Florida State’s final ACC game of the 2026 season could offer a measuring stick for how far the Seminoles have come.
The Seminoles will host North Carolina State on Nov. 2 at Doak Campbell Stadium, exactly one year after a disappointing 21-11 loss in Raleigh. Florida State’s offense struggled to find consistency in that matchup, while special teams miscues helped the Wolfpack secure the victory.
This season, FSU will have a chance for redemption, but NC State enters the year with one of the conference’s most established head coaches and a rising star at quarterback in CJ Bailey.
Here’s a closer look at the Wolfpack heading into the 2026 season.
Head coach: Dave Doeren
Dave Doeren enters his 14th season at NC State and has built one of the ACC’s most consistent programs.
Doeren owns a 95-70 record with the Wolfpack and is 118-74 overall as a head coach. Since 2020, NC State ranks second in the ACC in overall victories (48) and is tied for second in conference wins (30). Eleven of his 13 seasons in Raleigh have ended with bowl appearances, the most by any coach in program history.
Before arriving at NC State, Doeren spent two seasons at Northern Illinois, where he guided the Huskies to a 17-game Mid-American Conference winning streak. NIU also went undefeated at home during his tenure, extending the nation’s longest home winning streak to 21 games.
Prior to becoming a head coach, Doeren spent 15 years coaching on the defensive side of the ball, working with linebackers and defensive backs before becoming a defensive coordinator. His coaching stops include Wisconsin, Kansas, Montana and his alma mater, Drake, where he played tight end.
Last meeting
NC State defeated Florida State, 21-11, on Nov. 21 2025.
Key returning players
Offense
Defense
Key losses
Offense
Defense
Key additions
Offense
Defense
Outlook
NC State enters 2026 with one of the ACC’s most experienced quarterbacks in Bailey and a head coach who has consistently kept the Wolfpack in the conference race. While the Wolfpack must replace significant production at receiver, tight end and linebacker, Bailey gives the offense a strong foundation, and several key additions could help offset those losses.
For Florida State, the matchup carries added significance after last year’s defeat in Raleigh. If the Seminoles are in contention for a strong finish in ACC play, a home game against NC State could prove pivotal. The Wolfpack may not enter the season among the conference favorites. Still, Doeren’s track record suggests they will once again be a disciplined, physical team capable of challenging anyone in the league.
As the final ACC opponent on FSU’s schedule, NC State has the potential to be more than just another conference game. It could be the last hurdle between the Seminoles and their postseason goals.
Florida State 2026 schedule
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don’t hesitate to get in touch with him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU-NC State 2026 preview: Wolfpack bring challenge to Doak
Reporting by Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
