The NC State Wolfpack return home for Week 2 of the 2025 college football season, September 6, in a high-powered ACC nonconference matchup against the Virginia Cavaliers. Kickoff will be at noon ET.
The matchup comes at an important time for both teams, as both look to build on momentum from their opening-week victories. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup in Raleigh.
How To Watch Virginia vs. NC State
- Date: Saturday, September 6
- Time: Noon ET
- TV: ESPN2
- Streaming: Fubo (Free trial available)
- Radio: Virginia Sports Radio Network, TuneIn, SiriusXM Channel 381
- Stadium: Carter-Finley Stadium | Raleigh, N.C.
NC State Looks to Build on Week 1 Victory
NC State (1-0) opened its season with a solid 24-17 win over East Carolina, snapping a string of slow starts in recent years. Wide receiver Wesley Grimes emerged as the breakout performer, hauling in four receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown.
But it was the Wolfpack defense that sealed the deal. A fourth-quarter stand against the Pirates preserved the win, a performance that fit head coach Dave Doeren’s identity of physical, run-stuffing football.
The den’s awake. You ready?#1Pack1Goal pic.twitter.com/xD6INsSRkD
— NC State Football (@PackFootball) September 6, 2025
“Guys are excited to get back on the field. A Lot of things that we feel like we left on the table in that game that we need to be better at. Every game, our job is to critique the film, critique ourselves, and then put together a plan to improve,” said Doeren ahead of the game.
Saturday offers NC State the chance to start 2-0 for the first time since 2022, an early-season benchmark the program has struggled to reach.
Virginia Aiming to Keep the Momentum Going
Meanwhile, Virginia (1-0) enters the game confidently after a 48-7 demolition of Coastal Carolina. Senior quarterback Chandler Morris was sharp in his Cavaliers debut, throwing for 264 yards and two touchdowns.
Ahead of the game, Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliot got real about the expectation from the senior signal-caller.
“My expectation is to play his tail off. We’re gonna need him, and he was back in practice yesterday in full go. And so my expectation is that he has a great week of prep and he’s ready to go and brings his best game,” the coach said this week during a press conference.
While the quarterback’s expectations are lofty, his chemistry with receiver Cameron Ross was especially encouraging for the Cavaliers, which could be a good sign for them in the future, especially in the Week 2 game. Ross finished with seven catches for 124 yards and a score.
“Yeah, you just showed maturity was, you know, it took us a couple of drives to really settle in. You got a group of pretty much new guys playing together, but I thought he did a good job of settling in, and once he got settled, he was able to distribute the ball, manage the system, and put together some scoring drives,” the coach explained.
“Loved to see him go down feet first right there, but that’s what you love about him, is he’s such a competitor,” Elliot said.
The Cavs showcased a balanced attack that kept Coastal off-balance from start to finish, and now the challenge shifts to proving they can replicate that production in a hostile road environment.
Despite the history between the two ACC programs and due to the conference’s current format, this game is considered a non-conference matchup that will not count towards conference standings, which certainly adds to the intrigue.
