The million-dollar question around NC State football is who could potentially fill out a 12th game on the schedule. A quick breakdown explains why it might be a difficult process with roads pointing to one most logical solution. We should note that scheduling a game during the bye week, we sense, is not a desirable option especially from the coaches standpoint and thus for the moment we tend to think is unlikely.
These teams are looking for 12th games on their schedule:
• Akron — This game would probably be doable from a logistic standpoint. Akron is not looking to replace a home game on its schedule since the canceled game was at Nebraska, and Akron would probably be glad to take a check to play at NC State. The Zips were not expected to be a contender in the MAC East Division so should be free Dec. 1, which is the most likely date for a 12th game if NC State is not in the ACC title game.
However, one source noted to us that a motivating factor in filling out the schedule would be having a contest that would have some draw to it and not have a stadium with just 20,000 fans in it. Akron might be a tough sell.
• Appalachian State — It’s game with Southern Miss has been “postponed” and not necessarily canceled. Both teams have a bye date Oct. 6, so if the coaches would sign off on playing 10 straight games to end the year, the Mountaineers have a logical solution, which would keep its home date. Plus, Appalachian State is a strong contender to be playing for a Sun Belt title in the first weekend of December.
Otherwise, Appalachian State would make some sense, especially since the Mountaineers fan base would probably help sell tickets.
• Central Florida — Like Akron, UCF lost a road date since it was playing at UNC. Unlike Akron, UCF would also probably be a pretty good draw as a potential top 25 team. One way to potentially make a deal happen: NC State needs one more game in 2023. The Pack only has six home games that year slated thus far, but it’s a killer home schedule that includes Clemson, North Carolina and Notre Dame, so offering a home-and-home with UCF with a return trip in 2023 could be a deal worth making.
One huge problem though: UCF is likely to be playing for an American Athletic Conference title the first weekend in December and thus would not be available.
• Nebraska — It’s unlikely Nebraska would be playing for a Big Ten title in December, and it would be a good brand name to come to Carter-Finley Stadium. Going back to the deal that could be offered UCF, Nebraska is, if the information on fbschedules.com is up to date and accurate, looking for a non-conference home game in 2023. Problem with that deal is the Big Ten schedules are already laid out through 2024, and Nebraska is probably seeking a game for Sept. 23. NC State has already booked a game at Connecticut for that date.
Nebraska also lost a home game, its season opener to boot, so it might be looking at a home contest knowing that its football-crazed fan base will show up.
• Nevada — There is something called the Hawaii exemption rule in which teams that play at Hawaii are allowed to have 13 games. Not all teams take advantage of that, and thus Nevada, which has 12 games on its schedule, could theoretically take advantage of the rule and add a game. Nevada is not expected to contend in the Mountain West’s West Division, but would it draw? That seems unlikely.
• South Carolina — The Gamecocks would be a natural fit, but it too lost a home game and thus it might be hard to come to an agreement without arranging for a home-and-home type. Some have suggested a neutral location, but there is not a natural one available that first weekend in December. Charlotte is hosting the ACC title game and Atlanta is hosting the SEC championship.
• Southern Miss — It’s possible Southern Miss could reschedule with Appalachian State, and there is also the issue of it not being an attractive draw. Otherwise this could potentially work since like Akron, Southern Miss is not seeking to replace a home game and is also a longer shot to be playing in a conference title game.
• Virginia Tech — It would be a huge draw for sure, but two problems: Virginia Tech also lost a home game and the Hokies are a favorite to win the Coastal and play for an ACC title.
• Utah State — See Nevada, only substitute the Mountain Division for the West Division.
• West Virginia — We get the sense that NCSU and WVU were in pretty good agreement (better than perhaps the fans are) that the game Saturday could not/should not be played. We don’t think there was ever a serious thought of moving the game to a different location for numerous logistical reasons that both sides understood. The prospects of rescheduling are slim perhaps more so because of West Virginia than NC State. The Mountaineers could be playing for a Big 12 title and thus are unwilling to commit to a game in December, and rearranging the schedules are not going to work.
• UNLV — See Utah State, only UNLV might have better odds of competing in the Mountain West.
• Wyoming — Wyoming is like Nevada and Utah State. It is not looking for a 12th game, but because it plays at Hawaii it is granted an exemption from the NCAA to play a 13th game. Boise State is the heavy favorite to win the Mountain Division in the Mountain West, but Wyoming is a contender. That said, Wyoming would be a tough draw.
• FCS opponent — It might be the easiest route to take, but the powers to be, as noted before, are mindful of trying to get a somewhat attractive option for a 12th game at the moment, and it would be a meaningless game since it would be a second FCS opponent on the schedule, thus the win counts for nothing other bragging about won-loss records.
• East Carolina — We saved them for last because as you can see, it might make the most sense in the end, and somewhat to our surprise we heard from a source yesterday that the Pirates are on the table despite knowing that some in the athletics department view the game as a no-win and the fact is ECU-NC State will start next season in Raleigh.
However, ECU is not seeking to replace a home game, will certainly be available for a game Dec. 1 and with the help of Pirate Nation, could sell more tickets than the average potential opponent for a game. That adds up to the fact that makes them a very logical choice. However, nothing is definite.
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Some nuggets from the recruiting trail in football:
• Three-star safety
J.R. Walker from Clayton (N.C.) High did make it to South Carolina last weekend, but as we noted in last week’s War Room there is a school of thought that the Gamecocks are tight on space and there seems to be little chatter in Columbia about him. He was expected to go to UNC this weekend but we understand that trip is not happening.
We speak with higher confidence than perhaps ever in favor of NC State’s odds of landing Walker.
• There are rumors that Georgia could be on the verge of offering NC State three-star running back commit
Jamious Griffin from Rome (Ga.) High, however if the Bulldogs do the word we have is that Griffin might not be tempted by it. Virginia Tech continues to try, but the Hokies also may lead for
Tahj Gary from College Park (Ga.) Woodward Acedemy. Gary had been scheduled to visit Blacksburg this weekend, but we do not know if that trip is still on due to Hurricane Florence.
• Five-star athlete
Quavaris Crouch did make it last week for the Georgia State game, but in the FWIW category, Crouch has told some that the trip was more for family reasons than anything.
• Former Florida State quarterback
Bailey Hockman was also at the Georgia State game. A source told us that Hockman just enrolled at a junior college and that NC State will want to see some film/live action before extending an offer.
