Memphis, NC State Set for Tampa Showdown TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — Two teams trending in opposite directions will meet in a postseason clash when the Memphis Tigers face the North Carolina State Wolfpack on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, at Raymond James Stadium. Memphis (8-4) enters having lost three of its last four games, including a 28-17 home defeat to Navy on Nov. 27. In that loss, quarterback Brendon Lewis passed for 172 yards and two touchdowns but the Tigers’ offense sputtered overall. The late-season skid followed a promising 6-1 start. Conversely, North Carolina State (7-5) rides a wave of momentum after dominating rival North Carolina 42-19 in its regular-season finale on Nov. 29. The Wolfpack offense found a potent rhythm, with quarterbacks CJ Bailey and Will Wilson combining for six rushing touchdowns. The victory was NC State’s third win in its last four outings. The neutral-site game in Tampa pairs Memphis’s high-scoring attack, which averaged over 32 points per game this season, against an NC State squad that showed defensive prowess in key wins over Florida State and UNC but also allowed 53 points to Pittsburgh and 45 to Duke earlier this fall. National Statistical’s game simulator projects a North Carolina State victory, 31-24. Despite this, betting markets have installed Memphis as a 4.5-point favorite. The over/under is set at 57.5 points, suggesting expectations for offensive production. Key matchups will include Memphis QB Brendon Lewis against an NC State secondary that generated turnovers late in the season, and the Wolfpack’s multifaceted quarterback run game against a Tigers defense that allowed 31 points or more in three of its four losses. Both teams will seek a winning record to cap their campaigns. Memphis aims to halt its November slide, while NC State looks to extend its late surge and finish the year above .500.