Early in the afternoon, rumors started to swirl on Twitter about NC State Football adding back a 12th regular season game to its 2018 schedule. Specifically, that NC State was planning to add a game with East Carolina. This would serve as a makeup for the cancellation of the West Virginia game due to Hurricane Florence. A few hours later, those rumors were confirmed.
The week after NC State takes on North Carolina in Chapel Hill, the Wolfpack will host the Pirates (Dec. 1). Kickoff is set for noon.
Pack vs. Pirates
12.1.18https://t.co/tuF8zy3KtH
— NC State Football (@PackFootball) October 2, 2018
Of note: If either team makes it conference’s title game, this makeup game won’t take place. According to NC State, tickets for the WVU game will be honored for the ECU contest.
Brant Wilkerson-New from the Greensboro News & Record reached out to NC State athletics director Debbie Yow earlier in the afternoon for a comment. At the time, she couldn’t confirm who NC State was looking to add.
Asked Debbie Yow for comment on potential of scheduling ECU for a makeup game. She said: “We hope to have a signed contract soon with a team. I cannot confirm with whom since that contract is not in place yet.”
— Brant Wilkerson-New (@BrantGNR) October 2, 2018
NC State Football vs. ECU
NC State and East Carolina have played one another 29 times, dating back to the 1970 season. Currently, NCSU holds a 16-13 edge in the rivalry. ECU, however, has won three straight in the series; in fact, NC State hasn’t beaten East Carolina since Russell Wilson was a freshman quarterback for the Pack (2008).
Dave Doeren is 0-2 against ECU since he arrived at NC State — with losses in 2013 and 2016.
NC State and East Carolina are currently scheduled to open the 2019 football season against one another, too.
The two programs also schedule two future matchups, too. East Carolina will host NC State in 2025; three years later, the Pack will travel east to Greenville for another game in 2028.