RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — CJ Bailey threw for a career-high 373 yards and two touchdowns as N.C. State held on to beat Louisville 31-28 on Saturday.
The Wolfpack (3-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) have won two straight since a stunning last-second loss to Vanderbilt.
“It means a lot that I brought my best to this game today,” Bailey said. “I told my guys that I had them. I believe in them, and they believe in me. I just went to work today.”
Kanoah Vinesett’s 28-yard field goal with 5:30 left spelled the difference for the Wolfpack, who piled up 493 total yards.
Joshisa Trader led N.C. State with 92 yards on five catches, while Tyran Warren contributed a 34-yard touchdown grab.
“CJ played a hell of a football game,” N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said. “Really accurate downfield throws, and he took care of the football.”
Isaac Brown rushed for 125 yards on nine carries with a touchdown for Louisville (2-3, 1-2), which dropped its second straight. Keyjuan Brown added 88 yards and a score on eight carries. Tre Richardson had 117 yards receiving and a touchdown on eight catches.
Lincoln Kienholz threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-30 passing.
“We fought hard to come back to give ourselves a chance and today was a turnover fest with the ball on the ground too much,” Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said. “I know it’s raining in the first half. It’s wet and all that, but we’ve worked that all week.”
N.C. State led 28-14 in the third quarter following Will Wilson’s 1-yard touchdown run. After Louisville answered with a touchdown of its own, N.C. State looked poised to extend its lead back to double digits. The Wolfpack marched down to the Louisville 8 before Bailey was intercepted in the end zone by Kaleb Beasley.
Two plays later, Isaac Brown sprinted for a 70-yard touchdown to tie it.
Louisville made the first costly mistake, a fumble by Keyjuan Brown at the N.C. State 21-yard line late in the first quarter. The Wolfpack responded in methodical fashion as Bailey found Keenan Jackson for a 19-yard touchdown to make it 10-0.
Louisville: Kienholz was listed as questionable all week after getting hurt in last week’s loss to Wake Forest. But the senior showed no ill effects from the injury, helping the Cardinals gain 485 total yards. Keeping him healthy will be a priority with a short week on tap.
N.C. State: Second halves haven’t been kind lately. The Wolfpack can breathe a sigh of relief after surviving another dramatic finish.
N.C. State coach Dave Doeren commended linebacker Popo Aguirre, noting that earned his way into the team’s “Camera Club” with three fumble recoveries.
“If you’re a player that really cares about the team, when we freeze that thing at the end and the ball’s down, you ought to be in the Camera Club,” Doeren said. “You ought to have your body inside that end zone shot.”
Louisville: Hosts Florida St. on Friday.
N.C. State: Hosts Wake Forest next Saturday.
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Louisville defensive back Tayon Holloway (13) and T.J. Capers (11) tie up NC State's Preston Douglas (19) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers kept their cool against the Atlanta Braves in the second-hottest postseason game at Dodger Stadium.
Shade was at a premium Saturday for Game 1 of the National League Division Series, which began at 1 p.m. local time. The game-time temperature of 100 degrees fell just short of the record of 103 degrees set in Game 1 of the 2017 World Series.
“I've got a lot of respect for the fans that came out. It’s not easy,” said Tarik Skubal, who pitched the Dodgers to a 5-3 victory. “The sun was on us the entire game. Hopefully they packed some sunscreen.”
The announced attendance was 50,194, although there were plenty of empty seats with the feels-like temperature reaching 105 degrees.
“Pretty hot, pretty hot,” said Teoscar Hernández, who gave the Dodgers an early lead with a two-run homer in the fourth inning.
The Braves seemingly were unfazed by the blazing sun, cloudless skies and rising thermometer while taking pregame batting practice. The two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers? They stayed inside.
“Remember, we're from Atlanta,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said before the game. “It's not that big of a factor.”
Braves center fielder Lane Thomas added, "I feel like this is a little cooler 98 than Atlanta.”
Some of their fans agreed.
“It's hot, but it's not bad,” said Helen Greene of Valdosta, Georgia, who was sitting in the sun nine rows behind the visitors' dugout with her long hair arrayed under a Braves cap. “In Atlanta, my hair would have been up by now.”
Greene and her husband, Chad, were hydrating with water.
“I'll have beer later,” she said, smiling.
Fans still gathered in the outfield pavilions in hopes of catching a stray ball off the Braves' bats pregame. But other seating areas were mostly empty 90 minutes before first pitch.
Christopher Hernández of Long Beach and his girlfriend sat in the sun behind the Dodgers dugout with giveaway towels covering their heads.
“We play sports and we know how it feels to be in the heat and we know how to beat the heat, too,” he said, showing off a blue plastic bottle with a fan attached to spritz water. “It's not as bad as people think it is.”
Braves reliever Brent Suter graduated from Harvard in 2012, having majored in environmental science and public policy.
“In the back of my mind, I’m like 100 degrees in October in L.A., that’s definitely not normal,” he said before the game. “Obviously super El Niño is a big thing to do with that. It’s going to be a challenge for both sides to stay hydrated, especially the position players.”
Short heat spells in October are normal for Los Angeles, but the prolonged extreme heat warning — forecast to last at least a week — is keeping temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal. The average high in Los Angeles in early October is 81 degrees (27 degrees Celsius).
“Just making sure everyone is hydrated and staying loose and getting electrolytes in us,” said Suter, who pitched the final two innings for the Braves.
Emergency medical teams were in their usual spots around the stadium, staying alert for anticipated cases of heatstroke, dehydration, excessive sweating caused by heat exposure, and the more typical drunkenness.
The Dodgers encouraged fans to wear hats and sunscreen. They were allowed to bring in non-alcoholic drinks of one liter or less in factory-sealed plastic bottles. Empty refillable water bottles were also allowed. Bottle-filling stations and water fountains are scattered around the stadium.
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Los Angeles Dodgers fans hold electronic fans as the heat soars during batting practice before Game 1 of a National League Division Series baseball game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers fans raise their hands for a ball as the heat soars during batting practice before Game 1 of a National League Division Series baseball game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Members of the Los Angeles Dodgers take part in batting practice before Game 1 of a National League Division Series baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers fans look on among empty seats as they shield themselves from the sun and heat before Game 1 of a National League Division Series baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
