NC State again gets better of rival North Carolina

Field Level Media|published: Sat 29th November, 23:27 2025

Nov 29, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; NC State Wolfpack quarterback Will Wilson (10) makes a touchdown and celebrates with tight end Dante Daniels (87) during the first half of the game against North Carolina Tar Heels at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Will Wilson ran for four touchdowns and host North Carolina State blew out rival North Carolina 42-19 in the regular-season finale Saturday night in Raleigh, N.C.

CJ Bailey threw for two touchdowns as the Wolfpack (7-5, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) beat North Carolina (4-8, 2-6) for the fifth year in a row.

Bill Belichick's first season as North Carolina's coach ended on a three-game losing streak.

Bailey threw for 201 yards on 21-for-30 passing and rushed for a game-high 65 yards. Wilson collected 54 yards on the ground on 12 carries.

North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez was 11 of 16 for 118 yards and a touchdown before leaving with an injury after being sacked early in the third quarter. Max Johnson, his replacement, added 54 passing yards, and Au'Tori Newkirk had 23 yards in the air with a late TD toss.

The Tar Heels were limited to 70 yards on the ground and 265 total yards to 386 (201 passing, 185 rushing) for the host squad.

The Wolfpack won its second game in a row and will await a bowl assignment. NC State was 6-1 in home games.

North Carolina couldn't overcome 129 yards worth of penalties on 11 infractions.

North Carolina was within 28-13 after Rece Verhoff's 29-yard field goal at the end of a 78-yard drive in the third quarter.

But NC State scored 8 seconds into the fourth quarter on Wilson's 15-yard run. He also was in the end zone later in the quarter on a 3-yard run.

NC State went up 14-0 in the first quarter and led 28-10 at halftime, with Bailey throwing TD passes to Wesley Grimes and Justin Joly and Wilson running for a pair of touchdowns.

Bailey's 1-yard toss to Joly came with 18 seconds left in the half to conclude a hurry-up, 11-play drive that covered 75 yards.

Lopez threw 20 yards to Jordan Shipp for North Carolina's first-half touchdown and Verhoff kicked a 49-yard field goal. Shipp finished with a game-high 90 receiving yards on eight receptions.

--Field Level Media

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