2021 NC State Wolfpack football team

2021 NC State Wolfpack football
Holiday Bowl, vs. UCLA, Canceled
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionAtlantic Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 19
APNo. 20
Record9–3 (6–2 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTim Beck (2nd season)
Offensive schemeSpread option
Defensive coordinatorTony Gibson (3rd season)
Base defense3–3–5
Home stadiumCarter–Finley Stadium
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Atlantic Division
No. 15 Wake Forest xy   7 1     11 3  
No. 20 NC State   6 2     9 3  
No. 14 Clemson   6 2     10 3  
Louisville   4 4     6 7  
Florida State   4 4     5 7  
Syracuse   2 6     5 7  
Boston College   2 6     6 6  
Coastal Division
No. 13 Pittsburgh xy$   7 1     11 3  
Miami (FL)   5 3     7 5  
Virginia   4 4     6 6  
Virginia Tech   4 4     6 7  
North Carolina   3 5     6 7  
Georgia Tech   2 6     3 9  
Duke   0 8     3 9  
Championship: Pittsburgh 45, Wake Forest 21
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021 NC State Wolfpack football team represented North Carolina State University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolfpack played their home games at Carter–Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina and competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by ninth-year head coach Dave Doeren.

The Wolfpack finished their regular season with a 9–3 overall record, and accepted a bid to the Holiday Bowl, where they were due to face UCLA. Hours before game time on December 28, UCLA withdrew from the bowl due to COVID-19 issues, and the bowl was canceled.[1][2] NC State was awarded the Holiday Bowl trophy after the cancelation and considers the game forfeited, giving the program its second (after 2002) 10-win season—the 10th win (for the Holiday Bowl) is claimed by NC State and not officially recognized by the NCAA and ACC.[3] NC State beat Clemson for the first time since 2011.

  1. ^ Schlabach, Mark (December 28, 2021). "Holiday Bowl between UCLA and NC State Wolfpack canceled due to COVID-19 issues in Bruins program". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  2. ^ Adelson, Andrea (December 29, 2021). "Holiday Bowl unable to find replacement college football team, cancels game". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  3. ^ DeCock, Luke (December 29, 2021). "Did NC State football win nine or 10 games this season? It depends on who you ask". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Retrieved December 29, 2021 – via MSN.com.