NC State Beats App State 41-31 as CJ Bailey Bounces Back

NC State quarterback CJ Bailey engineered a crucial bounce-back performance on September 26, 2026, leading the Wolfpack to a 41-31 victory over the App State Mountaineers at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. Following a difficult loss at Vanderbilt and a game-ending fumble, Bailey responded by accounting for three total touchdowns in the first half alone, helping the Wolfpack stabilize their record at 2-2 ahead of Atlantic Coast Conference play.

### CJ Bailey Responds to Early Season Pressure

All eyes focused on Bailey during the opening series at Carter-Finley Stadium following his struggles against Vanderbilt. The quarterback answered immediately, orchestrating a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 5-yard rushing touchdown.

Through the first half, Bailey completed 16 of 22 pass attempts for 165 yards and three total touchdowns. His steady command of the offense allowed the Wolfpack to build momentum, though the team still encountered defensive struggles as the game progressed.

### Offensive Efficiency and Ground Game

The Wolfpack offense leaned heavily on running back Duke Scott to maintain control. Scott carried the ball nine times for 80 yards in the first half alone, finding the end zone once to bolster NC State’s scoring output.

As a unit, the NC State offense accumulated 287 total yards and converted 6 of 8 attempts on third down during the contest. The early success kept the App State defense on its heels, limiting the Mountaineers to just 10 points in the opening two quarters while holding them to a 1-of-6 mark on third down.

### App State Second-Half Surge

App State altered the momentum immediately following halftime, mounting an 8-play, 75-yard touchdown drive led by quarterback Malachi Singleton. The Wolfpack defense struggled to contain the Mountaineers’ aggressive adjustments, allowing App State to erase a 14-point deficit and tie the game at 31-31 with 9:41 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Facing a stalled lead, the NC State offense reclaimed control when Duke Scott broke free for a 16-yard touchdown run near the 5:08 mark. Following a critical fourth-down defensive stop, the Wolfpack added a 35-yard field goal with under two minutes remaining to secure the 41-31 final margin.

### Looking Ahead to ACC Play

With a 2-2 record secured, NC State moves forward without any remaining non-conference tune-ups. The Wolfpack resume ACC competition next weekend, turning their attention toward a matchup with Louisville. Louisville enters the upcoming contest following a 30-27 home loss to Wake Forest.