Overview
- The Commodores won 35-31 when, on Saturday, Miles Capers forced a fumble and Cayden Daniels recovered in the end zone with one second remaining to turn a near-certain NC State victory into a touchdown.
- True freshman Jared Curtis made his first collegiate start and finished 20-of-34 for 277 yards and three touchdown passes while rushing for a team-high 64 yards.
- Vanderbilt erased deficits of 17 points and 24-7 to set up the final play, taking its first lead of the game on that last-second recovery.
- The victory exposed persistent problems that will worry coaches before SEC play: five holding penalties in the first half, 13 total penalties for 116 yards, and an underperforming offensive line that limited the run game.
- NC State fell to 1-2 and drew heavy criticism for late-game decision making after choosing to run a play instead of taking an intentional safety; Vanderbilt now travels to Auburn next week while the Wolfpack host Appalachian State.