The third-ranked Clemson Tigers travel to Raleigh, N.C. on Saturday to take on NC State. The Wolfpack are 5-2 coming into the game. The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. and will be televised on ABC regionally and on ESPN 2 nationally.
About NC State: The Wolfpack is coming off a 35-17 victory at Wake Forest last week. NC State had five touchdowns of 50-plus yards in the win, including four in the first quarter, the first FBS team to do that in 10 years. Of NC State’s four wins against FBS competition, neither team has a winning record after eight weeks.
NC State’s offense: This season the Wolfpack are once again one of the more balanced teams in the FBS. The ‘Pack is averaging 212.3 yards per game on the ground and 200.1 yards per game through the air. Running back Matthew Dayes has 793 rushing yards to rank second in the ACC and leads the ACC in rushing touchdowns with 12. His 12 touchdowns are also tied for the overall lead in the conference. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett ranks 17th in the nation in completion percentage as he has thrown for 1,382 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has thrown just one interception. He is averaging 206 total yards per game.
NC State’s defense: The Wolfpack currently ranks in the top 15 in the FBS in almost every team defensive category, including third in total defense at 247.8 yards allowed per game. No team has scored more than 28 points against NC State all season.
Records: Clemson (7-0, 4-0 ACC); NC State (5-2, 1-2 ACC)
Series record: Clemson leads 54-28-1
Games in Raleigh: Clemson leads 19-16
First meeting: Clemson 24, NC State 0 in 1899
Last Meeting: Clemson 41, NC State 0 in 2014
Last NC State win: NC State 37, Clemson 13 in 2011
Streak: Clemson has won 10 of the last 11 games
Injuries: Clemson – Out: LB Korin Wiggins (knee); WR Mike Williams (neck); C Zach Riggs (knee); DT Jabril Robinson (knee). Probable: C Ryan Norton (knee); DE Kevin Dodd (foot). NC State – No injuries to report.
Stat worth noting: Clemson has an average scoring margin of 39-15 against its four ACC opponents to this point. In conference games only, the Tigers lead the ACC in six offensive categories and six defensive categories, including scoring offense (38.8) and scoring defense (14.5), total offense (509.2) and total defense (223.5).
Second stat worth noting: With a win over NC State, Clemson can go to 5-0 in the month of October. The Tigers have been 5-0 in a month jut three times before – October of 1977, October of 1981 and September of 2000.
Third stat worth noting: Clemson has averaged 45 points and 545 yards of total offense in the last three games. The Tigers have averaged a balanced 302 passing and 243 rushing yards over that time period, an average of 6.82 yards per play.
Memorable game: In 2001 Woodrow Dantzler gained 517 total yards to set an all-time Clemson record at the time. Dantzler had a career best 23-of-27 passing for 333 yards and four touchdowns in the Tigers’ 45-37 victory. Dantzler also rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns. It was arguably the best individual performance in Clemson history.