By Joseph Ochoa, WRAL multiplatform producer

Western Carolina Catamounts
24NC State Wolfpack
ACC Network | Thursday, August 29th 7:00 PM EDT

Raleigh, N.C. — The NC State Wolfpack will take on the Western Carolina Catamounts Thursday night at Carter-Finley Stadium.

It’s going to the first look for Wolfpack fans to get a look at the revamped offense, and many are hoping the team can elevate this season under head coach Dave Doeren from good, to great.

A look back at the Wolfpack’s 2023 season

The Wolfpack didn’t start the season out on the right foot, with an offense that ranked 91st in the entire country with 315.2 yards per game. Beyond that, The team was on the brink of collapsing after getting demolished by a Riley Leonard-less Duke Blue Devils team, 24-3, to fall to 1-2 in the conference and 4-3 at the half-way point of the season.

Then in the lead-up to the Wolfpack’s game against the Clemson Tigers, former NFL wide receiver and Carolina Panther legend Steve Smith surmised the Wolfpack should pack it up and look towards basketball because NC State was a “basketball school.”

The comments led to one of the most viral moments of the college football season, and the Wolfpack defeated the Tigers in the Textile Bowl, 24-17.

The Wolfpack didn’t lose a single game following Smith’s comments, finishing with a 9-3 overall record, and finishing third in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 6-2 record, including a 39-20 win over the in-state rival UNC.

While the Wolfpack didn’t win one of the more viral bowl games against Kansas State to close out the year, but there’s an air of positivity going into the 2024 season.

Keys to the game on Thursday

The Wolfpack lost more than half of its offensive and defensive starters, including Bednarik Award winner Payton Wilson, but used the transfer portal to its advantage and brought in several first stringers, including Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall.

McCall didn’t make it a full season in 2023 due to injury, but still was one of Coastal Carolina’s greatest quarterbacks ever, posting 10,005 career passing yards and 88 touchdowns during his career with the Chanticleers.

Doeren praised McCall’s preparedness during his press conference on Tuesday ahead of the game.

“You know, Grayson’s played football a long time. He’s seen a lot as a starter and, and so I think he appreciates being tested,” Doeren said. “There’s not a coverage that he’s going to see all season that he didn’t see in training camp. So he’s definitely ready for what’s in front of him.”

The Wolfpack also kept Kevin ‘KC’ Concepcion, one of the few bright spots the team had on offense last season, and bring back a veteran offensive line.

This game will be a good barometer of how much chemistry McCall, Concepcion and the rest of the offensive weapons have built together during spring practices and training camp, and what to expect from the revamped offense going forward this season.

On defense, the Wolfpack kept most of their secondary together. While they acknowledge the loss of Wilson, cornerback Aydan White believes the defense will stay formidable.

“Just with Tony Gibson being [our] defensive coordinator, I feel like we’re always going to have a high-caliber defense,” White said.

Where, when and how to watch

• When: 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29
• Where: Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.
• How to watch: ACC Network
• How to listen: Mix 101.5 (WRAL-FM)

Source: wralsportsfan.com