North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren preaches "every rep matters" in practice every single day. It's not an uncommon message by any means — but when it comes to the series with ACC Atlantic rival Clemson, it's a truth the Wolfpack haven't been able to escape.
In 2016, N.C. State missed a 33-yard field goal as time expired to set up a heartbreaking 24-17 overtime loss to Clemson. The Tigers had four turnovers in that game. In 2017, Clemson's K'Von Wallace intercepted Ryan Finley on the final play of regulation in a 38-31 victory, but both coaches pointed to Ray-Ray McCloud's 89-yard punt return touchdown as the difference in the game. Now, No. 16 N.C. State get a third chance against No. 3 Clemson with a matchup at Memorial Stadium.
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"There were plenty of opportunities in both of those games where we could have won but we didn't," Doeren said on the ACC teleconference Wednesday. "We dropped a pass or had a pass interference on a critical third down or had a field goal blocked before we missed the one that was a chip shot. ‘Every rep matters’ is a big deal in a big game. … Our guys have to train that way and understand the importance of every six-second rep that they get."
In that regard, this is the 5-0 Wolfpack's opportunity as one of the five remaining unbeaten Power 5 teams. Alabama (7-0), Ohio State (7-0), Clemson (6-0) and Notre Dame (7-0) are well-established powers. N.C. State has won double-digit games just once in school history — an 11-3 campaign in 2002 led by quarterback Philip Rivers that won at Memorial Stadium to go to 9-0 before three consecutive losses to end the season.
Since then, that has been N.C. State's identity — a preseason sleeper that can't finish the job.
Doeren without a doubt has changed the culture. N.C. State has enjoyed four consecutive winning seasons — including last year's 9-4 effort — and has won its last seven games. Finley is getting next-level buzz, and the Wolfpack replaced a record-seven selections in the 2018 NFL Draft. Looking to Saturday’s game, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said N.C. State's stretch run game — and the formations they use off that — make this a difficult challenge for the Tigers' loaded defensive line.
"They've had really good players," Swinney said, pointing to the number of players picked in the draft. "They've been really good. Two years ago, when we played them here, we didn't convert in the red zone. We were inside the 10 or 5 three times, and got zero points."
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This is another moment for Clemson, too: a chance to solidify its standing as the front runner in the ACC Atlantic on its way to a fourth straight ACC championship and College Football Playoff berth. The bye week allowed for freshman Trevor Lawrence to grow more comfortable in the starting role, too. The Tigers are one of eight teams that rank in the top 25 in scoring offense (43.0) and scoring defense (14.5).
That said, Swinney expects the same shot from the Wolfpack.
"When you play games like this, there is not a lot of room for error," he said. "I don't doubt Saturday will be another competitive game."
Will the Wolfpack rise up to that challenge? This would be their chance to upset the establishment of the ACC and the College Football Playoff rankings, to force their way into a larger conversation and to erase the stigma theirs is a program that just can't take the next step under Doeren.
"We've been able to execute," Doeren said, "but not enough to win."
Every rep matters at N.C. State. This week, they matter a little more.
