You think you’ve seen it all in college football? Think again. NC State was literally one second away from a big road win over Vanderbilt, up 31-28, when C.J. Bailey, in a move that will haunt him forever, fumbled an intentional safety to complete an absolute nuclear meltdown. This wasn’t just a dropped pass, folks, this was a handed-away victory.
The Play That Shook Nashville
Here’s the breakdown of how the Wolfpack threw away a sure thing. NC State had just intercepted Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis at their own 2-yard line. With the clock ticking down and only one second left, head coach Dave Doeren didn’t want to risk any mistakes with a punt. Smart, right? So, the call was for Bailey to run around in the end zone and then kneel the ball for an intentional safety. That would run out the clock, secure the 31-28 win, and everyone goes home happy, albeit with two points given up. But Bailey had other ideas. Instead of hitting the turf, he tried to buy more time as the Commodores closed in. Disaster. Vanderbilt EDGE Miles Capers dove in, forced the fumble, and cornerback Cayden Daniels was right there to jump on the loose ball in the end zone. Touchdown, Vanderbilt. Just like that.
A Miracle Comeback, A Gut Punch Loss
That unbelievable play meant Vanderbilt, who had been trailing by as many as 17 points in the second half and never led all day, suddenly jumped ahead 35-31. NC State was left with one single second to try for their own miracle, but there was no magic left to be found. Vanderbilt held on for the shocking 35-31 victory. The Commodores, who fought for the full 60 minutes, were rewarded big time, improving their record to 3-0. Now, they’ve got SEC play on deck, carrying some insane momentum. Meanwhile, NC State takes a massive gut punch in Nashville, dropping their record to 1-2. You just can’t make this stuff up.
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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