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Raleigh: Duke beats NC State 41-3 at Carter-Finley

Duke beat NC State 41-3 on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. Nate Sheppard ran for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Both schools' official box scores list the same final, a 12:40 p.m. kickoff and a 4:01 p.m. end.

UpdatedThis story has changed since it was first published.

By Alexandru Stanciu · Published · Updated

What we know

Confirmed

  • Duke beat NC State 41-3 on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. By quarter, Duke scored 7, 24, 7 and 3. NC State scored 3, 0, 0 and 0. Both official box scores list attendance of 56,919, kickoff at 12:40 p.m., and the end of the game at 4:01 p.m.Confirmed by Duke Athletics box score; NC State Athletics box score
  • The ACC had listed the game for 12:30 p.m. Eastern on The CW. The box scores list the kickoff that was played at 12:40 p.m.Confirmed by ACC Week 10 TV announcement, Oct. 26, 2026; Duke Athletics box score; NC State Athletics box score
  • Nate Sheppard carried 18 times for 217 yards and three rushing touchdowns, from 69, 8 and 4 yards. Both box scores list those figures.Confirmed by Duke Athletics box score; NC State Athletics box score
  • Walker Eget completed 22 of 31 passes for 208 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. The touchdown was an 18-yard pass to Jaivon Solomon. Both box scores list that line.Confirmed by Duke Athletics box score; NC State Athletics box score
  • Gavin Strange made field goals of 25 and 46 yards and was 5 for 5 on extra points. Both box scores list those kicks.Confirmed by Duke Athletics box score; NC State Athletics box score
  • The scoring line on both box scores credits Andrew Pellicciotta with a 100-yard blocked field-goal return for a touchdown as the first half ended. Halftime was Duke 31, NC State 3. Duke's recap and NC State's recap both say Kanoah Vinesett's kick came up short and was caught in the back of the end zone.Confirmed by Duke Athletics box score; NC State Athletics box score; Duke Athletics recap; NC State Athletics recap
  • NC State's only points were Kanoah Vinesett's 39-yard field goal in the first quarter. CJ Bailey completed 15 of 24 passes for 123 yards and no touchdowns. Both box scores list those figures.Confirmed by Duke Athletics box score; NC State Athletics box score
  • The box scores list Duke at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the ACC, and NC State at 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the ACC.Confirmed by Duke Athletics box score; NC State Athletics box score
  • Duke's recap says Sheppard's first touchdown Saturday made him the first Blue Devil with consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, and that he now has 17 rushing touchdowns this season. The same recap calls the win a fourth straight victory over NC State and says Duke visits No. 1 Miami next Saturday at noon on ABC.Confirmed by Duke Athletics recap, Nov. 7, 2026
  • NC State's recap calls this the program's largest loss to Duke since 1956, says the Wolfpack did not score an offensive touchdown for the first time since 2023, also against Duke, and says the all-time series is now 45-37-5 in Duke's favor after four straight Duke wins. It says NC State hosts Syracuse on Saturday, Nov. 14, at noon on the ACC Network. It also says senior linebacker Popo Aguirre left in the third quarter with an injury and does not describe that injury.Confirmed by NC State Athletics recap, Nov. 7, 2026
  • NC State athletics director Boo Corrigan announced Oct. 24 that head coach Dave Doeren had been relieved of his duties and that Todd Goebbel would be interim head coach for the rest of the season.Confirmed by NC State Athletics, Oct. 24, 2026

Still unknown

  • What injury Popo Aguirre had, and how serious it is. NC State's recap says only that he left in the third quarter
  • Why the official scoring line says blocked field goal while both school recaps describe a kick that came up short

What happened

In Raleigh, Duke beat NC State 41-3 on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Both schools' official box scores list that final. Duke scored 7, 24, 7 and 3 by quarter. NC State scored 3, 0, 0 and 0. Attendance was 56,919. The box scores list kickoff at 12:40 p.m. and the end of the game at 4:01 p.m. The ACC had scheduled a 12:30 p.m. kickoff on The CW.

The same box scores list Duke at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the ACC, and NC State at 4-5 and 2-4.

How Duke scored

Nate Sheppard carried 18 times for 217 yards and three rushing touchdowns, from 69 yards, 8 yards and 4 yards. Both box scores list that line.

Walker Eget completed 22 of 31 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown, an 18-yard throw to Jaivon Solomon. He did not throw an interception.

Gavin Strange made field goals of 25 and 46 yards and was 5 for 5 on extra points.

The scoring line credits Andrew Pellicciotta with a 100-yard blocked field-goal return for a touchdown as the first half ended. Halftime was Duke 31, NC State 3. Duke's recap and NC State's recap both say Kanoah Vinesett's kick came up short and was caught in the back of the end zone. The official line still says blocked field goal. This page is not choosing one description.

NC State's day

NC State's only points were Kanoah Vinesett's 39-yard field goal in the first quarter. CJ Bailey completed 15 of 24 passes for 123 yards. The box score shows no NC State offensive touchdown.

NC State's recap calls this the program's largest loss to Duke since 1956, and the first game without an offensive touchdown since 2023, also against Duke. It says the all-time series is now 45-37-5 in Duke's favor after four straight Duke wins. Duke's recap also calls Saturday a fourth straight win in the series.

That NC State recap says senior linebacker Popo Aguirre left in the third quarter with an injury. It does not say what the injury was.

Duke's recap says Sheppard's first touchdown Saturday made him the first Blue Devil with consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, and that he has 17 rushing touchdowns this season.

Todd Goebbel has been NC State's interim head coach since Oct. 24, when athletics director Boo Corrigan said Dave Doeren had been relieved, according to NC State Athletics.

What is next

Duke's recap says the Blue Devils visit No. 1 Miami next Saturday at noon on ABC. NC State's recap says the Wolfpack hosts Syracuse on Saturday, Nov. 14, at noon on the ACC Network.

Related coverage

This site is not NC State Athletics or Duke Athletics.

Photos

Text-only. No athletics or outlet photos are used here.

Why it matters

Saturday's game was an ACC football meeting at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, with Wake County's Wolfpack hosting Durham's Blue Devils. The final on both official box scores is Duke 41, NC State 3.

Updates

  1. Nov 8, 2026, 6:10 AM

    Added Saturday's final from both official box scores. Duke 41, NC State 3 at Carter-Finley Stadium. Sheppard 18 carries for 217 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Kickoff listed at 12:40 p.m. The original publication time is unchanged.

  2. Nov 7, 2026, 8:41 PM

    Evening check on Nov. 7, after the scheduled kickoff. The final was not on this page yet.

Sources

  1. Football vs NC State on 11/07/2026, box score (Final 41-3; quarters Duke 7-24-7-3, NC State 3-0-0-0; Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh; kickoff 12:40 p.m.; end 4:01 p.m.; attendance 56,919; Duke 7-2, 4-2 ACC; NC State 4-5, 2-4 ACC; Sheppard 18 carries, 217 yards, 3 rushing touchdowns; Eget 22 of 31, 208 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions; Strange field goals of 25 and 46, 5 of 5 extra points; Pellicciotta 100-yard blocked field-goal return; Bailey 15 of 24, 123 yards; Vinesett 39-yard field goal)

    Official sourcePublished by Duke Athletics · Checked Nov 8, 2026, 6:10 AM

  2. Football vs Duke on 11/07/2026, box score (same final 41-3, same quarter scores, same attendance, kickoff and ending time, same Sheppard, Eget, Bailey, Strange and Pellicciotta lines)

    Official sourcePublished by NC State Athletics · Checked Nov 8, 2026, 6:10 AM

  3. Duke explodes in second quarter, tops NCSU 41-3 (Duke Athletics recap, Nov. 7, 2026, 4:24 p.m.: Sheppard 217 yards and three rushing touchdowns; first Blue Devil with consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons; 17 rushing touchdowns this season; Vinesett kick came up short and Pellicciotta caught it in the back of the end zone for a 100-yard return; fourth straight win over NC State; next game at No. 1 Miami, Saturday, noon, ABC)

    Official sourcePublished by Duke Athletics · Checked Nov 8, 2026, 6:10 AM

  4. Wolfpack offense stalls in 41-3 loss to Duke (NC State Athletics recap, Nov. 7, 2026, 5:05 p.m.: largest loss to Duke since 1956; no offensive touchdown, first time since 2023, also against Duke; series now 45-37-5 Duke after four straight Duke wins; Sheppard 217 yards on 18 carries; Bailey 15 of 24 for 123 yards; Vinesett kick did not have the distance and was caught in the back of the end zone; Popo Aguirre left in the third quarter with an injury, no nature given; next home game Syracuse, Nov. 14, noon, ACC Network)

    Official sourcePublished by NC State Athletics · Checked Nov 8, 2026, 6:10 AM

  5. ACC Football Week 10 TV Networks and Game Times Announced (Oct. 26, 2026: Duke at NC State, 12:30 p.m. ET on The CW, Saturday, Nov. 7)

    Official sourcePublished by Atlantic Coast Conference · Checked Nov 6, 2026, 8:05 PM

  6. NC State Announces Change in Leadership for Wolfpack Football (Oct. 24, 2026: Dave Doeren relieved; Todd Goebbel interim for the rest of the season)

    Official sourcePublished by NC State Athletics · Checked Nov 6, 2026, 8:05 PM

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