NC State Heads to Gasparilla Bowl, Faces Memphis in Tampa

NC State football will travel to Tampa to face Memphis in the Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on December 19, with kickoff scheduled for 2 30 p.m. and a live broadcast on ESPN. The meeting will be the first between the two programs and comes after the Wolfpack finished the regular season 7 5 and earned bowl eligibility by winning their final two games against Florida State and North Carolina. Memphis arrives at 8 4 from the American conference.

The appearance marks NC State's sixth straight bowl season and the 11th bowl appearance in 13 seasons under head coach Dave Doeren, who will return for a 14th season in Raleigh. Doeren, who turned 54 this week, has compiled a 94 70 record with the Wolfpack and became the program's winningest coach with a victory over Miami in 2023. He commented on the selection saying, "Our staff and team are very excited about playing in a great bowl in the beautiful city of Tampa. We appreciate the opportunity and are looking forward to a great game."

On the field, NC State enters the game with the Atlantic Coast Conference's top rusher Hollywood Smothers and the league's leading tackler Caden Fordham. Those individual performances are part of the program's recent consistency under Doeren, which has included reaching nine wins four times during his tenure.

For Wake County residents the bowl selection carries several practical impacts. Local businesses and alumni groups typically organize travel and watch events that generate economic activity and community engagement. The game also shapes recruiting narratives and the university's national visibility, factors that affect enrollment interest and donor engagement. At the same time sustained investment in athletics raises questions about budget priorities and transparency, including how ticket allocations and travel support for students and community members are decided.

City and university officials, athletic department leaders, and community stakeholders will want clear accounting of travel arrangements and resource allocations as the program prepares for Tampa. The bowl trip is both a sporting opportunity and a governance moment for the university to align athletics success with broader public responsibilities to students and taxpayers.