With Football Season Near, N.C. State Paying Big for Nonconference Opponents
The new college football season is fewer than two months away, and nonconference opponents are raking in big payouts. N.C. State is set to spend $750,000 in guaranteed payments this season, according to contracts obtained through public records requests.
The Wolfpack has three nonconference home games this year, with two involving guaranteed payments to visiting teams. Their fourth nonconference matchup is a road game at Notre Dame, which does not require a payout.
Nonconference Payout Breakdown
East Carolina (Aug. 28 at Carter-Finley Stadium): $300,000
N.C. State will pay East Carolina $300,000 for their season opener in Raleigh. This game is the second of a three-game series signed in 2018 under former athletic director Debbie Yow. The two teams last met in the 2024 Military Bowl, where ECU defeated the Wolfpack 26–21.
N.C. State also paid ECU $300,000 for the first game in the series, played in 2018, which the Wolfpack won decisively, 58–3. The final game of the series is scheduled for Sept. 2, 2028, in Greenville, with ECU set to pay N.C. State the same $300,000. The contract specifies that each game must start between noon and 8:15 p.m. local time, determined by the host school.
Campbell (Oct. 4 at Carter-Finley Stadium): $450,000
The Wolfpack will also host Campbell this season, paying the Big South Conference program $450,000. This is the first game of a two-game series agreed to in January 2019. The second matchup is scheduled for 2028, with Campbell receiving $475,000 for that appearance.
Both agreements include cancellation clauses, with financial penalties varying depending on how far in advance a cancellation occurs. If a game is canceled more than 36 months ahead, the penalty is smaller. If it’s canceled within 18 months of the scheduled date, the payout increases significantly.
The Impact of Rescheduling and ACC Changes
N.C. State has also incurred costs due to rescheduling and shifting matchups.
Appalachian State: $300,000 Rescheduling Fee
Originally, Appalachian State was set to host N.C. State on Sept. 6, but ACC scheduling adjustments led to that game being pushed back to Sept. 30, 2028. Virginia replaced App State on the 2025 schedule, although that matchup won’t count as a conference game.
As part of the rescheduling, N.C. State agreed to pay App State $300,000. The two teams are still scheduled to meet in Raleigh on Sept. 26, 2026.
Louisiana Tech: $1 Million for Schedule Change
N.C. State entered into an agreement with Louisiana Tech in 2017, with games in Raleigh played in 2021 and 2024 as planned. A return game in Ruston, Louisiana, originally set for Sept. 6, was postponed due to the Wolfpack’s scheduling conflict with App State. After multiple changes, that game is now set for 2027.
N.C. State paid Louisiana Tech $1 million as part of the renegotiated terms.
Notre Dame and Road Games
The Wolfpack’s fourth nonconference game is against Notre Dame on Oct. 11 in South Bend. As an independent football program with an ACC scheduling agreement, Notre Dame is not obligated to pay visiting teams.
Outside of the Notre Dame game, N.C. State will also play on the road at Pittsburgh and Miami, with additional away games at Duke and Wake Forest. With seven home games on the schedule, the program minimizes travel costs but continues to invest heavily in securing nonconference opponents.
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