N.C. State Expects Duke Scott Back vs. Duke
Interim coach Todd Goebbel says the junior running back is expected to be available as N.C. State hosts Duke this weekend.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Running
N.C. State will host Duke at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, with interim head coach Todd Goebbel confirming junior running back Duke Scott is expected to be available after missing three games and part of another with a lower body injury. Scott participated in warmups ahead of kickoff Saturday, and the team's pregame depth chart listed him as a potential starter.
Why it matters
Scott is the team's leading rusher with 358 yards, and his return gives the Wolfpack a key option after they were held to 15 rushing yards against Wake Forest. The game also gives N.C. State a chance to snap a three-game losing streak.
Davion Gause sits six rushing yards behind Duke Scott's team-leading 358 after a season-high 104 yards against California. N.C. State rushed for just 0.63 yards per carry against Wake Forest, compared with 3.8 yards per attempt against Stanford, and it is unclear how the backfield split will shift if Scott returns to a full workload.
The players
Todd Goebbel
Goebbel is N.C. State's interim head coach, overseeing the team during its current losing streak and the staff's decisions on how to deploy its running backs.
Duke Scott
Scott is a junior running back and the team's leading rusher, whose return from a lower body injury is central to the Wolfpack's offensive plans.
Davion Gause
Gause is a running back who transferred to N.C. State from North Carolina and may start depending on the game plan.
The details
Goebbel said offensive coordinator Kurt Roper and running backs coach Zac Roper will develop a plan to use both backs. Scott's return comes after he told reporters on Oct. 26 that he intended to play again this season.
Timeline
Oct. 26: Duke Scott tells reporters he intends to return this season.
Monday: N.C. State releases a pregame depth chart listing Scott as a potential starter.
Saturday, 12:30 p.m.: N.C. State hosts Duke at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Season Trajectory
N.C. State's rushing game has been the central issue in its recent slide, with 15 yards against Wake Forest marking the low point of the season. Scott's potential return could reshape how the Wolfpack approaches its remaining schedule and whether it can end a three-game losing streak.
Fantasy managers tracking Scott and Gause will need to monitor the depth chart before Saturday's kickoff, since the split between the two backs will determine who gets the bulk of the carries. A Scott return could also affect the team's standings math as it works to end its three-game skid.
The takeaway
Scott's status and the depth chart will be the first things to watch once kickoff arrives, since they will show whether N.C. State can rebuild its running game in time to matter in the standings.
What happens next
N.C. State hosts Duke at Carter-Finley Stadium at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, which will show whether Scott can contribute.
Further reading
For more on the team's backfield, see Running coverage in Raleigh.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Herald.
