Maryland and North Carolina State reignite an old Atlantic Coast Conference rivalry in a regional interest clash with some saucy history. NC State should have a bit of a home-field advantage. Here’s what you need to know about the matchup.
NC State vs. Maryland.
Friday, Dec. 30, noon at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Follow every game: Latest NCAA College Football Scores and Schedules
ESPN is airing the game.
Each team is coming off a win. Maryland scored 30 or more points seven times this season. Prediction: Maryland, 29-22.
Scooby Axson: NC State
Jace Evans: Maryland
Paul Myerberg: NC State
Erick Smith: NC State
Eddie Timanus: Maryland
Dan Wolken: Maryland
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:The complete schedule of all 42 college football bowl games
THE BEST:USA TODAY Sports’ 2022 All-America college football teams
LOOKAHEAD:Top 10 Heisman Trophy candidates for 2023
TROPHIES:College football award winners for the 2022 season
Get the latest betting info from Tipico Sportsbook here.
The Terrapins and the Wolfpack played each other every year between 1956 and 2013, and then Maryland left for the Big Ten. The two sides haven’t met since and left the rivalry dead even at 33-33, plus four ties. Maryland fans like to point out that one of the greatest N.C. State players ever – longtime NFL quarterback Philip Rivers – never beat the Terps while he was playing for the Pack.
Yes. After a season-ending injury to Heisman hopeful Devin Leary six games into the season, NC State has played a bit of musical chairs at quarterback. Finley – a 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman – hit 67.5% of his passes for 271 yards and two TDs vs. UNC.
Yes. A legitimate NFL prospect, Drake Thomas leads the Wolfpack defense with 90 tackles, 15 of them for losses. He’s also racked up 6.5 sacks and four pass breakups. Thayer Thomas, a graduate student, was is wide receiver for the Wolfpack with 53 catches for 588 yards and 4 TDs this season. From 2018-21, Thayer Thomas caught 158 passes for 1,842 yards and 20 TDs.
The Maryland quarterback has a career completion percentage of 68.1. Third in the Big Ten in passing yardage with 2,787 this season, he has 17 TD passes and four TDs on the ground.
Both teams will be without key coaches: NC State offensive coordinator Tim Beck was hired as the head coach at Coastal Carolina, and former Maryland co-offensive coordinator Mike Miller left the team to join Biff Poggi’s staff at Charlotte.
Trader is a playmaker in Maryland’s defensive backfield. He’s second on the team in tackles with 58, and 32 of those are solo stops. He also has two interceptions on the year and three pass breakups. Opposing quarterbacks have to account for where the sophomore safety – who also stars for the lacrosse team – is at all times.
ESPN. Don’t forget to keep the remote in hand postgame for the ceremonial mayonnaise bath for the winning head coach.
This is the first time since the 2013 and 2014 seasons that Maryland has gone bowling in back-to-back years. If Maryland beats NC State, it’ll be the first time the Terps have won two consecutive bowl games since the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
