Appalachian State at NC State may be the most highly anticipated game of the 2026 college football season in our state. There has been buzz for months as two highly passionate fan bases prepare for what is the first meeting in 20 years and only the seventh all-time in the series.
The Mountaineers will come to Raleigh with a 3-0 record and an earned reputation for being giant killers – Michigan, Texas A&M and UNC are among the victim list. The Pack is 1-2, and no one is quite sure how the team will respond after a heartbreaking loss at Vanderbilt on Saturday, a game NCSU led literally for 59:59 before fumbling in the end zone in the final second.
Here is what to know about Mountaineers vs. Wolfpack, including kickoff time, TV and radio information, odds, notable stats and series history.
🔄 Last Updated: September 22, 2026 4:33 pm
🏟️ How to Watch Appalachian State at NC State Football
Matchup: App State (3-0) at NC State (1-2)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Carter-Finley Stadium (Raleigh, NC)
TV/Stream: ESPNU
TV Announcers: Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play), Tyoka Jackson (analyst)
App State Audio: WKBC-FM 97.3 or App State Athletics App
NC State Audio: WRAL 101.5 FM (Flagship), Wolfpack Sports Network affiliates or Varsity Network App
📊 Game Odds
Spread: NC State -14
Total: 55.5 points
Moneyline: App State + 660 | NC State -400
Lines via DraftKings Sportsbook: Updated Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1:25 p.m.
🩹 Injury Updates
Notable injury and player availability updates will appear here as we get closer to kickoff.
⏪ Last Time Out
Appalachian State 26, Charlotte 21 – The Mountaineers improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2019, outlasting a 2+ hour lightning delay and a late Charlotte comeback. Quarterback Malachi Singleton threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns.
Vanderbilt 35, NC State 31 – The Wolfpack lost a heartbreaker in Nashville in the final second when Vanderbilt recovered a CJ Bailey fumble in the end zone with the Pack trying to run out the clock.
📚 Series History
- NC State leads the all-time series 6-0
- Last Meeting: NC State 23, App State 10 (Sept. 2, 2006)
- First Meeting: NC State 31, App State 0 (Sept. 24, 1932)
- All six prior meetings took place in Raleigh.
- The closest game came in 1980 when the Wolfpack prevailed 17-14.
- NCSU also beat App State in 1983 (33-7), 1990 (56-0) and 1992 (35-10)
- NC State is scheduled to play at Appalachian State on Sept. 30, 2028.
🔍 Early Storylines to Watch: App State at NC State
How does NC State respond to the Vandy debacle?
The Wolfpack returns home after a stunning 35-31 loss at Vanderbilt, where a last-second fumble in its own end zone turned an apparent victory into a devastating loss. How will NC State respond to what has been a tumultuous week so far.
Can App State slay another P4 opponent?
The Mountaineers have earned notoriety for past victories against high-profile opponents like Michigan, Texas A&M, South Carolina and UNC. But App State has never beaten NC State on the gridiron. Will this be the year?
Can NC State slow down Malachi Singleton?
The App State quarterback is coming off a career-high 331 passing yards against Charlotte and enters the week leading the Sun Belt in passing yards per game, total offense and pass efficiency. How will the Wolfpack try to keep him bottled up?
Can App State contain NC State’s running game?
The Wolfpack is averaging 223.3 rushing yards per game, while the Mountaineers have allowed just 91.7 per game on the ground. Something will have to give somewhere.
What will the Shawn Clark anniversary mean to App State?
This game comes roughly one year after the death of the former App State player and head coach, an emotional backdrop for the Mountaineers program and fan base with a pivotal game on deck.
📊 App State vs. NC State Stats and Trends
📈 Team Stats
| Team stats comparison | App State | NC State |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 3-0 | 1-2 |
| Points/game | 36.0 | 37.3 |
| Total offense/game | 492.3 | 449.3 |
| Rushing yards/game | 172.3 | 223.3 |
| Passing yards/game | 320.0 | 226.0 |
| Total defense/game | 304.7 | 310.7 |
| Rushing yards allowed/game | 91.7 | 141.3 |
| Passing yards allowed/game | 213.0 | 169.3 |
⭐ Individual Leaders
| Stats Category | App State | NC State |
| Passing | Malachi Singleton — 889 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT | CJ Bailey — 640 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Jaquari Lewis — 188 yards, 3 TD | Jayden Scott — 198 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Sam Pickett III — 229 yards, 2 TD | Keenan Jackson — 231 yards, 3 TD |
| Tackles | Colton Phares — 16 | Raul “Popo” Aguirre Jr. — 27 |
| Sacks | Caleb Sandstrom — 4.0 | Need to decide presentation |
| Kicking | James London — 6-of-7 FG, long 47 | Kanoah Vinesett — 2-of-2 FG |
| Scoring | James London — 29 points | Will Wilson — 30 points |
🔎 What the Numbers Say
Strength vs. strength on the ground: NC State averages 223.3 rushing yards per game, while App State is allowing just 91.7. That’s probably the most interesting statistical matchup in the game.
Singleton has been remarkably efficient: Malachi Singleton has completed 74.5% of his passes for 889 yards with five touchdowns and only one interception through three games..
App State has the bigger passing numbers: The Mountaineers are averaging 320.0 passing yards per game compared with NC State’s 226.0.
Keenan Jackson is heating up: After consecutive 100-yard games, Jackson leads NC State with 231 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He already has nearly twice as many receiving yards as the Pack’s No. 2 receiver, Preston Douglas (121).
App State has made third down difficult: Opponents have converted just 9 of 38 third downs (23.7%) against the Mountaineers.
Where there’s a Will (Wilson), there’s a way (to score): Will Wilson has only 24 carries but has scored five rushing touchdowns, giving NC State a particularly productive short-yardage weapon.
🔗 More North Carolina College Football Coverage
- Appalachian State Football Schedule
- Sun Belt Standings
- NC State Football Schedule
- ACC Standings
- 2026 week-by-week schedule
- North Carolina college football scores
