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James Henderson and Jake McSwain break down what went wrong in Charlottesville after an NC State offense expected to be a strength managed only 168 total yards.
CJ Bailey finished 12-of-23 for just 84 passing yards with no touchdowns and an interception, while Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula controlled the game with his legs and helped the Cavaliers dominate possession.
The bigger discussion, though, is what this means moving forward.
NC State has bounced back from ugly performances before under Dave Doeren, including during the 2023 season when the Wolfpack recovered from a 24-3 loss at Duke to win five straight games and finish 9-3. But after another noncompetitive road performance, the questions surrounding Bailey and the direction of the program are getting harder to ignore.
Key takeaways:
C.J. Bailey concern: His accuracy, mechanics, and willingness to attack tight coverage were major issues.
Dave Doeren pressure: NC State chose to build around Bailey, making his development a coaching and roster-construction question, too.
Defense deserves context: Virginia's experienced offensive line and Beau Pribula's rushing ability created a difficult matchup.
Expectations aren't dead yet: Richmond, Vanderbilt, and especially Louisville will tell us much more about where this season is headed.
