NC State, Louisville clash in key ACC division matchup

Updated Oct. 28, 2021 11:38 a.m. ET

Associated Press

North Carolina State regrouped quickly from its first loss. The Wolfpack must do it again Saturday night against Louisville, even as injuries could make that job tougher this time around.

N.C. State (5-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) is coming off

Yet the loss doesn’t change the fact that N.C. State controls its own destiny in the Atlantic Division race to reach the ACC championship game, a fact Doeren brought up then reiterated twice more to start the week.

“I know a lot of fans were disappointed, upset, whatever you may say about the loss we just had,” Doeren said. “And so were we, more than you. But we still have it all in front of us.”

The good news for Doeren is N.C. State followed

Louisville (4-3, 2-2) is coming off

“We told our team, kind of where we’re sitting in within the ACC standings, there’s still a great opportunity in ACC,” coach Scott Satterfield said. “We take care of business Saturday, then we’re sitting in second place on our side.”

Some other things to know about Saturday’s Louisville-N.C. State game:

CUNNINGHAM’S IMPACT

Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham ranks 15th in the Bowl Subdivision ranks in total offense (309 yards per game). He’s coming off a huge performance against BC on the ground (133 yards, three TDs), which had followed two strong passing games (579 yards, three TDs, no interceptions) in the previous two games.

GROUND RULES

The Cardinals rushed for a season-best 331 yards against Boston College, their highest total since Nov. 23, 2019 against Syracuse. That total included a career-high 112 yards on 13 carries by freshman Trevion Cooley, but the highlight was Cunningham’s perfect option toss to Jalen Mitchell for 33 yards to set up Mitchell’s 5-yard TD run two plays later.

The little-used play spokes volumes about Louisville’s O-line play behind the league’s No. 4 rushing attack (201.0).

“We obviously need that precise technique,” offensive line coach Jack Bicknell said. “The thing that makes a great offensive line is when they start getting the attitude that we’re the bullies out there that we’re going to go out there and we’re going to show people what we’re all about.”

DEFENSIVE HITS

Doeren announced Monday that linebacker Isaiah Moore would need surgery for a season-ending injury.

That added him to a list that includes all-ACC linebacker Payton Wilson, nose tackle C.J. Clark and safety Cyrus Fagan, another hit to a unit ranked 10th in FBS in scoring defense (16.7) and 11th against the run (93.1).

“It does hurt the team quite a bit just knowing the impact those guys have on the field for us,” safety Devan Boykin said. “But unfortunately we can’t get those guys back so it’s next man up and we’ve got to get it done.”

BETTER BALL SECURITY

Louisville’s four turnovers against Boston College snatched some of the luster from last week’s win. The Cardinals are even this season in turnover margin.

“We obviously don’t want to turn the football over,” Satterfield said. “This will be a huge game for us to be able to take care of the football.”

BRIEF STAY

N.C. State is in the midst of playing four out of five on the road. Saturday night’s visit from Louisville marks the Wolfpack’s only home game in a 47-day span before visiting Florida State next week and Wake Forest on Nov. 13.

___

AP Sports Writer Gary B. Graves in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed to this report.

___

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25

___

Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap