FSU football scouting report vs. NC State, can Seminoles finally win on the road?

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Florida State football travels to Raleigh for a showdown against NC State on Friday, Nov. 21, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. from Carter-Finley Stadium.

The Seminoles (5-5, 2-5 ACC) are two games away from a bowl game, with a pair of road contests ahead of the program to finish the season. FSU is coming off a 34-14 win over Virginia Tech, while NC State (5-5, 2-4 ACC) is coming off a 41-7 loss to Miami.

With at least one road win needed in the final two games to make a bowl, the Seminoles will need to win away from home for the first time since beating Florida in November 2023.

Tallahassee Democrat FSU Athletics beat reporter Liam Rooney breaks down the matchup between the Seminoles and Wolfpack.

NC State scout report: What to know about the Wolfpack

With the ball: The Wolfpack have a potent offense that can hit on explosive plays that break games open quickly. At the heart of it is dynamic quarterback CJ Bailey, who has thrown for 2,531 yards and 19 touchdowns this season, while adding 148 rushing yards and five touchdowns. NC State has weapons across the board, with running back Hollywood Smothers (823 yards, six touchdowns), wide receiver Terrell Anderson (552 yards, four touchdowns), and tight end Justin Jolly (372 yards, five touchdowns) some of the biggest threats to break off chunk plays. The Wolfpack is balanced offensively, using a healthy mix of runs and passes.

Without the ball: The NC State defense ranks 125th in the nation, giving up an average of 440.4 yards per game. While the Wolfpack’s offense is dynamic, the defense has struggled to reach the same level and will give up big plays, something that favors the Seminoles. Pass defense has been an issue, with an average of nearly 300 yards per game allowed by the Wolfpack defense. DB Devon Marshall is a strong coverage corner, despite some of the issues in the pass game.

NC State players to watch

CJ Bailey is one of the best QBs FSU will see: FSU defensive coordinator Tony White had high praise for the NC State quarterback, comparing him to a “young Jayden Daniels.” Bailey has the ability to make any throw on the field, adept in both short and long yardage situations. He’s posted 2,531 yards this season, completing nearly 70% of his passes. He’s a capable backfield creator, able to escape pressure and keep plays alive, or tuck the football and run if need be.

Hollywood Smothers is a showstopper: The name Hollywood sums up the flashy play style of Smothers well, who has 823 rushing yards and six touchdowns this season. He is agile and quick to explode at the backfield when he sees a hole. He’s tough to bring down, and with some of the tackling struggles FSU has had this year, it could allow Smothers to rack up strong yardage after contact.

Liam Rooney’s two cents

Attack NC State with Duce Robinson: The Wolfpack have struggled to limit big plays through the air, and FSU’s Duce Robinson is more than capable of exploiting that area if quarterback Tommy Castellanos can connect with him. Robinson is just 53 yards away from a 1,000-yard season, and with the Wolfpack allowing 299.9 yards per game through the air, getting the dynamic receiver involved early and often could help the Seminoles find that elusive road win.

Can FSU win on the road: It’s the question on everyone’s mind, especially considering the Seminoles are winless on the road since 2023. Head coach Mike Norvell said that FSU will make alterations to road game plans to try and address the struggles, but will that be enough this late in the season? That’s the question. If FSU is able to get it done, expect Robinson and Castellanos to be a big reason why.

Liam Rooney’s score prediction

Considering the lack of results on the road for FSU in the last 23 months, it’s hard to see anything changing in the final two games of the season. The Seminoles haven’t won at Carter-Finley Stadium since 2016, and are 11-10 all-time on the road against the Wolfpack. Can Norvell pull a rabbit out of the hat and find a way to get FSU bowl eligibility? Time will tell. But right now I’m unsure.

The pick: NC State 34, FSU 30

How to watch FSU football vs. NC State

When: Friday, Nov. 21 / 8 p.m.
Where: Carter-Finley Stadium / Raleigh, North Carolina
Watch: ESPN

FSU schedule 2025

Here is Florida State’s schedule and results. All times Eastern.

Aug. 30: vs Alabama | W 31-17
Sept. 6: vs East Texas A&M | W 77-3
Sept. 13: Bye
Sept. 20: vs Kent State | W 66-10
Sept. 26: at Virginia* | L 46-38 (2OT)
Oct. 4: vs Miami* | L 28-22
Oct. 11: vs Pittsburgh* | L 34-31
Oct. 18: at Stanford* | L 20-13
Oct. 25: Bye
Nov. 1: vs Wake Forest* | W 42-7
Nov. 8: at Clemson* | L 24-10
Nov. 15: vs Virginia Tech* | W 34-14
Nov. 21: at NC State* | 8 p.m. | ESPN | Fubo
Nov. 29: at Florida | TBA
Record: 5-5 (2-5 in ACC)

Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football vs NC State game prediction, scouting report for Friday

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