North Carolina State rallies to beat Cal 24-23
— CJ Bailey passed for 306 yards and two touchdowns, including a 41-yarder to Hollywood Smothers in the fourth quarter, rallying North Carolina State to a 24-23 win over California on Saturday.
NCAA - Football
FINAL
NC State Wolfpack
24
California Golden Bears
23
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCSU | 3 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
| CAL | 7 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 23 |
California Memorial Stadium · 35,303 att.
Match Report
Last five matches
| Date | Opp | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/31/26 | vs California Golden Bears | W 31-10 | NCAAF |
| 10/23/26 | @ Stanford Cardinal | L 28-31 | NCAAF |
| 10/10/26 | vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons | L 14-38 | NCAAF |
| 10/3/26 | vs Louisville Cardinals | W 31-28 | NCAAF |
| 9/26/26 | vs App State Mountaineers | W 41-31 | NCAAF |
| Full Schedule | |||
Play by Play
-
Touchdown 6:32 24-23
Hollywood Smothers 41 Yd pass from CJ Bailey (Kanoah Vinesett Kick)
-
Touchdown 11:33 17-23
Dacari Collins 1 Yd pass from CJ Bailey (Kanoah Vinesett Kick)
-
Touchdown 0:24 10-23
Jaivian Thomas 7 Yd Run (Derek Morris Kick)
-
Field Goal 9:10 10-16
Derek Morris 24 Yd Field Goal
-
Field Goal 0:07 10-13
Derek Morris 26 Yd Field Goal
-
Field Goal 1:12 10-10
Derek Morris 41 Yd Field Goal
-
Touchdown 3:20 10-7
Kevin Concepcion 2 Yd Run (Kanoah Vinesett Kick)
-
Field Goal 0:23 3-7
Kanoah Vinesett 27 Yd Field Goal
-
Touchdown 13:47 0-7
Jaivian Thomas 49 Yd Run (Derek Morris Kick)
-
NCSU
1 play, -1 yard, 0:32 · End of Game
-
CAL 0:32
4 plays, 8 yards, 0:37 · Downs
-
NCSU 1:09
3 plays, 9 yards, 0:25 · Punt
-
CAL 1:34
13 plays, 65 yards, 4:58 · Missed FG
-
NCSU 6:32
7 plays, 80 yards, 2:11 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 6:32 24-23
Hollywood Smothers 41 Yd pass from CJ Bailey (Kanoah Vinesett Kick)
-
CAL 8:43
5 plays, 18 yards, 2:50 · Punt
-
NCSU 11:33
8 plays, 75 yards, 3:51 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 11:33 17-23
Dacari Collins 1 Yd pass from CJ Bailey (Kanoah Vinesett Kick)
-
CAL 0:24
2 plays, 16 yards, 0:57 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 0:24 10-23
Jaivian Thomas 7 Yd Run (Derek Morris Kick)
-
CAL 1:21
3 plays, 5 yards, 1:15 · Punt
-
NCSU 2:36
3 plays, -7 yards, 1:28 · Punt
-
CAL 4:04
3 plays, 5 yards, 0:55 · Punt
-
NCSU 4:59
9 plays, 28 yards, 4:11 · Punt
-
CAL 9:10
12 plays, 27 yards, 5:33 · Field Goal
-
Field Goal 9:10 10-16
Derek Morris 24 Yd Field Goal
-
NCSU 14:43
2 plays, 8 yards, 0:17 · Fumble
-
CAL 0:07
6 plays, 44 yards, 0:37 · Field Goal
-
Field Goal 0:07 10-13
Derek Morris 26 Yd Field Goal
-
NCSU 0:44
3 plays, 2 yards, 0:28 · Punt
-
CAL 1:12
8 plays, 37 yards, 1:59 · Field Goal
-
Field Goal 1:12 10-10
Derek Morris 41 Yd Field Goal
-
NCSU 3:20
6 plays, 34 yards, 3:07 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 3:20 10-7
Kevin Concepcion 2 Yd Run (Kanoah Vinesett Kick)
-
CAL 6:27
1 play, 12 yards, 0:11 · Fumble
-
NCSU 6:38
12 plays, 56 yards, 7:04 · Missed FG
-
CAL 13:42
5 plays, 32 yards, 1:41 · Punt
-
NCSU 0:23
12 plays, 56 yards, 6:33 · Field Goal
-
Field Goal 0:23 3-7
Kanoah Vinesett 27 Yd Field Goal
-
CAL 6:56
10 plays, 47 yards, 4:28 · Downs
-
NCSU 11:24
3 plays, 0 yards, 2:23 · Punt
-
CAL 13:47
4 plays, 75 yards, 1:13 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 13:47 0-7
Jaivian Thomas 49 Yd Run (Derek Morris Kick)
Showing the last 34 of 34 events.
Team Stats
NCSU
CAL
15
1st Downs
23
8-17
3rd down efficiency
2-14
2-2
4th down efficiency
2-4
363
Total Yards
399
334
Passing
282
26/37
Comp/Att
30/43
9.0
Yards per pass
6.6
29
Rushing
117
30
Rushing Attempts
29
1.0
Yards per rush
4.0
4-47
Penalties
7-32
2
Turnovers
1
2
Fumbles lost
1
0
Interceptions thrown
0
32:37
Possession
27:23
Highlights
00:31
Jaivian Thomas breaks free for 49-yard Cal TD
Watch on ESPN
00:27
Touchdown! Kevin Concepcion scores vs. California
Watch on ESPN
00:22
CJ Bailey throws 1-yard touchdown pass to Dacari Collins
Watch on ESPN
00:23
Hollywood Smothers makes the catch and bobs and weaves for NC State TD
Watch on ESPN
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