Miami and NC State don't meet every season, but when they do, the series has produced everything from a scoreless tie to a high-octane shootout that rewrote the ACC record book. Miami leads the all-time matchup 11-6-1, with the first meeting on Dec. 1, 1939, a 27-7 Hurricanes win in Coral Gables, and the most recent a 20-6 Wolfpack victory in Raleigh on Nov. 4, 2023. They meet for another edition of the matchup on Saturday.
Miami vs NC State: The early years
The early chapters were sparse and low-scoring. NC State claimed a 2-0 win in 1942 and a 28-7 decision in 1944, while the programs played to a 0-0 tie in 1957. Miami got a 21-7 win in 1945 and a 23-13 victory in 1969 before NC State took a 13-7 contest in 1971. The teams would not meet again until 1981.
Miami vs NC State: A new age
The 1980s nudged the series into Miami's orbit. In 1981, Miami would get a 14-6 win. The Hurricanes then blasted the Wolfpack 41-3 in 1982, the largest margin in the matchup, and later gained wins during the program's national ascendance.
The schools' lone postseason meeting came at the end of the 1998 season in the MicronPC Bowl at Pro Player Stadium, and it was all Miami. Quarterback Scott Covington threw for 320 yards, Edgerrin James ran for 156, and the Hurricanes pulled away 46-23 to close a 9-3 year under Butch Davis.
Miami vs NC State: ACC edition
Conference realignment finally put the series on a more regular timing. Miami accepted an ACC invitation in 2003 and began conference play in 2004. In that fall the No. 4 Hurricanes beat NC State 45–31 in Raleigh behind a five-touchdown night from Brock Berlin.
If 2004 was about firepower, 2007 was about survival. NC State stunned Miami 19-16 in overtime, then took a 38-28 win in 2008. Miami reasserted control in the next decade with a string of narrow wins. On Sept. 29, 2012, Stephen Morris threw for a then-ACC-record 566 yards and five touchdowns, including a 62-yard strike to Phillip Dorsett with 19 seconds left, to beat the Wolfpack 44-37.
The recent ACC era has been defined by one-score finishes. On Nov. 6, 2020, D'Eriq King accounted for five touchdown passes as Miami edged NC State 44-41 in a Friday night game. A year later, freshman Tyler Van Dyke threw four touchdowns to lift Miami past No. 18 NC State 31-30 at Hard Rock Stadium.
NC State's defense seized the last word for now. In the Nov. 4, 2023 meeting, the Wolfpack forced four turnovers and held Miami without a touchdown in a 20-6 win, clinching bowl eligibility and leading us to where we are now.
Miami vs NC State game results
- Dec. 1, 1939 — Miami 27, NC State 7
- Nov. 7, 1942 — Miami 0, NC State 2
- Nov. 10, 1944 — Miami 7, NC State 28
- Nov. 16, 1945 — Miami 21, NC State 7
- Oct. 18, 1957 — Miami 0, NC State 0 (tie)
- Oct. 3, 1969 — Miami 23, NC State 13
- Nov. 5, 1971 — Miami 7, NC State 13
- Nov. 21, 1981 — Miami 14, NC State 6
- Nov. 20, 1982 — Miami 41, NC State 3
- Dec. 29, 1998 — Miami 46, NC State 23 (MicronPC Bowl)
- Oct. 23, 2004 — Miami 45, NC State 31
- Nov. 3, 2007 — Miami 16, NC State 19 (OT)
- Nov. 29, 2008 — Miami 28, NC State 38
- Sept. 29, 2012 — Miami 44, NC State 37
- Nov. 19, 2016 — Miami 27, NC State 13
- Nov. 6, 2020 — Miami 44, NC State 41
- Oct. 23, 2021 — Miami 31, NC State 30
- Nov. 4, 2023 — Miami 6, NC State 20