Opening night of the 2025 college football season brought two strong statements from Triangle ACC teams. NC State held off East Carolina 24-17 in Raleigh to avenge last December’s bowl loss, while Duke erupted after halftime behind new quarterback Darian Mensah to rout Elon 45-17.
Wolfpack Survives Rivalry Clash
After falling to ECU in the 2024 Military Bowl, NC State flipped the script Thursday. The Wolfpack leaned on explosive plays and a stingy run defense, holding the Pirates to just one yard per carry.
Quarterback CJ Bailey threw for 318 yards with a passing and rushing score, while Wesley Grimes delivered a career-best 121 receiving yards and a touchdown. Freshman Teddy Hoffmann added 93 yards in his debut, including a 50-yard fourth-quarter grab.
The game came down to the final minute. With ECU driving for a potential tying score, State’s defense stood tall on fourth-and-one inside the final 45 seconds as linebacker Jamel Johnson stuffed a passing play behind the line. Linebackers Caden Fordham (11 tackles, 2 TFL, sack) and Sean Brown (10 tackles) keyed the defensive effort.
The win gives NC State a 20-14 edge in the series and a measure of revenge after last year’s bowl loss.
Duke’s Mensah Sparks Second-Half Surge
Across the Triangle, Duke opened the season with fireworks. After a sluggish first half left the Blue Devils tied 10-10 with Elon, redshirt sophomore quarterback Darian Mensah exploded, finishing with 389 yards and three touchdowns on 27-of-34 passing.
Early front-runner for North Carolina college football offensive player of the week! Going to be tough to beat those numbers! https://t.co/sHtsAsQ9tB
— NC Football News (@NCFootballNews) August 29, 2025
Mensah spread the ball around to an array of weapons. Graduate wideout Sahmir Hagans hauled in two scores, including a key third-quarter strike, while Cooper Barkate posted 117 yards in his Duke debut. Que’Sean Brown electrified Wallace Wade Stadium with 175 all-purpose yards, highlighted by a 78-yard punt return touchdown.
The defense also set the tone early with three first-half sacks, and the Blue Devils’ offense piled up 35 points after the break to pull away.
Elon (0-1) kept things close into the fourth quarter, tying the game 10-10 at halftime and cutting the deficit to 24-17 early in the final period before Duke’s surge. Quarterback Landen Clark paced the Phoenix with 61 rushing yards and a short touchdown run, while TJ Thomas Jr. added a 44-yard burst in his return from injury. Receiver Dylan Magazu chipped in a career-best 61 yards on three catches to highlight Elon’s offensive effort.
What’s Next
NC State (1-0) returns home next Saturday to host Virginia in an ESPN2 noon kickoff. Duke (1-0) welcomes No. 12 Illinois to Durham for a nationally televised ABC/ESPN clash. Meanwhile, ECU hosts Campbell, while Elon readies for Davidson.
