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Raleigh, Wake County

NC State: Stanford beats Wolfpack 31-28 at Stanford Stadium

Stanford won 31-28 on Friday night. NC State is 3-4 (1-3 ACC). Stanford is 4-4 (2-3). The Wolfpack hosts California on Oct. 31.

ConfirmedThe main facts are confirmed by official or first-hand sources.

By Triangle Local Newsroom · Published

Downtown Raleigh buildings under a blue sky

File photo: James Willamor (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • Stanford beat NC State 31-28 on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Stanford Stadium.Confirmed by NC State Athletics recap and box score; Stanford Athletics recap
  • The line score was NC State 7-7-0-14 and Stanford 14-7-7-3.Confirmed by NC State Athletics box score and recap
  • Stanford led 14-0 after touchdown passes from Davis Warren to Nico Brown (8 yards) and Sedrick Irvin (17 yards). NC State tied it 14-14 on a 58-yard catch by Deandre Desinor from CJ Bailey and a 2-yard run by Will Wilson.Confirmed by NC State Athletics box score and recap; Stanford Athletics recap
  • Warren's 26-yard pass to Caden High with 25 seconds left in the first half made it 21-14. His 5-yard pass to Brown in the third quarter made it 28-14.Confirmed by NC State Athletics box score; Stanford Athletics recap
  • Wilson scored again from 2 yards on the first play of the fourth quarter, 28-21. Emmet Kenney's 31-yard field goal made it 31-21. Bailey's 16-yard pass to Keenan Jackson late in the fourth quarter made it 31-28.Confirmed by NC State Athletics box score and recap; Stanford Athletics recap
  • Bailey threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Warren threw for 303 yards and four touchdowns. Micah Ford ran for 150 yards.Confirmed by NC State Athletics recap and box score; Stanford Athletics recap
  • After the game, NC State is 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the ACC. Stanford is 4-4 and 2-3.Confirmed by NC State Athletics recap, box score and schedule; Stanford Athletics recap
  • NC State next hosts California on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Carter-Finley Stadium for Homecoming. The school's recap lists noon on ACC Network.Confirmed by NC State Athletics recap and 2026 football schedule

Still unknown

  • A kickoff time on the live schedule page, which listed Oct. 31 without a clock when checked Saturday morning

What happened

In Raleigh, Stanford beat NC State 31-28 on Friday night at Stanford Stadium.

The Wolfpack is 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the ACC. Stanford is 4-4 and 2-3. NC State's recap, box score and schedule, and Stanford's recap, all list the same final.

How the scoring went

Stanford scored first. Davis Warren threw an 8-yard touchdown to Nico Brown and a 17-yard touchdown to Sedrick Irvin for a 14-0 lead.

NC State tied it before halftime. CJ Bailey hit Deandre Desinor for 58 yards. Will Wilson then ran 2 yards.

Warren's 26-yard throw to Caden High with 25 seconds left in the second quarter put Stanford back in front, 21-14. He found Brown again from 5 yards in the third quarter, 28-14.

Wilson's second 2-yard run opened the fourth quarter, 28-21. Emmet Kenney kicked a 31-yard field goal for 31-21. Bailey's 16-yard pass to Keenan Jackson made it 31-28. The onside kick was not recovered.

Bailey finished with 256 passing yards and two touchdowns. Warren had 303 yards and four scores. Micah Ford ran for 150 yards.

What's next

NC State hosts California on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Carter-Finley Stadium for Homecoming. The recap lists noon on ACC Network. The live schedule page checked Saturday morning listed that date and opponent without a kickoff time.

This site is not NC State Athletics.

Why it matters

NC State is Raleigh's ACC football team. The loss drops the Wolfpack to 1-3 in conference play before a Homecoming game against California.

Sources

  1. Wolfpack Unable to Get Past Stanford (game recap: 31-28; Bailey 256 yards, two touchdowns; Wilson two short runs; Desinor 58-yard catch; Jackson 16-yard catch; Ford 150 yards; California Oct. 31, noon, ACC Network)

    Official sourcePublished by NC State Athletics · Checked Oct 24, 2026, 8:00 AM

  2. Football vs Stanford on 10/23/2026, box score (31-28; scoring summary; Warren 303 yards; Ford 150; Bailey 256)

    Official sourcePublished by NC State Athletics · Checked Oct 24, 2026, 8:00 AM

  3. 2026 Football Schedule (Stanford L, 28-31; vs. California, Oct. 31, Homecoming; 3-4, 1-3 ACC)

    Official sourcePublished by NC State Athletics · Checked Oct 24, 2026, 8:00 AM

  4. Stanford Improves to 4-1 at Home with Late Night Win over NC State (game recap: 31-28; Warren 303 yards, four touchdowns; Ford 150; Bailey 256 yards, two touchdowns; Wilson two short scores; Desinor 58-yard catch)

    Official sourcePublished by Stanford Athletics · Checked Oct 24, 2026, 8:00 AM

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