Overview
- NC State fired head coach Dave Doeren on Saturday after a 14-year tenure, leaving the program with an open Power Four head-coach job.
- CBS Sports insider John Talty and other outlets reported Philip Rivers as an early candidate, noting his status as an NC State legend and local favorite.
- Rivers has only high-school head-coaching experience in Alabama and interviewed for the Buffalo Bills job earlier this year, which raises questions about the jump to FBS leadership.
- Rivers’ son, four-star quarterback Gunner Rivers, is committed to NC State, and outlets also named other possible candidates such as Manny Diaz, Shannon Dawson, and interest from Brian Kelly.
- Observers say any new coach will face immediate roster pressure to use the transfer portal and will have to manage limited NIL resources while rebuilding the team.