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

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

The guys talk about NC State's soul-crushing loss to Vanderbilt and give their thoughts on what went wrong and what it means. Plus a recap of what they saw from the basketball practice they attended this past week, including Ven-Allen Lubin's new role, Christian Hammond's size, and Darius Adams' shooting stroke.

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

Last week, we wrote a piece on the national hype being generated around the NC State offense. Whether it was the piece about the Pack having the best-fitting offense in college basketball, by Basket Under Review,' or the fact that they're ranked in the Top-10 offensively by Bart Torvik's advanced analytics model. We dug a little deeper to see what's behind the hype and whether or not we're buying it.

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.