NC State's Late-Game Fumble Sparks Questions About Coach Dave Doeren's Future

NC State fell 31-28 to Vanderbilt on Saturday after quarterback CJ Bailey fumbled in the end zone with six seconds remaining. The Wolfpack had taken over Vanderbilt's interception near the goal line and could have run out the clock by taking a safety, but the play called for Bailey to stay upright and protect the ball. Instead, he was tackled, lost the ball and Vanderbilt recovered for the winning score.

The loss marked the first time in the past 1,047 games, according to ESPN Stats and Info, that a team leading with possession in the final ten seconds has been defeated. Doeren said the play was intended to roll out, avoid a tackle and preserve the clock, adding that the plan was to take a safety if necessary. Critics argue the decision to attempt a run-out rather than an immediate safety was risky and reflected a coaching lapse.

The defeat left NC State at 1-2 on the season and renewed discussion about Doeren's tenure, which has spanned 14 years with a record of mostly modest winning seasons but no recent high-profile success. While the program has avoided back-to-back losing seasons, the Vanderbilt game has intensified scrutiny of Doeren's ability to manage critical moments.

"It's a play where you roll out, and you don't get tackled and try to burn as much time as you can and fall to the ground and protect the football," Doeren explained. "He got hit and didn't protect the football. The plan was to take the safety, try to run out the clock if we can, but there was no intent to run the football and get hit on that play."

The incident joins other recent late-game errors in college football, underscoring the importance of clock management and decision-making in close contests.