CJ Bailey's aerial assault powers NC State over Campbell

Field Level Media|published: Sun 5th October, 01:56 2025

Oct 4, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; NC State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (11) prepares to throw the ball during the first half of the game against Campbell Fighting Camels at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

CJ Bailey completed 20 of 23 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns as host North Carolina State defeated Campbell 56-10 Saturday.

The Wolfpack (4-2) scored touchdowns on their first eight possessions. The Fighting Camels (1-5) didn't make a stop until Bailey was out of the game.

NC State outgained Campbell 607-188.

The 49 points were the most NC State has scored in the first half since 2004. After losing back-to-back Atlantic Coast Conference games in the past two weeks, the Wolfpack outgained the Camels 482-99 in the first half, the most first-half yards by any college football team this season.

NC State was coming off a 23-21 loss to Virginia Tech and 45-33 loss to Duke in the past two weeks.

Sophomore Hollywood Smothers dominated on the ground in the first half, gaining 123 yards on four carries and a touchdown. Smothers also caught two passes for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Jayden Scott finished with 89 yards on 10 carries with two touchdowns.

Terrell Anderson, Cody Hardy, Smothers and Justin Joly all caught touchdown passes as six different NC State players reached the end zone.

The Wolfpack scored first when Will Wilson capped a 75-yard, five-play drive with a 2-yard run with 13:03 left in the first quarter.

The Camels took advantage of a muffed punt by NC State's Teddy Hoffmann to tie the game with 8:54 left in the first quarter. Campbell took over at the NC State 14 and two plays later Kamden Sixkiller hit Mike Chandler for a 13-yard touchdown and a 7-7 game.

That was the last highlight of the first half for the Camels as the Wolfpack ran off 42 straight points before halftime amid 49 straight overall.

Smothers ripped off a 59-yard scoring run one play after the Camels had tied it, opening the floodgates.

Bailey connected with Hardy from 37 yards out, Smothers from 16 yards away and Anderson 34 yards from distance to push the lead to 35-7 halfway through the second quarter.

Scott, a freshman, capped a seven-play, 88-yard drive with a 14-yard scoring run later in the second quarter before finishing a nine-play, 57-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 6:06 left in the third quarter to wrap up the Wolfpack scoring. In between, Bailey tossed his fourth touchdown to Joly.

--Field Level Media