RALEIGH

Dave Doeren wasn’t on the sideline. The “Coach Doeren” spray paint has even been sandblasted off his parking spots. But N.C. State was still playing for his legacy.

Interim head coach Todd Goebbel stood at the podium after the Wolfpack’s 31-10 win over California at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday. He looked at the camera and, instead of talking about the game, dedicated the win to his predecessor.

Goebbel previously served as special teams coordinator and running backs coach. He took over the head coaching job last Saturday after Doeren was fired.

“From the start of the week, I said it was a responsibility to take this on because of the man that stood here for 14 years and built this program, put blood in the bricks, and he built it the right way,” Goebbel said. “This is for you, Coach Doeren. I hope you’re smiling somewhere, but this is for you. I truly appreciate you and your family, you did for me and my family, this coaching staff, and the rest of the players. Truly, thank you from the bottom of our heart.”

The players shared similar statements and expressed their appreciation for Doeren and also-fired defensive coordinator DJ Eliot. It was a heavy week, an emotional week; one that galvanized the team and made the “hard, tough, together” mantra that much more significant.

N.C. State (4-4, 2-3 ACC) has room for improvement, certainly, but its performance — especially in the second half — was arguably one of the most complete games it played this year.

The Wolfpack held California scoreless in the second half, something the defense has struggled to do. Then the offense, despite a clunky first half, found a rhythm and scored three touchdowns after the break. N.C. State picked up 219 of its 327 yards in the second half.

Except a short 21-yarder, punter Jackson Waller recorded three kicks of at least 50 yards, including one for 60. Kanoah Vinesett missed his first field goal of the season, but was otherwise perfect.

The Wolfpack went to the locker room tied at 10 after allowing a late field goal to end the second quarter. Quarterback CJ Bailey and linebacker Popo Aguirre said the team was calm.

Everyone stayed focused, no one was upset. . It was together. Nobody allowed feelings of frustration to create blame or negativity. They instead reminded each other of what — and for whom — they were playing. As Goebbel put it, N.C. State wanted to be fundamental. It did not want to be emotional. That has previously led to negative outcomes.

Saturday’s game was not so much about Cal. It was about proving that the Wolfpack isn’t dead and wasn’t going to roll over, even after a tumultuous week or a first half it didn’t love.

Its next four games have huge question marks beside them. Can the Wolfpack continue what it started this weekend? That remains uncertain. For now, the team wants to keep its eyes only on the day ahead.

“This win overall, just showed that we did it for him,” quarterback CJ Bailey said, referring to Doeren. “One thing that was definitely said at halftime was if we want to do what we said we were gonna do all week, gonna do it for him and you know finish out well — just start one day at a time, one game at a time. We did.”

Playing for the new guys, too

The Wolfpack still holds plenty of love and respect for its former coaches, but it was also motivated to play for the guys who have stepped into new roles under unfortunate circumstances.

Goebbel said Charlton Warren, now the full-time defensive play caller, galvanized the defense. Warren defined the unit’s goals, how to operate and worked with the staff to develop a game plan that worked. However, Goebbel also provided similar motivation — whether or not he will take credit.

Aguirre said Goebbel told the team, and he’ll probably keep telling it, to win each day. It won every day this week.

“Before we stepped on the field, we had that mindset that we already won the game,” Aguirre said. “I think that’s what pretty much happened. We already had the mindset that we won the game, and we executed. We felt good, and we played for each other.”

Bailey said the Pack’s new leader got the game ball, a deserved memento for the work Goebbel put into this week and all the weeks he’s been at N.C. State.

Goebbel said it means the world that the players have surrounded him and expressed their belief in his abilities to lead them through the end of the season. He wants nothing more than for them to succeed in every area of their lives. It’s special to see some of that effort come to fruition.

“For those guys to believe in me in a very adverse time, then go out and perform the way they did,” Goebbel said, “then receiving a game ball, I’d be remiss to say it wasn’t special. I got a little choked up when getting it.”

Scouting Duke: Nate Sheppard is a problem

N.C. State’s defense had its best overall performance against an FBS opponent this season. It held Cal’s leading rushers to a combined 56 yards, and neither reached 30 yards.

Those guys don’t touch what Nate Sheppard brings to the field. Duke’s star running back scored five touchdowns in the Blue Devils’ 47-2 win over Boston College. Sheppard’s stat line includes a 54-yard touchdown carry, his performance keeping the reigning ACC champions in the title hunt.

He is now up to 18 total touchdowns, 14 rushing and four receiving, which sets a single-season program record and leads FBS. Last year, he rushed for 11 touchdowns and 1,132 yards. He is up to 972 rushing yards after eight games.

The Eagles scored a 100-yard defensive two-point conversion after blocking one of Duke’s extra points.

N.C. State will have its hands full with Sheppard, who has been Duke’s workhorse and a Heisman candidate. The Blue Devils are 4-0 when he rushes for more than 100 yards and 5-1 when he reaches 95 yards or more.

A year ago, Duke defeated N.C. State at Wallace Wade Stadium. Sheppard’s numbers weren’t huge in that matchup, but because the team relied heavily on senior Anderson Castle. Castle scored three times and ran for 92 yards. Now, Sheppard is the primary playmaker.

The Blue Devils are 1-1 when Sheppard is held under 80 yards. If the Pack can make plays with his hands, Duke is 0-2 when the sophomore serves as the team’s leading receiver.

NC State vs Duke game info

Teams: N.C. State Wolfpack (4-4, 2-3 ACC) vs. Duke Blue Devils (6-2, 3-2 ACC)

Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh

Date: Saturday, Nov. 7

Time: 12:30 p.m.

TV: The CW

Stream: fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, DIRECTV Stream, ESPN Unlimited

Betting information: N.C. State opened as a 5.5-point underdog, according to DraftKings. ESPN gives the Blue Devils a 71.5% chance of winning, according to its prognosticators.

Series history: Duke leads the all-time series, 44-37-5, and has dominated the last six. The Blue Devils are 5-1 since 2009, and 3-1 since 2020. N.C. State has not won since 2020, when it picked up a 31-20 victory at home. Last year, N.C. State led 20-7 in the second quarter, but mistakes — including a fourth down interception leading to a touchdown — allowed Duke to take a one-point lead into halftime. The Wolfpack was out-scored 24-13 in the second half, leading to a 45-33 loss.

This story was originally published November 2, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "What NC State’s win over Cal meant to its players, staff after ‘rough week’."