NC State ‘motivated’ to earn historic 10th win at Pop-Tarts Bowl

For NC State quarterback Brennan Armstrong, the Wolfpack’s appearance in the Pop-Tarts Bowl this week is the storybook ending to his six-year college career. 

The signal-caller began the year as the red and white’s starting quarterback for the first five games before sophomore MJ Morris stepped into the role for the following four games. But after Morris decided to redshirt the remainder of the season, Armstrong went back under center and dazzled. 

Armstrong led the Pack to three straight wins to close the season, including a 39-20 victory over rival North Carolina in the regular-season finale — his final game at Carter-Finley Stadium. Now, this week’s postseason game against Kansas State represents another meaningful moment for the ACC journeyman: his last game.

That, paired with NC State’s chance to win its 10th game for just the second time in its 118 seasons as a program, sets up a very meaningful contest in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday evening, Dec. 28. 

“It’s my last game ever in college, so I really want to finish it strong,” Armstrong said. “I think this team wants to finish it strong. Obviously, everyone knows, this is for our 10th win, and that’s something that hasn’t been done here. There’s a lot of motivation going into the bowl game, which sometimes you find that in teams because it is a fun experience … but I think our guys are really motivated.”

Motivation, like Armstrong alluded to, is not going to be hard this week for the Pack. That elusive 10th win has been the rallying cry for NC State during its five-game winning streak to close the season, knowing that was still on the table with each win that game. 

The Pack has come close before with a 9-4 mark during the 2018 season, which ended in a Gator Bowl loss to Texas A&M to swipe the 10th win away. NC State, led by coach Dave Doeren, is eager to make history this time around.

“It’s never happened at NC State,” Doeren said earlier this month of a 10-win season. “We’ve had an 11-win team [in 2002] and a bunch of 9 and 8 and 7s, but never a 10. In over 135 years of football, it would be the first time. Any time you can break ground with something over a period that long, it’s meaningful to say the least. This game means a lot to our football program and the guys are going to play really hard.”

Focusing on the task at hand will not be a challenge for the Wolfpack, which arrived in Orlando on Dec. 23. Surrounded by the Florida landscape and a trip to Universal Studios theme park, NC State will have time for fun, but Armstrong said the team knows when it is time to lock in, too. 

“Each person has to look at how important it is to them,” Armstrong said. “Coach Doeren’s done it, I’ve tried to continue to do that. When we get out on the field, it’s time to work. I know it’s a fun game to be in … but when we’re out here we’ve got to be able to turn a switch on and turn a switch off. When it’s fun time, we’re having fun together. When it’s football time, we’ve got to turn the switch on and be focused.”

It has been more than a month since the Pack played its last game, the big win over the Tar Heels, which allowed the team to rest up. Armstrong, who battled a rib injury against North Carolina said the few weeks off helped get ready for the bowl game. 

Not only that, but while NC State’s dinged-up starters were able to rest, the Wolfpack was able to get its younger players reps in practice before the Kansas State preparation began.

“We used a lot of that time to get a lot of other guys reps, too,” Armstrong said. “Get them developed. … I think Coach Doeren did a really good job with our schedule, giving us time to relax, reset and get our bodies right.”

NC State will have most of its team available against Kansas State, except for the transfer portal entries and graduate linebacker Payton Wilson, who opted out of the bowl on Sunday to prepare for the NFL Draft. Though the Pack’s star defender will not be in uniform for the game, he is in Orlando to support his teammates as they seek to punctuate the season with an historic 10th win. 

Armstrong, however, does not intend to miss the game. It has been a long path to get to this point, and he still has one more game to go with offensive coordinator Robert Anae, who has been along for the ride almost every step of the quarterback’s career.

“We have one more,” Anae said of Armstrong. “But great to be a part of that journey with him. It’s been huge. I’ve been the beneficiary of that thing.”

But before the team takes the field at Camping World Stadium, Armstrong is looking forward to the rest of the trip. It’s one last time for the Wolfpack to bond together before the page is turned on the 2023 team.

“Big roller coaster guy,” Armstrong said with a laugh. “But other than that, I’m looking to hang out, have a good time with the guys, enjoy this last little bit together, and then play a game and win it.”