N.C. State

Located in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University is predominantly basketball country. The college basketball program has won two national championships (1974, 1983.) The football program has enjoyed success in the past. The Wolfpack have won seven ACC championships, the last one in 1979. The team plays its home games at Carter-Finley Stadium and has produced NFL players like Phillip Rivers and Mario Williams in recent years.

Tom O’Brien is entering his first season in Raleigh, inheriting a team that went 3-9 in 2006. The outlook for the upcoming year does not look much better. The offense is inconsistent and turnover prone. The defense should keep them in games behind the play of senior defensive tackle DeMario Pressley. A soft non-conference schedule should land a few wins but the overall strength of the ACC will likely prevent the Wolfpack from returning to the postseason.

Sep 1 - vs. U-C-F, 6:00 PM

Sep 8 - at Boston College, 2:30 PM

Sep 15 - vs. Wofford, 6:00 PM

Sep 22 - vs. Clemson, TBA

Sep 29 - vs. Louisville, TBA

Oct 6 - at Florida State, TBA

Oct 13 - Open

Oct 20 - at East Carolina, 4:30 PM

Oct 27 - vs. Virginia, TBA

Nov 3 - at Miami-Florida, TBA

Nov 10 - vs. North Carolina, TBA

Nov 17 - at Wake Forest, TBA

Nov 24 - vs. Maryland, TBA

O’Brien was successful in his tenure at Boston College, amassing a 75-45 record. He surprised many BC fans when he left Chestnut Hill for Raleigh, replacing Chuck Amato as head coach. As a former Marine, O’Brien will bring discipline and attention to detail to the Wolfpack. The rebuilding process will take some time, but given his previous track record, odds are O’Brien will get the job done.

The offense will rely on running backs Tony Baker and Andre Brown to move the ball. Junior QB Daniel Evans must protect the ball better and make plays down the field when possible. The aforementioned defensive tackle Pressley should clog the middle and lead the defensive unit.