The college football season is kicking off this Saturday, and if you aren’t paying attention to what’s brewing in the ACC, you’re missing out on a huge story: NC State, led by their dynamic returning quarterback C.J. Bailey, could absolutely shock Virginia in Charlottesville and emerge as a sleeper pick for the conference title game. This isn’t just another game; it’s an early statement from a team looking to shatter a decades-long drought.
C.J. Bailey Is Ready to Tear Up the ACC
Get this, C.J. Bailey isn’t just “back,” he’s returning from a monstrous 2025 season where he threw for an insane 3,105 yards and 25 touchdowns. But wait, there’s more! He also ran for six touchdowns. That’s a huge dual-threat impact, making him the first NC State quarterback since Russell Wilson back in 2010 to hit at least 25 passing and five rushing scores in the same year. Yeah, *that* Russell Wilson. Think about what that means for this offense. Bailey already dropped 200 passing yards, a passing score, and two rushing touchdowns on Virginia last year when the Wolfpack beat them 35-31. Now, with the stakes even higher since this is a league game for the first time in this series, his presence is absolutely critical. Coach Dave Doeren’s club might only have eight overall starters back, but having a talent like Bailey, who’s even got +12500 Heisman odds from last year, changes everything for this team’s ceiling.
Wolfpack Is Ready to Hunt for a Title
NC State finished 2025 on a three-game winning streak, capped by a blowout victory over Memphis in the Gasparilla Bowl. That was their first bowl win since 2017, and it showed what this squad is capable of. Now, the big picture: the Wolfpack is chasing its first ACC title since 1979. Think about that for a second. That’s the longest active drought among current conference members. With the ACC shifting to nine conference games this year, every league matchup matters even more, starting with Virginia this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. My gut tells me these Wolfpack are tremendous value to at least make it to the conference title game. Miami might be the -146 favorite with NC State at +2000 for the title, but this team has a real shot to turn heads.
This isn’t just a season opener; it’s a chance for NC State to immediately send a message across the ACC. An upset win in Charlottesville would ignite what could be a truly special season for the Wolfpack, starting the climb to erase that nearly 50-year title drought. Keep your eyes on Bailey and this Wolfpack squad, because they’re looking to make some noise.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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