Adam Sparks,John LeuzziKnoxville News Sentinel
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — No. 12 Tennessee football picked up its first significant win of the 2024 season Saturday, and the Vols did so by dominating both sides of the ball against No. 23 NC State.
The Vols picked up their second win of the season, 51-10, Saturday night under the lights at Bank of America Stadium in the Duke Mayo Classic — a win that might send Tennessee into the top 10 come tomorrow's latest national polls.
Nico Iamaleava followed up his Week 1 performance for the Vols with 211 yards in the air on 16-of-23 passing with two touchdowns. He also scored a rushing touchdown in the third quarter, finishing with 65 yards on eight carries altogether.
REQUIRED READING: Nico Iamaleava stats: Tennessee QB flawed but still effective vs NC State
Running back Dylan Sampson had a big game himself as he ran for 132 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns.
Dominic Bailey, Jakobe Thomas and Omarr Norman-Lott each picked up sacks on the night for the Vols, whose defense held NC State quarterback Grayson McCall to 15 of 22 passing and just 104 yards with no touchdowns. Walk-on Will Brooks returned an interception for a touchdown in the second half.
With that, here are updates, highlights and scores from Tennessee vs. NC State from Bank of America Stadium:
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Tennessee vs NC State score updates
Final: Tennessee 51, NC State 10
Final stats
Here's a look at final team stats from Tennessee-NC State:
- Total yards:Tennessee 460, NC State 143
- Passing yards:Tennessee 211, NC State 104
- Rushing yards:Tennessee 249, NC State 39
- First downs:Tennessee 22, NC State 10
- Penalties-yards:Tennessee 7-70, USC 6-52
Here's a look at how the quarterback matchup played out:
- Nico Iamaleava:16-of-23 passing for 211 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions
- Grayson McCall:15-of-22 passing for 104 yardswith an interception
Tennessee makes change at quarterback
Nico Iamaleava's night is done at quarterback as well as redshirt senior Gaston Moore comes in. Iamaleava ends the night completing 70% of his passes while finishing with 211 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
NC State makes change at quarterback
Grayson McCall's night at quarterback is done as NC State backup CJ Bailey comes in. McCall finishes the night completing 15 of 22 passing for 104 yards with an interception.
Nico Iamaleava throws touchdown to Holden Staes
Nico Iamaleava finds Holden Staes on the left side for an 18-yard touchdown pass to extend Tennessee's lead to 51-10 over NC State. Iamaleava is 16 of 23 passing for 211 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
NC State turns it over on downs
Vols' defense continues to dominate as they get the stop on fourth-and-1. Tennessee takes over the ball on the NC State 32-yard line.
Dylan Sampson scores second touchdown vs Wolfpack
Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson picks up his second touchdown of the night as he takes one 34 yards to the house. Tennessee now leads NC State 44-10. It is a five-play drive for 60 yards.
Third quarter: Tennessee 37, NC State 3
NC State turnover on downs turns to Tennessee touchdown
Tennessee's defense leads directly to offense: The Vols stuff McCall on a fourth-down conversion attempt, giving Tennessee the ball at NC State's 31-yard line. This time, Iamaleava gives Tennessee the touchdown off a 31-yard scramble. Vols lead 37-3 late in the third quarter, and the rest of this game is merely a formality.
NC State fumble leads to Tennessee field goal
A Dominic Bailey strip sack of Grayson McCall gives Tennessee tremendous field position at the NC State 22-yard line. The Vols can only muster 5 yards however, and they'll settle for a Max Gilbert 36-yard field goal to extend the lead to 30-3 in the third quarter.
Touchdown, Vols
Nico Iamaleava finds Miles Kitselman for a 15-yard touchdown connection to open the scoring in the second half. This game is well in hand for the Vols, now leading 27-3.
First half: Tennessee 20, NC State 3
Vols lead at halftime
After 30 minutes of action in Charlotte at the Duke Mayo Classic, No. 12 Tennessee leads No. 23 NC State 20-3 after Vols kicker Max Gilbert hit a 45-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
Tennessee leads NC State 17-3 at two-minute timeout
Tennessee-NC State has reached the two-minute timeout at Bank of America Stadium, with the Vols out in front 17-3. NC State has a fourth-and-13 on its own 15-yard line coming out of the timeout.
Jackson Lampley injured for Vols
As noted by Knox News' Mike Wilson, Jackson Lampley was injured on the extra-point attempt following Will Brooks' pick-six return. The game was stopped briefly as trainers came out to look at Lampley.
Pick Six for the Vols
Walk-on Will Brooks picks off NC State quarterback Grayson McCall and brings it to the house for an 85-yard interception return. Great timing by Brooks on picking up the pass from McCall.
No. 12 Tennessee now leads No. 23 NC State 17-3 in the second quarter.
Max Gilbert hits field goal for Vols
Vols respond with a 32-yard field goal from kicker Max Gilbert. No. 12 Tennessee now leads No. 23 NC State 10-3 with 6:33 remaining in the first half.
Nico Iamaleava attempts to go to Squirrel White on third-and-5, but misses him. The missed throw came after he connected with White for a 45-yard reception earlier in the drive.
NC State held to field goal
NC State kicker Kanoah Vinesett hits the 24-yard field goal to put the Wolfpack on the board at 7-3 with 9:04 remaining in the first half.
Tennessee defensive back Ricky Gibson III was called for defensive pass interference on the drive, helping NC State get into the red zone. The scoring drive was set up by Bishop Fitzgerald picking off Nico Iamaleava. A six-play drive for 40 yards for NC State.
Nico Iamaleava throws interception
NC State's Bishop Fitzgerald picks off Nico Iamaleava, turning the ball over to the Wolfpack. It is the first career pick for Iamaleava. Fitzgerald returned the interception for 29 yards.
NC State punts for third consecutive drive
NC State can't handle the pressure from Tennessee's defense as it goes three-and-out and punts the ball back to the Vols. Jakobe Thomas picked up a 5-yard sack on the drive, the second of the night for Tennessee.
First Quarter: Tennessee 7, NC State 0
Tennessee leads NC State after first quarter
Dylan Sampson's touchdown sends Tennessee into the second quarter with a 7-0 lead over No. 23 NC State at Bank of America Stadium. Nico Iamaleava was 6 of 8 passing for 55 yards in the first half.
NC State has the ball on its own 21-yard line with a second-and-14.
Tennessee strikes first
Tennessee is on the board as Dylan Sampson runs up the middle for the 9-yard rushing touchdown. Big play of the drive came on third-and-14 when Nico Iamaleava threw a quick toss pass to Sampson for 17 yards as NC State brought the blitz.
It was a nine-play scoring drive for the Vols that went for 62 yards and took 4:10 off the game clock. Iamaleava was 6 of 6 passing for 55 yards on the drive.
Three and out for NC State
Three-and-out for the Wolfpack, resulting in back-to-back punts on their first two drives. It was a three-play drive that lost a yard and went for 1:13 of game time.
Vols punt on first drive
Nico Iamaleava tries to go deep on third-and-3 but overthrows Vols wide receiver Bru McCoy, leading to a punt for the Vols. NC State takes over at its 9-yard line.
Sideline scuffle
Tensions seem to be already high between the Vols and the Wolfpack as the officials throw a plethora of fouls after Nico Iamaleava runs out of bounds into the NC State bench. Penalties were offset as flags came from both teams.
ESPN's broadcast mentioned that an NC State player took a swing at a Vols player.
Vols defense forces punt
Tennessee's defense holds NC State scoreless on its first drive of the night. Vols dialed up the pressure on both second and third down to force the punt. Omarr Norman-Lott picked up the 7-yard sack on second down.
It was a 12-play drive for the Wolfpack that took 6:49 off the game clock. NC State went 29 yards on the drive.
NC State starts first on offense
Grayson McCall and the Wolfpack offense head onto the field first. NC State starts the night on its own 25-yard line.
Pregame
Vols take the field at Bank of America Stadium
Kick-off in Charlotte is just around the corner as Tennessee and Nico Iamaleava take the field vs. NC State.
Tennessee football injury report
As noted by Knox News' Adam Sparks, Vols running back/kick returner Cam Seldon and linebacker Kalib Perry are out for Saturday's game against NC State.
Tennessee-NC State "College GameDay" picks
Here are the picks made by ESPN's "College GameDay" crew and guest picker Michael Phelps earlier Saturday for Tennessee-NC State:
- Desmond Howard: Tennessee
- Lee Corso: Tennessee
- Pat McAfee: Tennessee
- Nick Saban: Tennessee
- Michael Phelps: Tennessee
- Kirk Herbstreit:Did not pick (calling game)
Nico Iamaleava has arrived
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava has arrived at the stadium. Iamaleava is coming off an impressive season opener vs. Chattanooga, against whom he completed nearly 80% of his passes while throwing for 314 yards and three touchdowns.
Tennessee uniform vs. NC State drops
As previously reported by Knox News, the Vols are rocking with the all-white uniform in the Duke Mayo Classic vs. NC State on Saturday.
Kickoff less than two hours away for Tennessee-NC State
Here's a look at the playing field at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The Vols-Wolfpack matchup is the second game of Week 2 between top-25 teams, the other being No. 3 Texas at No. 9 Michigan.
Tennessee vs NC State time today
- Date:Saturday, Sept. 7
- Time:7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Bank of America Stadium (75,037) in Charlotte
What channel is Tennessee vs NC State game on today?
- TV channel:ABC
- Streaming:ESPN App
- Radio:WNML-FM 99.1 in Knoxville. The Vol Network radio broadcast affiliates across Tennessee.
Tennessee vs. NC State will be broadcast nationally on ABC. Play-by-play announcer Rece Davis, analyst Kirk Herbstreit will call the game from the booth at Bank of America Stadium with Holly Rowe reporting from the sideline. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+ andFUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Tennessee vs NC State history
- Series record:Tennessee leads 2-1
- Tennessee last win:2012 (35-12)
- NC State last win: 1911 (16-0)
Tennessee vs NC State prediction
Tennessee 31, NC State 20: If the Vols are back to lighting up the scoreboard against Top 25 opponents (see 2022 season), this is their first chance to show it. Nico Iamaleava won't be near-perfect like Week 1, but he'll be dynamic. And James Pearce should bring the heat on NC State QB Grayson McCall. Check out our matchups and another game prediction.
Tennessee vs NC State betting odds
Game lines and odds fromBetMGMas of Saturday:
- Spread:Tennessee -7.5
- Over/under: 60.5 points
- Moneyline:Tennessee -300
Tennessee vs NC State injury updates
Cornerback Rickey Gibson, who was projected as a starter in preseason, is set to return from a minor injury that kept him out of the Week 1 game against Chattanooga. Freshman wide receivers Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley and freshman linebackers Edwin Spillman and Jordan Burns missed the Chattanooga game, but there is no update to their status.
Check here close to kickoff for Tennessee injury updates.
Tennessee vs NC State weather update
The forecast calls 75 degrees and cloudy skies at kickoff.
Tennessee football 2024 schedule
- Aug. 31: Chattanooga (W, 69-3)
- Sept. 7: vs. NC State (in Charlotte)
- Sept. 14: vs. Kent State
- Sept. 21: at Oklahoma
- Oct. 5: at Arkansas
- Oct. 12: Florida
- Oct. 19: Alabama
- Nov. 2: Kentucky
- Nov. 9: Mississippi State
- Nov. 16: at Georgia
- Nov. 23: UTEP
- Nov. 30: at Vanderbilt
NC State football 2024 schedule
- Aug. 29: Western Carolina (W, 38-21)
- Sept. 7: Tennessee (in Charlotte)
- Sept. 14: Louisiana Tech
- Sept. 21: at Clemson
- Sept. 28: Northern Illinois
- Oct. 5: Wake Forest
- Oct. 12: Syracuse
- Oct. 19: at Cal
- Nov. 2: Stanford
- Nov. 9: Duke
- Nov. 21: at Georgia Tech
- Nov. 28: at North Carolina
Tennessee football news
Players who blocked James Pearce in high school tell tales
Adams: Reader wants Iamaleava's name pronounced correctly
How Tennessee regained recruiting foothold in North Carolina
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