Vanderbilt Stuns NC State With Last Second Fumble Recovery

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt completed a dramatic comeback Saturday, turning a late NC State mistake into a 35-31 victory.
Miles Capers forced a fumble in the closing seconds, and Cayden Daniels recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown to give Vanderbilt its first lead of the game just before time expired.
NC State quarterback CJ Bailey was attempting to run out the clock and potentially take a safety when Capers brought him down and knocked the ball loose. Daniels recovered the fumble for the decisive score.
The victory moved Vanderbilt to 3-0 after the Commodores spent much of the afternoon playing from behind. NC State built a 17-0 first-half lead and later held a 24-7 advantage in the third quarter.
Freshman quarterback Jared Curtis helped Vanderbilt work its way back into the game, but the comeback appeared to be over when Brody Barnhardt intercepted Curtis at the NC State 1-yard line with just over a minute remaining.
Vanderbilt’s defense responded with one final opportunity.
Capers said the comeback reflected the trust Vanderbilt’s players have developed in one another and their belief that they are never completely out of a game.
The loss dropped NC State to 1-2 and denied the Wolfpack their first road victory against an SEC opponent since 1977. Vanderbilt’s 17-point comeback also matched the program’s largest comeback victory since a 2012 win over Ole Miss.
NC State controlled the early portion of the game. Will Wilson scored on a 33-yard run before Bailey connected with Keenan Jackson for another touchdown to help the Wolfpack build a 14-0 lead.
The Wolfpack finished with 164 rushing yards and more than 200 passing yards.
NC State coach Dave Doeren said the plan on the decisive final sequence was to run out the remaining time and take a safety if necessary. Instead, Bailey was hit before the play could develop as intended, giving Vanderbilt the chance it needed.
The Commodores still had plenty to clean up despite the win. Vanderbilt committed 13 penalties for 116 yards, including five holding penalties and a false start, putting additional pressure on Curtis and the offensive line.
The game was also played in extreme heat in Nashville, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees and field conditions even hotter.
None of it prevented one of the most unlikely finishes of the young season. After trailing from the opening stages of the game, Vanderbilt needed only a few seconds to turn what appeared to be a loss into a 3-0 start.