NC State’s unfathomable last-second blunder gifts Vanderbilt miracle win

NC State quarterback CJ Bailey fumbled in the end zone while trying to run out the clock or potentially take a safety in the final seconds and handed Vanderbilt a 35-31 victory no one saw coming in Nashville.

It was as improbable a finish as the Music City Miracle , the famous last-second kickoff return in January 2000 that gave the NFL’s Tennessee Titans a 22–16 playoff win over the Buffalo Bills.

Bailey and the Wolfpack (1-2) were attempting to milk the clock on the final snap, a fourth-and-3 play from their five-yard line with six seconds remaining.

Miles Capers knocked the ball out of Bailey’s hands, and Cayden Van Daniels recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. It capped Vanderbilt’s rally from a 17-0 deficit in the first half.

The ending was reminiscent of Miami’s debacle against Georgia Tech in October 2023, when Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal chose to run the ball instead of taking a knee with 26 seconds left and no timeouts remaining for Georgia Tech. Miami’s Donald Chaney Jr. fumbled, Georgia Tech’s Kyle Canard recovered and the Yellow Jackets won on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Haynes King to Christian Leary.

NC State coach Dave Doeren surely will lament his decision to try to run out the clock. The Wolfpack could have punted or had Bailey run out of the back of the end zone.

NC State was looking for their first road win against a Southeastern Conference opponent since 1977. Vanderbilt (3-0) matched their largest comeback victory since beating Ole Miss in 2012. Vandy’s fumble recovery in the end zone ended up being the team’s only lead of the game.

According to ESPN, college football teams were 1,046-1 over the last 20 seasons when having the ball and the lead with 10 seconds to go in a game. The lone loss: Michigan falling to rival Michigan State in 2015.