Updated 2h ago · Sports
NC State Fires Dave Doeren Midway Through 14th Season
NC State fired head football coach Dave Doeren on Saturday, midway through his 14th season. The Wolfpack lost 31-28 at Stanford the night before.
- 3-4 overall and 1-3 in ACC play after the Stanford loss.
- 98-74 record makes Doeren the program's all-time wins leader.
- 11 bowl bids came during his tenure, including each of the last six.
- $10 million-plus is owed to Doeren, signed through 2029.
Why it matters: Doeren made NC State a steady bowl team but never reached an ACC title game or 10 wins.
- Stanford had been picked to finish last in the ACC.
- He entered 2026 as the FBS's fourth-longest-tenured coach.
How 7 sources split on this story
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7 sources · 12 articles · 71% Center coverage
Center coverage, 5 sources: The center frames the firing as the end of a long, consistent tenure that never broke through a ceiling.
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Right coverage, 2 sources: The right frames the firing as a direct consequence of the Stanford loss, part of a week of coaching dismissals.
What’s next: Todd Goebbel, on staff since 2019, will coach the rest of the season.
- Goebbel's first game is Oct. 31 at home against California.
- The school says a national search starts immediately.
- Who will NC State target to replace Doeren?
- Will more long-tenured coaches be fired this season, after Maryland's Mike Locksley earlier this week?
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