This past Saturday, September 27, 2025, North Carolina State University (commonly known as NC State) went head to head against Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (commonly known as Virginia Tech) which took place at the NC State Carter-Finley Stadium. Kickoff was at 7:00 p.m. with an attendance of close to 57,000 people, the stadium was full of cheering fans, students and alumni.

Prior to kickoff, a series of on-field entertainment began. It starts off with the NC State live mascot Tuffy, a Tamaskan Dog who runs onto the field and is met with cheers from the crowd. 

Then the university’s marching band, known as The Power Sound of the South, goes onto the field to perform a pregame show accompanied by the NC State Dance Team. Next, the football team finally makes their entrance onto the field, made notable by vivid lighting, sound, visual effects, and even fireworks. 

There is also a flyover by the Bandit Flight Team to honor military service at the end of the National Anthem.

Nina-Sugiyama-Allen, senior, attended the game with some of her friends. She said, “I had the best time of my life. It was my first ever college game, and they had fireworks and fighter jets and there were dogs. It was just incredible.” She said her favorite moment of the game was definitely the band. Sugiyama-Allen hopes to attend NC State in the future, she said, “I love watching [football]. I feel like it’s easy enough to understand [because] basketball, to me, moves too quickly and then soccer moves too slowly. So football’s a good medium.”

 The kickoff officially took place with NC State starting off as the kicking team. Although NC State started with the ball, Virginia Tech scored first with a field goal from their kicker John Love, earning the team three points. However, the first touchdown of the game was scored by NC State, quarterback CJ Bailey served a four yard pass to tight end Dante Daniels, putting NC State in the lead by the end of the first quarter with seven points.

Leading into halftime, Virginia Tech was up 13-7 with the help of a touchdown pass from quarterback Kyron Drones, as well as a 32 yard field goal by John Love. 

Kieran Groves, junior, attended the game with his family. He said via text, “My overall experience [at the game] was great. I thought it was a little more of a quiet atmosphere, but the fans were great and mostly friendly.” Groves enjoys watching football because it’s something that he can do with his friends and it keeps him engaged and happy. He said, “My favorite moment of the game was probably the last [NC] State throw getting blocked, securing the Virginia Tech win at the end of the 4th [quarter].” 

The halftime show consisted of a performance from the NC State Marching Band, which includes brass, woodwinds, a drumline and a color guard. The dance team, including a featured twirler, also performed during halftime. 

The third quarter of the game was an exciting one, with both teams scoring a touchdown. NC State was the first in the quarter to gain seven points, with CJ Bailey completing a pass to wide receiver Keenan Jackson. With only 20 seconds left in the quarter, Virginia Tech scored a touchdown with Kyron Drones completing a four yard pass to wide receiver Cameron Seldon, resulting in a penalty for Virginia Tech, earning the team 20 points by the end of the quarter.

With 4 minutes and 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, NC State scored a touchdown when running back Jayden Scott successfully made a 1 yard run into the endzone, putting NC State ahead of Virginia Tech 21 to 20 points. 

Things were looking up for NC State with less than five minutes left in the game, but Virginia Tech cornerback Thomas Williams scored a field goal, earning Virginia Tech 3 points. By the end of the game, Virginia Tech took home a victory against NC State, winning 23 to 21.

Sugiyama-Allen said, “I was rooting for [NC] State [to win], and it was kind of sad that we lost, but it was a really good game so it wasn’t a sad loss.”

Groves said, “I was rooting for Virginia Tech [to win] and I loved the outcome [of the game] because it shows that [Virginia Tech] can actually win games.”

Overall, it was a very close game and many fans even stayed after the game to continue tailgating in the parking lot, while others such as the students who took the bus back to campus, left the game amidst the other fans. 

The next NC State home football game will be played on Saturday, October 4, 2025 against the Campbell Fighting Camels.