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The 2025 college football season kicks off in Raleigh as the NC State Wolfpack host the East Carolina Pirates at Carter–Finley Stadium. This in-state clash is set for Thursday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. ET and will air live on the ACC Network.
Head coach Dave Doeren begins his 13th season at the helm of the Wolfpack. After four straight years with at least eight wins, NC State stumbled to a losing record in 2024 for the first time since 2019. The season ended with disappointment in the Military Bowl, where the Wolfpack fell to East Carolina.
WATCH: East Carolina vs NC State
This year, the Pack is motivated to bounce back. Team captains for 2025 include quarterback CJ Bailey, linebackers Caden Fordham and Sean Brown, defensive lineman Brandon Cleveland, and offensive lineman Anthony Carter Jr.
The East Carolina Pirates enter their first full season with head coach Blake Harrell. After a rocky transition year, ECU is looking to prove it can compete early in 2025. A win against an in-state rival in primetime would be a statement result.
Date: Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025
Kickoff Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Carter–Finley Stadium, Raleigh, North Carolina
TV Channel: ACC Network
Live Stream: Arenacast Live
Best way to watch ECU vs NC State college football today
Fans nationwide can tune in to the ACC Network for the live broadcast. The play-by-play team will feature Wes Durham and Steve Addazio in the booth, with Dana Boyle reporting from the sidelines.
If you prefer streaming, the game is available on Arenacast, which offers $4.99 for new users.
For those listening on the radio, Matt Chazanow, Johnny Evans, and Tony Haynes will be on the call via the Wolfpack Sports Network. In the Raleigh area, the matchup can be heard on 101.5 FM, while fans across the country can stream free on The Varsity Network app or tune in to Sirius/XM channel 85.
East Carolina–NC State: A Rivalry That Defines North Carolina Football
College football is powered by rivalries. From the storied Army–Navy game to the chaos of the Iron Bowl, these contests don’t just crown winners—they build traditions and carve unforgettable memories into the sport’s history. Yet beyond the national spotlight, some rivalries thrive on a more regional scale. They ignite passions, divide households, and fuel decades of stories told in stadiums, parking lots, and family living rooms. One such rivalry lives in North Carolina: East Carolina vs. NC State.
A Defining Moment
One of the most unforgettable chapters in this matchup came when East Carolina stunned NC State with a dramatic 22–16 victory. It was ECU’s first win over the Wolfpack in six years, sealed on a fourth-down stop deep in Pirates territory in the game’s final seconds. The crowd of 57,700 fans—the largest ever for a college football game in the state at the time—erupted as the Pirates preserved their victory.
For many fans, the game was about more than football. It was family pride, school loyalty, and bragging rights. Some celebrated wildly, while others, like younger siblings divided by team allegiances, needed to be physically separated to avoid arguments on the way back to the car. The atmosphere around Carter–Finley Stadium that night captured exactly what makes this rivalry special: it’s raw, it’s emotional, and sometimes it even spills over into the parking lot.
Rivalries Beyond the National Stage
When people think of college football rivalries, the names that come up first are often the nationally marketed ones—Michigan vs. Ohio State, Alabama vs. Auburn, or Harvard vs. Yale. These matchups help decide conference titles and, in some cases, playoff berths. They grab the prime television slots, dominate national headlines, and deliver historic moments.
But what makes college football truly unique is that the sport thrives not just on those top-tier rivalries but also on the deeply personal, regional battles that outsiders might not even notice. For locals in North Carolina, ECU vs. NC State means every bit as much as a national rivalry. It’s about territory, identity, and the right to say, “we own this state.”
What Makes ECU vs. NC State Special
The Pirates and Wolfpack represent two very different corners of the state, each with its own culture and traditions. East Carolina, long seen as the scrappy underdog, has built its identity on toughness and resilience. NC State, as part of the ACC, often carries the weight of expectation and the pressure of competing in a power conference.
When these teams collide, those narratives clash. A win for NC State is expected, but a win for ECU resonates like a seismic shockwave, energizing Greenville and reminding the Wolfpack that the Pirates are never to be overlooked.
More Than Just a Game
The East Carolina–NC State rivalry may not dictate playoff races or fill national broadcasts, but in North Carolina, it matters deeply. It’s about alumni pride, divided families, and unforgettable Saturday nights when the underdog sometimes writes history.
That’s what makes college football’s regional rivalries so compelling. They might not trend nationwide, but for the fans who live and breathe them, they mean everything. And in the story of North Carolina football, few games embody that passion quite like ECU vs. NC State.