with home wins over Florida State (21-11) and North Carolina (42-19). The only November loss came at playoff-bound Miami.
Doeren confirmed he will return for his 14th season in 2026, and the strong finish helped quiet some concerns about program stagnation.
👉 View NC State’s full 2025 schedule and results →
Last practice on our turf#1Pack1Goal | @JewelersMutual pic.twitter.com/wi95lviVn4 — NC State Football (@PackFootball) December 12, 2025
NC State Offensive Snapshot
The Wolfpack offense is built around balance, experience and physicality.
Quarterback CJ Bailey started all 12 games, throwing for 2,884 yards and 23 touchdowns while completing nearly 70 percent of his passes. Bailey was also a factor in the run game, adding 215 rushing yards and five scores, and his decision to play in the bowl game is a significant boost for NC State.
At running back, Hollywood Smothers enjoyed a standout season. Smothers rushed for 939 yards and six touchdowns, leading NC State in rushing in nine of 12 games. He became the first Wolfpack running back since 1997 to lead the ACC in rushing yards per game, averaging 85.4 yards per contest.
NC State also leaned heavily on tight end Justin Joly, who led the team with 47 receptions while scoring seven touchdowns. Wide receiver Terrell Anderson (637 yards, five TDs) and Noah Rogers (404 yards) provide downfield threats.
A unique wrinkle in the offense has been backup quarterback Will Wilson, who has been nearly automatic in short-yardage situations. Wilson rushed for nine touchdowns on just 39 carries, often entering games in critical moments. He is NC State’s version of the “tush-push”.
Up front, offensive lineman Spike Sowells earned freshman All-American honors from PFF, highlighting a young group that has grown steadily throughout the season.
NC State Defensive Leaders to Watch
The Pack defense has been more porous this season than others in recent memory. But the unit has played better down the stretch. Linebacker Caden Fordham, first-team All-ACC and third-team All-American, headlines the Wolfpack stopping unit. Fordham finished the regular season with 130 tackles, averaging 10.8 per game, the highest mark for any Power 4 player in 2025. He added 3.5 sacks and earned first-team All-ACC honors.
Fordham is joined by fellow linebacker Kenny Soares Jr., who recorded 68 tackles, while cornerback Devon Marshall emerged as one of the nation’s top cover defenders. Marshall led the FBS with 15 pass breakups and earned second-team All-American recognition from The Athletic.
Memphis Overview: What NC State Is Facing
Memphis arrives in Tampa at 8-4 overall, earning its 12th straight bowl appearance, the longest active streak among non-Power 4 programs. The Tigers finished 4-4 in American Conference play but enter the bowl on a three-game losing streak after closing with losses to Tulane, ECU and Navy.
The Tigers’ best win came in late October, a 34-31 victory over ranked South Florida, and Memphis also knocked off Arkansas earlier in the season. However, the bowl game comes amid a coaching transition. Head coach Ryan Silverfield left for the Arkansas job after the regular season, with assistant Reggie Howard serving as interim coach. Charles Huff will take over as head coach after the bowl.
Offensively, Memphis is led by wide receiver Cortez Braham Jr., who caught 63 passes for 889 yards and eight touchdowns and earned first-team all-conference honors. Linebacker Sam Brumfield anchors the defense, finishing with 106 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
One under-the-radar weapon is kicker Gianni Spetic, who went 15-for-19 on field goals, including 4-for-4 from 50-plus yards, while converting all 48 extra points.
What to Watch in the Gasparilla Bowl
- Can NC State finally snap its bowl losing streak?
- How does Memphis respond under an interim coaching staff?
- NC State’s rushing attack vs. Memphis linebackers
- Red-zone efficiency on both sides (Will Wilson!)
- Turnovers in a game with evenly matched analytics
Gasparilla Bowl History & Notes
The Gasparilla Bowl debuted in 2008 as the St. Petersburg Bowl and was renamed in 2017, drawing inspiration from Tampa’s famed Gasparilla Pirate Festival and the mythical pirate Jose Gaspar. The game has been played at Raymond James Stadium since 2018.
NC State last appeared in this bowl in 2014, defeating UCF 34-27.
Gasparilla Bowl Result: NC State vs Memphis
Live updates and notes will be added here during the game. Full recap to follow after final.
