North Carolina State (4-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) at No. 17 Duke (4-1, 1-0), Saturday at 8 p.m. (ACC Network)
Line: Duke by 3 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Duke leads 41-37-5.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The Blue Devils are coming out of an open week still chasing a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. But they're coming off their first loss overall to Notre Dame that included dual-threat quarterback Riley Leonard suffering an ankle injury in the final minute. For the Wolfpack, coach Dave Doeren got the spark he was looking for with a quarterback change before last week's win against Marshall — and he's hoping that can continue as N.C. State tries to rebound from a bumpy opening month.
KEY MATCHUP
N.C. State QB MJ Morris against Duke's defensive front. The plan was to redshirt Morris with Virginia graduate transfer Brennan Armstrong playing as a one-year bridge, but Armstrong and the offense struggled, prompting the Wolfpack's change. Morris threw for four scores against Marshall and overcame three interceptions. Duke's defensive front has been a tough matchup, playing with a physical edge missing in recent years. The unit ranks fourth in the Bowl Subdivision ranks by allowing 11.2 points per game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
N.C. State: LB Payton Wilson. Wilson is fourth in FBS with 11.7 tackles per game and has tallied at least nine in every game.
Duke: RB Jordan Waters. Waters has been part of a reliable rushing attack with Jaquez Moore, with Waters running for 5.8 yards per carry and scoring a team-best eight touchdowns on the ground.
FACTS & FIGURES
Duke and N.C. State are longtime instate foes and charter ACC members separated by 22 miles, yet this is the first time the Wolfpack will play in Durham since coach Dave Doeren's first season in 2013. ... N.C. State has won 15 of 18 meetings, including a run of 11 straight from 1994-2008. ... The Wolfpack won the last meeting 31-20 at home in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. ... The teams played every year from 1924-2003 except for a one-year pause (1944) during World War II. ... Duke coach Mike Elko has won 13 of 18 games in his second season with the Blue Devils. ... Doeren is one win from tying the school record for coaching wins. He has 76 in Raleigh, one behind Earle Edwards. ... Wolfpack receiver KC Conception has 28% of the team's receptions (31 of 111) and is the first true freshman in program history to have two 100-yard games.... The Blue Devils are honoring their 2013 team that won an ACC division title during the game.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
