The Pack Insiders | An NC State Sports Podcast by PackPride.com

ACC champion and Final Four veteran Casey Morsell joins Lou and Matthew to weigh NC State’s bet on Philip Rivers and break down the early look at Justin Gainey’s basketball team.Casey brings a player’s perspective to the Rivers discussion. Can the name recognition translate into recruiting success? What are the risks, and what should fans expect in the first three years?Then we get into hoops: Preston Edmead’s breakout performance, Paul McNeil’s shot selection, whether Christian Hammond should start, and what NC State needs defensively. Plus, Kyle Evans’ impact and why Casey wants to see more Mikey Wilkins.00:00 Intro00:11 Weighing the Rivers Risk13:09 Can Rivers Win Over Recruits?25:27 What Defines Success for Rivers?36:45 Casey’s Take on NC State Basketball46:14 Edmead’s Breakout + Defensive Questions55:33 Adams, Hammond & Finding the Flow1:04:43 Evans, Wilkins & the Frontcourt BattleWhat would success look like under Rivers? And would you change the basketball starting lineup? Let us know in the comments.Subscribe to The Pack Insiders, presented by Pack Pride, for more NC State talk.

Justin Gainey starts with a win, Ven-Allen Lubin puts on a show, and NC State fans are still waiting on Philip Rivers.Lou and Matthew break down the Wolfpack’s 83-64 season-opening win over Campbell, from Lubin’s perfect shooting night to Christian Hammond’s impact and the questions that still need answers. How worried should fans be about rebounding, and what’s the best way to use Adams, Edmead and McNeil?Then we turn to football. Why has the coaching search been so quiet? We discuss the Rivers waiting game, what a potential hire could mean for NIL funding and recruiting, and why we believe the opportunity goes beyond a familiar name.Plus, credit to the Pack for its response against Cal, and a fascinating question: Would an expanded College Football Playoff have changed how fans remember Dave Doeren?00:00 Gainey’s Debut & Lubin’s Big Night16:27 Rebounding Concerns & the Numbers24:00 Hammond, McNeil & the Guard Rotation44:33 Philip Rivers: The Waiting Game47:42 State Responds Against Cal51:23 Rivers, NIL & Raising the Ceiling1:06:01 The CFP What-If & Doeren’s LegacyWould Philip Rivers raise NC State’s ceiling? And what stood out to you from Gainey’s debut? Let us know in the comments.Subscribe to The Pack Insiders, presented by Pack Pride, for more Wolfpack talk.

NC State dropped 130 points on Lenoir-Rhyne—and gave Wolfpack fans plenty to get excited about.We break down the biggest takeaways from the Pack’s 130-66 exhibition win, including Darius Adams and Preston Edmead’s unselfish playmaking, Paul McNeil’s hot shooting, Ven-Allen Lubin’s efficiency and why Mikey Wilkins is making a case for more minutes.Plus, the two areas Justin Gainey’s team still needs to clean up: defensive rebounding and Edmead’s foul trouble.Read our full OUR TAKE breakdown:https://packinsider.com/2026/10/25/ou...What impressed you most—and what still concerns you? Let us know in the comments, and subscribe for more NC State coverage.

Lou and Matthew react to NC State’s coaching change, why the Stanford loss became the breaking point, and whether Rivers could transform the future of Wolfpack football.We discuss what went wrong, the staff changes, the financial stakes of moving on, and what a Rivers hire could mean for recruiting, donor support and fan excitement. Plus, a look at Doeren’s legacy—and a comparison with Tom O’Brien that sparks a debate.Is Philip Rivers the right swing for NC State? Tell us what you think in the comments.Subscribe to The Pack Insiders Podcast for more NC State coverage, and visit PackPride.com for breaking news.Intro Music: The song is 'Dear Raleigh’' from our friends and NC State legends 'Kooley High' : https://www.kooleyhigh.com/

CBS Sports NFL analyst and diehard Wolfpack fan Will Brinson joins The Pack Insiders to talk Dave Doeren’s future, the Philip Rivers coaching buzz and what NC State fans really want from their program.We dive into the hypothetical that’s been discussed around the fanbase on Rivers interest in coaching at NC State. Would he be the right fit to lead the Wolfpack? We discuss his football mind, personality, and potential to energize fans and donors, and why any hypothetical move starts with resolving Doeren’s future.We also dig into the Wolfpack fanbase: the loyalty, the frustration, the hunger for a breakthrough and why big personalities have always connected in Raleigh. Plus, Brinson shares his path to CBS Sports, we revisit wild NC State coaching search stories and reflect on Chuck Amato’s legacy.

Down six with 2:50 left, NC State showed us something.Justin Gainey’s Wolfpack rallied for a 77-73 exhibition win over Mississippi State, and we’re breaking it all down, player by player.Who stood out? What did we learn about this roster? And how concerned should we be about the rebounding?We dig into the connected defense, the late-game leadership, and why this first look gave Wolfpack fans plenty to be excited about.🐺 Read our full breakdown:https://packinsider.com/2026/10/19/our-take-player-by-player-breakdown-and-what-we-thought-of-nc-states-77-73-exhibition-win-over-mississippi-st/Who impressed YOU most? Drop your take in the comments.Subscribe to The Pack Insiders for more NC State basketball coverage.#NCState #Wolfpack #CollegeBasketball

NC State assistant coach Riley Collins joins The Pack Insiders for an inside look at Justin Gainey’s program—and why fans should be excited about this Wolfpack roster.Collins shares his journey from a record-setting college point guard to sleeping on a couch inside Tennessee’s basketball facility, then earning an ACC assistant coaching role.We get into Gainey’s demanding standards, how the staff built NC State’s roster, and how basketball instincts work alongside GM Patrick Stacy’s analytics. Plus, Collins breaks down Preston Edmead’s growth, Darius Adams’ transformation, Paul McNeil’s professional shooting ability, and a deep frontcourt featuring Ven-Allen Lubin.He also explains why the best athlete he’s ever coached, an emerging talent in the frontcourt, could surprise Wolfpack fans this season.Subscribe for more NC State interviews, analysis and Wolfpack conversation.Read our coverage: https://packinsider.comFollow Pack Pride on X: https://x.com/PackPride#NCState #Wolfpack #CollegeBasketball #PackPride

Did NC State save its season against Louisville—and is it time to unleash more Will Wilson?Lou and Matthew break down the Wolfpack’s much-needed victory, Harvey Dyson’s season-saving effort and CJ Bailey’s bounce-back performance. We look ahead to Wake Forest, discuss the missed tackles that still need fixing and debate where fan criticism crosses into negativity.Then comes the Will Wilson debate: Should NC State expand his role and let him throw enough to keep defenses guessing?Plus, we turn to basketball: What does Justin Gainey need to accomplish in year one for Wolfpack fans to call it a success?CHAPTERS0:00 Intro0:52 Did the Louisville win save NC State’s season?7:28 Wake Forest and the road ahead9:30 NC State’s missed-tackle problem10:42 CJ Bailey deserves credit12:07 Fan loyalty, negativity and NIL16:04 The Will Wilson debate25:54 What counts as success for Justin Gainey?Subscribe to The Pack Insiders, presented by Pack Pride, and tell us in the comments: How would you use Will Wilson—and what are your expectations for Gainey’s first season?More Wolfpack coverage: https://packinsider.comEpisode sponsored by: Streaker Sports - NC State Peanut 'Snoopy' Collectionhttps://www.streakersports.com/collec...#NCState #Wolfpack #GoPack

The guys talk about NC State's soul-crushing loss to Vanderbilt and give their thoughts on what went wrong and what it means. Plus a recap of what they saw from the basketball practice they attended this past week, including Ven-Allen Lubin's new role, Christian Hammond's size, and Darius Adams' shooting stroke.

NC State responded in a big way with a 73-0 demolition of Richmond. Lou and Matthew break down what the historic blowout actually means after the Virginia loss, the records that fell during Richmond, how fan expectations shaped the narrative, and why the upcoming road game at Vanderbilt carries massive weight for the fan base.We dig into Vandy’s 2-0 start, the emergence of true freshman QB Jared Curtis (one of the highest-ranked recruits in program history), what State needs to do defensively and offensively, and why this game feels like a must-win for morale even if it’s not a pure must-win for the season.Timestamps:0:00 – Intro0:29 – Richmond game expectations & reaction2:20 – Pack Predictions vs Vegas lines4:03 – Was it a no-win situation for State?4:48 – Comparing to Virginia’s FCS win5:57 – Records broken in the 73-0 win8:11 – Talent disparity & modern FCS reality9:11 – Vanderbilt preview begins10:05 – Jared Curtis: background, dual-threat ability & full-time starter news13:03 – Vandy’s early-season production & film challenges14:06 – Why this is a must-win for the fan base16:04 – Offensive encouragement from Richmond (CJ, RBs, creativity)17:02 – Jonathan Paylor / Taylor appearance & potential role18:30 – Getting creative with Will Wilson & others19:47 – How the Vanderbilt result will shape the season narrative21:48 – Keys to stopping Curtis + defensive notes23:44 – Offensive wishes (route concepts, gadgets, open-field playmakers)24:54 – Closing & what’s next#NCState #Wolfpack #CollegeFootball #ACCFootball #PackPride