The Pack Insiders | An NC State Sports Podcast by PackPride.com

Lou and Matthew react to NC State’s coaching change, why the Stanford loss became the breaking point, and whether Rivers could transform the future of Wolfpack football.We discuss what went wrong, the staff changes, the financial stakes of moving on, and what a Rivers hire could mean for recruiting, donor support and fan excitement. Plus, a look at Doeren’s legacy—and a comparison with Tom O’Brien that sparks a debate.Is Philip Rivers the right swing for NC State? Tell us what you think in the comments.Subscribe to The Pack Insiders Podcast for more NC State coverage, and visit PackPride.com for breaking news.Intro Music: The song is 'Dear Raleigh’' from our friends and NC State legends 'Kooley High' : https://www.kooleyhigh.com/

Down six with 2:50 left, NC State showed us something.Justin Gainey’s Wolfpack rallied for a 77-73 exhibition win over Mississippi State, and we’re breaking it all down, player by player.Who stood out? What did we learn about this roster? And how concerned should we be about the rebounding?We dig into the connected defense, the late-game leadership, and why this first look gave Wolfpack fans plenty to be excited about.🐺 Read our full breakdown:https://packinsider.com/2026/10/19/our-take-player-by-player-breakdown-and-what-we-thought-of-nc-states-77-73-exhibition-win-over-mississippi-st/Who impressed YOU most? Drop your take in the comments.Subscribe to The Pack Insiders for more NC State basketball coverage.#NCState #Wolfpack #CollegeBasketball

Did NC State save its season against Louisville—and is it time to unleash more Will Wilson?Lou and Matthew break down the Wolfpack’s much-needed victory, Harvey Dyson’s season-saving effort and CJ Bailey’s bounce-back performance. We look ahead to Wake Forest, discuss the missed tackles that still need fixing and debate where fan criticism crosses into negativity.Then comes the Will Wilson debate: Should NC State expand his role and let him throw enough to keep defenses guessing?Plus, we turn to basketball: What does Justin Gainey need to accomplish in year one for Wolfpack fans to call it a success?CHAPTERS0:00 Intro0:52 Did the Louisville win save NC State’s season?7:28 Wake Forest and the road ahead9:30 NC State’s missed-tackle problem10:42 CJ Bailey deserves credit12:07 Fan loyalty, negativity and NIL16:04 The Will Wilson debate25:54 What counts as success for Justin Gainey?Subscribe to The Pack Insiders, presented by Pack Pride, and tell us in the comments: How would you use Will Wilson—and what are your expectations for Gainey’s first season?More Wolfpack coverage: https://packinsider.comEpisode sponsored by: Streaker Sports - NC State Peanut 'Snoopy' Collectionhttps://www.streakersports.com/collec...#NCState #Wolfpack #GoPack

NC State responded in a big way with a 73-0 demolition of Richmond. Lou and Matthew break down what the historic blowout actually means after the Virginia loss, the records that fell during Richmond, how fan expectations shaped the narrative, and why the upcoming road game at Vanderbilt carries massive weight for the fan base.We dig into Vandy’s 2-0 start, the emergence of true freshman QB Jared Curtis (one of the highest-ranked recruits in program history), what State needs to do defensively and offensively, and why this game feels like a must-win for morale even if it’s not a pure must-win for the season.Timestamps:0:00 – Intro0:29 – Richmond game expectations & reaction2:20 – Pack Predictions vs Vegas lines4:03 – Was it a no-win situation for State?4:48 – Comparing to Virginia’s FCS win5:57 – Records broken in the 73-0 win8:11 – Talent disparity & modern FCS reality9:11 – Vanderbilt preview begins10:05 – Jared Curtis: background, dual-threat ability & full-time starter news13:03 – Vandy’s early-season production & film challenges14:06 – Why this is a must-win for the fan base16:04 – Offensive encouragement from Richmond (CJ, RBs, creativity)17:02 – Jonathan Paylor / Taylor appearance & potential role18:30 – Getting creative with Will Wilson & others19:47 – How the Vanderbilt result will shape the season narrative21:48 – Keys to stopping Curtis + defensive notes23:44 – Offensive wishes (route concepts, gadgets, open-field playmakers)24:54 – Closing & what’s next#NCState #Wolfpack #CollegeFootball #ACCFootball #PackPride

Thayer Thomas’ story is one of the most unlikely journeys in NC State football.He went from an undersized, overlooked high school athlete who was planning to play college baseball to a preferred walk-on at NC State — and eventually became one of the most accomplished players in Wolfpack history before getting his shot at the NFL.In this episode, Thayer takes us through the entire journey: the high school game that caught Dave Doeren’s attention, choosing NC State over baseball, the relentless work ethic that helped him stand out as a walk-on, his rise within the Wolfpack program, and what it was like making it to the NFL.We also talk about the lessons he learned through adversity, the role his family played in shaping him, and his perspective on the current Wolfpack.This episode is brought to you by: ⁠Yard U - Landscaping with a purpose⁠ (https://hireyardu.com/)At Yard U, they do more than just cut grass—they cultivate work ethic, responsibility, and professionalism in the next generation. By choosing YardU, you’re not only getting top-tier lawn care service but also investing in the youth of our communities. A business founded by Thayer himself and other NC State alumni.

On this episode of The Pack Insiders Podcast, NC State starting running back Duke Scott joins the show for an in-depth conversation. We cover Duke's journey to State, how he persevered through injury, why he's known as a "freak" in the weight room, his freshman season breakout, how he's emerging as a leader, and his mindset heading into this season. We also get into Duke's upcoming special event. Duke Day at Galaxy Fun Park – Raleigh Come meet NC State star running back Duke Scott at Galaxy Fun Park in Raleigh! Meet & Greet: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM $40 Online Presale Your ticket includes: All-day access pass to Galaxy Fun Park (10:00 AM – 9:00 PM) Meet & Greet with Duke Scott (2:00 PM – 6:00 PM) — autograph and photo opportunities available Free jump socks included with admission Free event wristband, t-shirt & mini football 2 free raffle tickets for prize giveaways Get your tickets here: https://galaxyfunpark.centeredgeonline.com/webgroups/duke

NC State football GM Andy Vaughn joined us on 'The Pack Insiders Podcast' to take us behind the curtain on what it actually takes to build a roster in the modern era of college football. From NIL and revenue sharing to recruiting, roster construction and the challenge of keeping the Wolfpack's culture intact, Vaughn explains just how much his job has changed — and why NC State's commitment to culture and loyalty still drives so many of its biggest decisions. He also opens up about the fight to keep CJ Bailey in Raleigh and what that process really looked like behind the scenes.

Lou and Matthew give their thoughts on their recent interview with NC State basketball GM Patrick Stacy, talk about Quadir Copeland's NBA summer league success (and argue over his style of play), plus talk about the 7 NC State baseball players who heard their names called at the MLB draft this past week.

NC State rebounding legend, Richard Howell, talks with us about how his time at NC State, how 'Beard Gang' started, what it's like coaching today's youth, his view of NC State's new roster (and coach), and introduces us to his new podcast.

Matthew and Lou dig into NC State's roster build for the upcoming 2026-27 season. How is it different from last year? We go position by position and give our thoughts.

6'10 Kyle Evans is about to fill a desperate need for this year's Wolfpack. Evans was the nation's block leader at UC Irvine last season; however that stat overshadows the entire package he'll bring to the table next year. We sat down with him to hear about his journey, why he chose NC State, and what we can expect from him this coming season.

New NC State commit, RJ Keene, a transfer from Boise State, is a unique player and someone who Evan Miya called "The best player in college basketball who doesn't score." We dig into who he is and what he'll bring to NC State this coming season. Pluse his insight on the system Gainey will run and his good friend Eemeli Yalaho's status and expectations.