2010 NC State Football Schedule

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We’ll have more later, but the Wolfpack’s brutal 2010 Football Schedule has been announced with some changes to some of the previous tentative dates. State actually hosts two ESPN televised Thursday night games this year.

Nine of the Wolfpack’s twelve opponents competed in bowl games this past season, and 33% of the schedule (four) finished the season ranked in the final 2009 AP poll: Cincinnati (8th), Virginia Tech (10th), Georgia Tech (13th) and Clemson (24th). State faces the defending champions of three different conferences this year.

The good news is that the Wolfpack will not host a game during the North Carolina State Fair for the second consecutive year.

Pretty interesting timing because earlier today a great conversation started on our message boards about the 2010 season. (Click here for link)

2010 NC State Football Schedule
Sept. 4 WESTERN CAROLINA
Sept. 11 at Central Florida
Sept. 16 CINCINNATI (Thurs-ESPN) 7:30 pm
Sept. 25 at Georgia Tech
Oct. 2 VIRGINIA TECH
Oct. 9 BOSTON COLLEGE
Oct. 16 at East Carolina
Oct. 28 FLORIDA ST. (Thurs- ESPN) 7:30
Nov. 6 at Clemson
Nov. 13 WAKE FOREST
Nov. 20 at North Carolina
Nov. 27 at Maryland

In case you missed it, we had a fantastic national signing day entry on the site yesterday that you can see by clicking here. As it relates to the 2010 season, you may want to pay a little extra attention to the following names:

David Akinniyi – 6′4″ 250 lb. Defensive End
A.J. Ferguson – 6′3″ 270 lb. Defensive End
Mikel Overgaard – 6′6″ 280 lb. Offensive Lineman
Robert Crisp – 6′7″ 299 lb. Offensive Lineman
Tobias Palmer – 5′11″ 175 lb. Athlete
Bryan Underwood – 5′11″ 170 lb. Wide Receiver
Dontae Johnson – 6′3″ 180 lb. Safety
David Amerson – 6′3″ 180 lb. Safety
Billy Bennett – 6′1″ 220 lb. Place Kicker
Mustafa Greene – 6′0″ 190 lb. Running Back

The size of that^ list of potential contributors as freshmen should be an indicator to you of why NC State is not expecting a breakout 2010 season.

Additionally, ACCNow has this blog entry about the Wolfpack’s schedule:

With two road games outside the ACC, the Wolfpack has six home games, compared to eight last season, and only four on Saturdays.

The two Thursday night games should be fun with Cincinnati, the two-time defending Big East champ, coming in on Sept. 16 and Florida State on Oct. 28.

While Cincinnati has a new coach, Brian Kelly left for Notre Dame after a 12-0 regular season in 2009, the Wolfpack will only have four days after a trip to Central Florida to prepare for the Bearcats.

Two other points of interest: State should start 1-0 for the first time in Tom O’Brien’s fourth season with FCS opponent Western Carolina as the opener. The UNC finale expirement lasted one year. Maryland will close the schedule with the Pack visiting UNC on Nov. 20.

Unless State’s defense makes a dramatic improvement, another middle of the road record, 6-6 give or take one game either way, is to be expected with this schedule.

If you are more interested in the broader schedule of the entire Atlantic Coast Conference then you can click here to the N&O’s blog entry. Don’t forget that the ACC Football Championship is in Charlotte this year on December 4th.

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40 Responses to 2010 NC State Football Schedule

  1. Rufftown Wolf 02/04/2010 at 3:18 PM #

    That looks like a tuff schedule. One gimmie the rest who knows. I sure hope Russell Wilson comes back or it could be a real long year.

  2. primacyone 02/04/2010 at 3:25 PM #

    I predict a 4-8 record and our 5th loosing season in row cementing TOB’s status with 100% certainty as the absolute worst coach in the entire history of NC State Football.

  3. Classof89 02/04/2010 at 3:38 PM #

    so we go from 8 home games last year to four home Saturday games this year. Thanks, Athletics Department for keeping the fan in mind with this schedule (NOT!)

    How cold will it be on Thursday night October 28th?

  4. Plz2BStateFan 02/04/2010 at 3:38 PM #

    I think this will be overlooked. Look at our home games that are not on a thursday.

    Western Carolina
    BC
    VT
    Wake

    For everyone thats not in the immediate triangle area, Thursday games require alot of investment (vacation days) on top of the time and money it takes to travel and tailgate in raleigh. And we have 2 out of 6 home games on Thursday! Granted they are big games for the people that do go.

    And the 4 normal homes games are laughable. I dont really care about VT(we will get destroyed), Wake, WC, or BC.

    Tickets purchaeses this year will be way down.

    The only fix for this if we some how start winning a ton of games.

    Therefor, I will not be buying season tickets when I get the request. I will send a rather lengthy reponse of “Fire Fowler” in the return letter.

  5. wolfpackattack89 02/04/2010 at 4:02 PM #

    I think it’s extremely safe to say that in 2010 the PAck will suffer yet another losing season. And TOB will blame the crappy season on injuries like he always does. He’ll officially be on the bubble after next year, even though I think he should be on it right now. With basically entirely new offensive and defensive lines, I could see us only winning 3 games. The maximum number of games we’ll win is 5.

  6. JimValvano 02/04/2010 at 4:07 PM #

    I live 2 1/2 hours away and have season tickets. It will be tough to make the Thursday night games. It will also be tough to make the noon kickoff games that I’m sure will make up at least half of our Saturday schedule.

    We’ll have two home games that I can choose from on Saturdays…Western Carolina and Boston College. Boy that sure sounds swell.

  7. BJD95 02/04/2010 at 4:12 PM #

    We gonna start 1-4. That will pretty much put the nail in the coffin for football (hoops is already there). Yippee!

  8. Classof89 02/04/2010 at 4:24 PM #

    If we lose to Central Florida again and start 1-4, then TOB will most assuredly deserve the hot seat he will be on…

    But if I had to pick a “seemingly unbeatable team that we may have a shot at upsetting”, I’d pick Georgia Tech. Our pass defense was the weakest part of our weak defense, but they don’t pass…Plus, we have extra time to prepare for them (this will be the first time TOB’s played Georgia Tech–thanks, stupid unbalanced schedule)

  9. Thinkpack17 02/04/2010 at 4:58 PM #

    What the hell! Last year I heard THIS year would be the year we are going to compete in the ACC. That was being said before we even took the field against South Carolina. What happened? I don’t think I can take another losing season of FB. Especially after this B-ball season.

  10. primacyone 02/04/2010 at 5:46 PM #

    Well get ready Thinkpack. Our football program has gone off a cliff. We are like a Junior College out there. We don’t have the size or the speed or the hands to compete in the ACC.

    I said similar last August before the SC game and almost got run out of this place.

  11. acc 10k 02/04/2010 at 5:49 PM #

    Of those “newcomers” who are supposed to contribute, only four are currently in high school.
    – Akinniyi was a three-year starter at Northeastern, and is already on campus.
    – Ferguson spent the fall at Fork Union is already on campus.
    – Overgaard started at Washington State before going JUCO, and is already on campus.
    – Palmer has had two years of JUCO.
    – Bennett kicked for BC in 2007 before going JUCO.
    – Underwood originally signed last year.

    Without even seeing names/positions, people like this are supposed to help right away, or you don’t offer them a scholarship.

    Of the rest, Crisp is #2 ranked in the state and some people have him top 25 in the nation. Only Amerson, Johnson, and Greene could be said to be in the mix because of our weakness or lack of depth at their positions, and those guys are 4-star recruits.

    I think you could say the offers to the JUCO people other than Palmer (especially Bennett) are a sign of weakness. But I don’t think that list itself is particularly damning.

  12. MA Wolfpack 02/04/2010 at 6:04 PM #

    Assuming R Wilson returns and Irving can contribute at LB, then I expect to win at UCF. That is a game we should win easily if R Wilson plays. Also, I think the warm up game will really help us this season.

    On defense, we cannot get any worse so I’ll cautiously hope for improvement. Also, I expect our kickoff and punt game to be drastically improved this season (not saying a lot).

    Finally, I’d love to host Cincy on Thursday night at 2-0. This will not be the same level of Cincy team with everyone they lost (players and coaches).

  13. Sw0rdf1sh 02/04/2010 at 6:05 PM #

    we are gonna loose for sure.

    Really? really?

    I love how just the damn schedule brings a ton of people to the ledge again. Since you all bleed Red I don’t want you to jump, but sometimes….well, bless your little hearts.

    The day after signing day and it’s apparent, we’re domed.

    Really?

    …and for the record I LOVE Thursday night games. National Exposure, cool weather (cold was made for football bishes), and a chance to beat 2 really good teams that are adored by the media. I agree, it can be a logistical nightmare for the remote LTR rabid fan, but dammit you will do it and like it.

    You don’t get to be a powerhouse by playing the McNeese State’s of the world. This schedule has potential.

    Now, first order of business…get some LSU gear and prepare to cheer them on.

  14. CStanley 02/04/2010 at 6:08 PM #

    I’ve been amazed/saddened/depressed to see the way too early picks for next year this afternoon since the schedule came out. Best record I’ve seen predicted is 6-6. Wow.

    Not saying it’s not warranted and that I don’t share the lack of optimism with everyone else. Just making an observation. Nobody is very hopeful anymore. Guess that’s the State of State nowadays.

  15. wolfmanmat 02/04/2010 at 6:43 PM #

    Ticket sales will be down? Doubt that. Football sells regardless of schedule. Plus, this year had 2 trash home games, so even though it was 8 home games only 6 were serious. Now Thursday is a bit tough twice a year, but fans will show up and IMO a Thursday night is a much, much “better” atmosphere than a 12am Saturday.

  16. primacyone 02/04/2010 at 6:47 PM #

    Our hope is for two Chuck Amato holdovers to save us. Really, that is what we are hoping for.

    Sad.

  17. leewolf 02/04/2010 at 6:56 PM #

    The schedule is strange, no question, but there are some nice facets to it. We have nine days to prepare for both GT and Clemson. In addition, we actually have more than one game in October! Instead of a lull like normal.

    A lot of folks are calling that Cincy game out as a sure loss early and I just don’t see it that way. They lost a ton of players and coaches. Butch Jones, their new coach, is a good one but he is going to have to do a little rebuilding. UCF will be a challenge but I still like our chances, heck we should have beaten them TOB’s first year with Evans/Beck at QB. And ECU loses a ton and just hired a Bunting/Amato clone as their HC.

  18. VaWolf82 02/04/2010 at 7:25 PM #

    What the hell! Last year I heard THIS year would be the year we are going to compete in the ACC.

    And I’ve heard since last April how much better the basketball team would be this year because Sendek’s players were gone. What’s your point?

  19. BJD95 02/04/2010 at 8:11 PM #

    Cincy is with a short week, coming off a legitimate road game. Given how we usually look in September, I can’t possibly be optimistic.

  20. graywolf 02/04/2010 at 8:48 PM #

    It’s really hard to be optimistic with this schedule. I don’t see us winning more than 4 games and TOB head being called for in mass.

  21. LifeScientist 02/04/2010 at 9:31 PM #

    It IS a rugged schedule, no one can credibly arguably otherwise. That said, we don’t now and won’t know much about the team we’ll field in September. We know we lost a bunch of seniors and that’s bad. We know we’ll have a lot of sophomores who lost their redshirts prematurely last season and the playing experience they’ll bring is good. Past that, we know very little additionally about the squad that hits the field in September. Some of us THINK we have a defective DC, but if that’s true, then it was also true when Nate Irving last played and we have to assume that NI will be a difference maker this year. Not so much because of his own physical abilities, but because of his leadership ability. With NI backed up by Terrell Manning (another player waiting to breakout), an experienced Sterling Lucas, and Rashard Smith, we may very well have a backfield worthy of the name. We may have only an average ACC defense this season, and if we do, that by itself is light years better than the abortion we watched last season. Regardless of whether Wilson or Glennon is our starting QB, I think the total Offense will be comparable to last years’ though with some variation in places. If I’m right about an improved defensive secondary, I’ll predict at least a six win season.

  22. Wolfpack704 02/04/2010 at 9:58 PM #

    Regardless of how many wins we expect in 2010, isn’t is sad that 1 (maybe 2) of those games can (in my opinion) be considered absolute wins for us? Think about it … when I was in school, I was nervous during games against UNC or ECU – not because they were better, but because I knew we were way better, and losing to these local schools would be embarrasing. How the times have changed … if UNC wins 8 games, some (maybe half) of their fanbase would be ok, but still a little hesitant to proclaim Butch as the guy. If we win 8 games, we would all be shocked – think about it! lol.

    That said, I think we’ll win between 4 and 6 games, losing 2 where we’re favored, and winning 2 as underdogs. Nice to see us playing a tough schedule though.

  23. 61Packer 02/04/2010 at 11:42 PM #

    I believe our football team will exceed expectations this season, certainly a lot of the ones I’ve read on here. I think 8-4 is possible, why not? However, I don’t like having a Thursday night game right after a road trip on the previous Saturday. It’s going to make the Cincinnati game harder for us.

    I know Thursday night games pay the bills, but why do we need more than one per season?

  24. Wufpacker 02/05/2010 at 5:17 AM #

    Thursday Night games are awesome, and suck royally.

    You can’t beat the atmosphere of a night game at C-F, and a mid-fall night game is even better. When I was a student there were almost always a couple of night games early in the season…usually non-televised games against lower tier opponents would be a night start to avoid the hot sun. It seems like now the only way to get a night game is either on Thursday night, or to get the prime time game on either ABC or ESPN on Saturday night. Unfortunately, it seems more common to get the noon start, especially if its a conference game, or perhaps the mid-afternoon 3:30pm slot, which is light years better than noon, but still not as good as a night game.

    But the Thursday games can be a pretty big pain in the backside too, especially for those that have a significant drive (>1.5 hours or so) and are gainfully employed. In order to successfully avoid horrible traffic coming into the stadium area, not to mention having enough time to properly tailgate, one must depart home no later than about 2pm or so for a 7:30pm kickoff, and thats if you’re only 1.5 to 2 hours away.

    And then of course there’s the drive home which doesn’t end until well past 1:00am at the earliest, after waiting in traffic to depart the stadium lots (or better yet, extending the post-game tailgate for an hour or so to let traffic thin out).

    The Thursday night game is also always a welcome sight for those fans who are no longer in ACC country, and thus by default cannot as easily catch TV games…the national ESPN games are always a guaranteed game that can be seen without subscribing to extra channels (ESPNU) or additional packages (FoxSportsNet, ESPN Gameplan).

    As far as this coming season’s Thursday games, the FSU game is scheduled very nicely coming off of a bye week, and thus 12 days to prepare. Plus it seems that the NCSU/FSU game has nearly become an ESPN Thursday night tradition….at least it seems like they pick that one up more often than not here lately. On the other hand, the Cincy game is terrible with regard to prep time….only 5 days AND following a road game. It could be worse though….at least its at home.

    And both games following the Thursday games are road games against 2 of our tougher opponents, GT and Clemson. Having 9 days (rather than the normal 7) to prepare for both of those could prove beneficial.

    As far as the rest of the schedule, I think its a pretty good slate. OOC we have only one FCS team (WCU) as a tune up, as it should be (never more than one FCS). The other three are all FBS teams, all of which present a pretty good challenge, one of which was in the hunt for the MNC this past year.

    Despite the 2 Thursday games, its hard to complain TOO much about a home schedule that includes Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, Boston College, FSU and Wake Forest. Those have been some pretty successful programs in the recent past and make for attractive home dates for folks looking to see quality football. It would be nice to have 7 home dates, but if the price of doing that is adding another FCS then no thanks.

    The only other negative of this schedule as I see it is not having the Carolina game on the last week of the regular season. I think it makes for a nice regular season finale for both teams, though I can certainly understand the logic of finishing up the regular season with teams playing an opponent from within their own division, so that there’s no chance of two teams facing each other 2 weeks in a row (should the ACC Champ game turn out to be a rematch of one of the games in the final week) If everyone plays within their division on the final weekend this can’t happen.

    Also, I’m a little surprised at the doom and gloom predictions thus far as well. Not saying I necessarily disagree, but this is the time of year when most of the Kool-aid drinkers are out in full force. It seems the time for “walking the walk” has arrived for the TOB era. It’ll be interesting to see how the ’10 season unfolds.

  25. choppack1 02/05/2010 at 8:32 AM #

    “Cincy is with a short week, coming off a legitimate road game. Given how we usually look in September, I can’t possibly be optimistic.”

    Hey – last year, our best game was in September. Our best defensive effort was in September (vs. South Carolina.)

    2009 – September 3-1. October 0-4, November 2-2

    2008 – September 2-2, October 0-3, November 4-0. *In August we were 0-1 (of course, that game could have been different if RW was available.)

    We’re awful in October.

    I think it will be key to get out of there 3-1 – and I think that’s doable.

    Hopefully, Cincy has a game on the same Saturday. They’re losing 5 starters on offense and 6 from a mediocre D. (I guess you could say the same about us.)

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