Clemson Football: 5 most important ACC non-conference games of 2024
By John Chancey
Tennessee vs NC State
When: Saturday, September 7th at 7:30 PM
Where: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina
Expectations are reserved for both teams, primarily because of turnover at quarterback, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t excitement to see this game.
Tennessee will be debuting their biggest recruit of the last decade, Nico Iamaleva, as the starting quarterback. We still don’t know if the rumored price tag for Nico’s NIL deal was accurate or not, but we do know the fortunes of the Volunteers this season are dependent on his abilities.
The Wolfpack went the transfer route this offseason, landing Grayson McCall from Coastal Carolina. Under former head coach Jamey Chadwell and offensive coordinator Willy Korn, McCall played very well, garnering a national reputation at a Group of Five program.
When Chadwell and Korn moved on to Liberty, McCall’s performance took a step back. He will be looking to prove that he is more than a system quarterback.
State offensive coordinator Robert Anae has been up and down in the last few years. He had a fantastic season at Virginia in 2021 with Brendan Armstrong. When Armstrong transferred to NC State last year, there was a belief that Anae could work his magic again, but that didn’t happen.
If McCall flourishes in Anae’s system, the Wolfpack could be a contender in the ACC. If they are, the conference will need them to play well against the Vols.
NEXT: Rutgers at Virginia Tech