(BCSNN) — Eight months after a brawl marred the conclusion of the 2024 Military Bowl, NC State and East Carolina will meet again on Thursday night in a season-opening rematch at Carter-Finley Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network, with both programs looking to start fresh and build momentum for the 2025 campaign.
The Wolfpack, coming off a 6–7 season, return sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey, who threw for 2,413 yards and 17 touchdowns in nine starts last year. Bailey, now 6-foot-6 and 213 pounds after an off-season transformation, is the first returning starter at quarterback for NC State in three years. He’ll lead an offense featuring explosive running back Hollywood Smothers and tight end Justin Joly, the team’s leading receiver in 2024.
Head coach Dave Doeren enters his 13th season with a chip on his shoulder and a roster that blends experience and transfer talent. NC State was picked to finish 11th in the ACC preseason poll but remains confident in its ability to exceed expectations. “It’s a team and staff that has a lot to prove,” Doeren said. “This opener feels different.”
East Carolina, meanwhile, is riding high after an 8–5 finish and a 26–21 bowl win over NC State that ended in controversy. First-year full-time head coach Blake Harrell leads a Pirates squad returning quarterback Katin Houser, who passed for 2,006 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Houser’s dual-threat ability and leadership have made him a focal point of ECU’s offense heading into 2025.
The Pirates are aiming to contend in the (rebranded over the Summer) American Conference, where Tulane, Memphis, and UTSA remain formidable. ECU’s schedule includes key match-ups against BYU, Army, and Tulane, but Thursday’s opener offers a chance to make a national statement. “We’re building something here,” Harrell said. “And it starts with how we respond in big moments.”
Both teams have undergone significant roster turnover. ECU added 47 new players this offseason, while NC State brought in 40, including key defensive transfers to bolster a unit that struggled late last year. Linebacker Sean Brown and lineman Brandon Cleveland anchor the Wolfpack defense, which aims to improve under new coordinator DJ Eliot.
The emotional weight of the bowl game looms large. Doeren has repeatedly addressed the incident with his team, calling it “embarrassing” and emphasizing maturity and discipline. “It’s about respecting the game,” he said. “Two wrongs don’t make a right. How we respond matters.”
Oddsmakers favor NC State by 11.5 points, but ECU has covered in six of its last eight games and enters with confidence. The Wolfpack lead the all-time series 19–14, including a 3–1 mark in the last four meetings. Thursday’s game marks the first time the teams have opened a season against each other since 2010.
With postseason aspirations and pride on the line, the opener promises to deliver plenty of intensity, emotion, and a opportunities for these two to make statements. One thing is certain, fans expect an exciting opener in Raleigh.
