Vanderbilt wins after NC State fumbles away final seconds
Vanderbilt recovered C.J. Bailey’s end-zone fumble to beat NC State 35–31 after a replay review restored one second to the clock.
Vanderbilt defeated NC State 35–31 after a dramatic final sequence in which Wolfpack quarterback C.J. Bailey fumbled in his own end zone with six seconds remaining.
NC State led 31–28 and had not trailed until Vanderbilt recovered the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown. A replay review restored one second to the clock, allowing Vanderbilt to take the extra point and extend its lead to four points.
The Wolfpack had earlier built a 17–0 advantage and led 31–21 with just over nine minutes remaining. Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis then threw an interception in the red zone with 1:04 left, apparently giving NC State control of the game.
According to Fox Sports, NC State was attempting to protect its three-point lead when Bailey moved backwards in the end zone. The account described the sequence as an attempted intentional safety, but the supplied material does not independently verify that characterisation.
The finish also reshaped the betting outcome. Fox Sports reported that most betting and prediction markets gave NC State a 99.9 per cent chance of winning before the fumble, while bettors backing NC State at plus three had appeared set to avoid a loss before the late score.
