NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt pulled off a comeback that seemed nearly impossible Saturday, turning a late NC State mistake into a 35 to 31 victory.
Miles Capers forced a fumble in the closing seconds and Cayden Daniels recovered it for a touchdown, giving the Commodores their first lead of the afternoon just before time expired.
NC State quarterback CJ Bailey was attempting to drain the remaining clock and potentially take a safety when Capers brought him down and knocked the ball loose. Daniels recovered it in the end zone, completing a wild finish for Vanderbilt.
The victory moved Vanderbilt to 3 and 0 after the Commodores spent much of the game playing from behind. NC State built a 17 to 0 advantage in the first half and later led 24 to 7 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.
Instead, Vanderbilt’s defense produced 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 and 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 its 2012 win over Ole Miss.
NC State controlled the early stages of the game. Will Wilson scored on a 33 yard run before Bailey connected with Keenan Jackson for another touchdown to help the Wolfpack establish a 14 to 0 advantage.
The Wolfpack finished with 164 rushing yards and also produced more than 200 yards through the air.
NC State coach Dave Doeren said the plan on the decisive final sequence was to burn the remaining time and take a safety if necessary. Instead, Bailey was hit before the play could develop as intended, giving Vanderbilt the opportunity it needed.
The Commodores still have areas to clean up despite the dramatic victory. Vanderbilt committed 13 penalties for 116 yards, including five holding penalties and a false start, putting additional pressure on Curtis and the offensive line throughout the afternoon.
The game was also played in extreme heat in Nashville. Temperatures reached 100 degrees, while conditions on the field were considerably hotter.
For Vanderbilt, none of those issues prevented one of the most unlikely finishes of the young season. After trailing from the opening stages of the game, the Commodores needed only a few seconds to turn what appeared to be a loss into a 3 and 0 start.
