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

Justin Gainey starts with a win, Ven-Allen Lubin puts on a show, and NC State fans are still waiting on Philip Rivers.Lou and Matthew break down the Wolfpack’s 83-64 season-opening win over Campbell, from Lubin’s perfect shooting night to Christian Hammond’s impact and the questions that still need answers. How worried should fans be about rebounding, and what’s the best way to use Adams, Edmead and McNeil?Then we turn to football. Why has the coaching search been so quiet? We discuss the Rivers waiting game, what a potential hire could mean for NIL funding and recruiting, and why we believe the opportunity goes beyond a familiar name.Plus, credit to the Pack for its response against Cal, and a fascinating question: Would an expanded College Football Playoff have changed how fans remember Dave Doeren?00:00 Gainey’s Debut & Lubin’s Big Night16:27 Rebounding Concerns & the Numbers24:00 Hammond, McNeil & the Guard Rotation44:33 Philip Rivers: The Waiting Game47:42 State Responds Against Cal51:23 Rivers, NIL & Raising the Ceiling1:06:01 The CFP What-If & Doeren’s LegacyWould Philip Rivers raise NC State’s ceiling? And what stood out to you from Gainey’s debut? Let us know in the comments.Subscribe to The Pack Insiders, presented by Pack Pride, for more Wolfpack talk.

NC State dropped 130 points on Lenoir-Rhyne—and gave Wolfpack fans plenty to get excited about.We break down the biggest takeaways from the Pack’s 130-66 exhibition win, including Darius Adams and Preston Edmead’s unselfish playmaking, Paul McNeil’s hot shooting, Ven-Allen Lubin’s efficiency and why Mikey Wilkins is making a case for more minutes.Plus, the two areas Justin Gainey’s team still needs to clean up: defensive rebounding and Edmead’s foul trouble.Read our full OUR TAKE breakdown:https://packinsider.com/2026/10/25/ou...What impressed you most—and what still concerns you? Let us know in the comments, and subscribe for more NC State coverage.

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/

CBS Sports NFL analyst and diehard Wolfpack fan Will Brinson joins The Pack Insiders to talk Dave Doeren’s future, the Philip Rivers coaching buzz and what NC State fans really want from their program.We dive into the hypothetical that’s been discussed around the fanbase on Rivers interest in coaching at NC State. Would he be the right fit to lead the Wolfpack? We discuss his football mind, personality, and potential to energize fans and donors, and why any hypothetical move starts with resolving Doeren’s future.We also dig into the Wolfpack fanbase: the loyalty, the frustration, the hunger for a breakthrough and why big personalities have always connected in Raleigh. Plus, Brinson shares his path to CBS Sports, we revisit wild NC State coaching search stories and reflect on Chuck Amato’s legacy.

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