CJ Bailey faced a monumental choice after his mistake flipped N.C. State’s road win into one of the most improbable losses college football has seen in years. The third-year starting quarterback could have stewed over that devastating moment, letting it eat at him. Instead, Bailey chose to focus on moving forward, ready for Saturday’s home game against Appalachian State.
The Play That Shook Raleigh
It all went down when N.C. State, holding a 31-28 lead, faced a fourth-and-3 from their own 5-yard line with just six seconds left on the clock. Coach Dave Doeren had a simple plan: Bailey was supposed to burn some time, then go down for a safety, leaving Vanderbilt with almost no time for a miracle. But the miracle happened. Bailey had wide-open space to either take a knee or scramble out of the back of the end zone. Instead, he ran right toward the oncoming desperation pass rush, took a hit, and the ball popped loose for Vanderbilt’s winning recovery. Just like that, the game was gone. Bailey later said he “just was trying to get all the clock out.” He admitted the biggest thing was “just hold the ball, bro.” He was trying to “run around and make a play, being competitive,” he explained, noting, “That’s who I am, I’m a competitive guy.” Even though he fumbled, he knows he has to “kick myself up and keep going.”
Bouncing Back, Wolfpack Style
After the loss, offensive lineman Teague Andersen was one of the first teammates to reach Bailey, finding him “pretty distraught.” But Andersen’s message was immediate: “Dude, no matter what happens, bro, I’ve got your back.” That kind of support is fueling Bailey now. He told reporters the last several days “have been good,” adding, “A lot of guys have my back, Coach (Dave) Doeren, everybody in the facility.” They have been “leaning on me,” and he has been “showing up,” waking up “on the right side of the bed every morning, feeling good.” Even his mom is in town, cooking some home-cooked meals for him. The encouragement has come from outside the program, too, with former Wolfpack passing great and longtime NFL star Philip Rivers reaching out, along with Peyton and Eli Manning. Bailey had previously attended the Manning Passing Academy, so those connections clearly run deep. He spoke to reporters with an almost happy-go-lucky demeanor, pointing to the optimism from how the team has practiced.
Eyes On Appalachian State
Bailey, whose team now sits at 1-2, has already addressed his teammates with a crucial message. He simply told them: “We’ve got a long season, we’ve got so many more games and so many more plays that we can make.” This Saturday, against Appalachian State, is the first chance to start making those plays. The Wolfpack needs to rally, and Bailey’s leadership after such a crushing moment will tell us everything about this team’s resolve.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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