35 - 31 Coaching mistakes cost teams wins. There is bad clock management and bad play calls. There are all kinds of decisions that leave fans frustrated and disappointed. Sometimes what happens to cost a team a game is so egregious, so stunning I think you have to question whether that coach should continue running things.
I think we saw that Saturday with Dave Doeren and NC State against Vanderbilt, and it really shouldn’t be a question. Dave Doeren’s tenure at NC State has gone on long enough.
After a week 1 debacle of a loss to Virginia, we at the blog had this to say.
This season, even through just 1 game, already has that feel that this won’t be the year NC State truly turns the corner. Unless the bottom just falls out on the season, which I don’t expect will happen, then the NC State administration will have a decision to make at year’s end.
Well, after a colossal 35-31 choke job against Vanderbilt, the decision should be made sooner rather than later.
Congrats to Dave Doeren on joining exclusive company!
pic.twitter.com/h09KoWKeiE
— College Sports Only (@CSOonX) September 19, 2026
Guess who made it 1046 – 2? NC State.
On 4th and 7 with just over 2 minutes, up 31 – 28 at the Vanderbilt 31, NC State goes for it. If it were 4th and 3 or less, I might disagree, but I could understand. NC State called a difficult pass play that failed. Vanderbilt got the ball back and drove into scoring position. They should have never gone for it.
NC State’s defense intercepted Vanderbilt with 1 minute left. That looked like it would seal the game, as the Wolfpack could run the clock down to under 10 seconds before giving it back to Vanderbilt. On 4th and 7 again, oddly enough, there were 6 seconds left. NC State could have any number of formations and run out the clock. They could have punted. They could have run through the end zone and kick back off with 1 or 2 seconds. They weren’t going to pass the ball, so literally the only way NC State could lose on the 4th and 7 would be to fumble the ball and have Vanderbilt recover it. That’s exactly what QB CJ Bailey did. Bailey deserves blame, but the ultimate responsibility falls to Doeren.
The choke job was unforgivable.
Dave Doeren has struggled enough to win P4 OOC games of note, and he had it here on the road at Vanderbilt. The failure to leave Vanderbilt with a win will be the defining moment of Dave Doeren’s tenure at NC State. Frequently competitive, but never finding a way to get over the hump. NC State was solid in stretches Saturday, but when it counted most, didn’t get it done. NC State never does with Dave Doeren when things count the most, and it’s time to close the book on things there for Doeren.
