What Is 1964 NC State Wolfpack football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1964 NC State Wolfpack football team represented North Carolina State University during the 1964 NCAA University Division season, finishing with a 5–5 record under head coach Earle Edwards, who was in his 11th season.

Key Facts

The 1964 NC State Wolfpack finished with a 5–5 overall record.
Head coach Earle Edwards led the team in his 11th season.
They played in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and went 3–4 in conference play.
The team scored 167 points while allowing 159 over 10 games.
Home games were played at Riddick Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Overview

The 1964 NC State Wolfpack football team represented North Carolina State University during the 1964 NCAA University Division football season. Led by head coach Earle Edwards, who was in his 11th year at the helm, the team competed as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This season marked a transitional phase for the program as it sought consistency in a competitive conference.

The Wolfpack played their home games at Riddick Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, a venue that hosted NC State football for decades. Despite a balanced 5–5 overall record, the team struggled in ACC matchups, finishing 3–4 in conference play. The season reflected both offensive potential and defensive vulnerabilities across a 10-game schedule.

Record: The team finished with a 5–5 overall record, matching their win-loss tally from the previous season.
ACC Performance: In conference play, NC State went 3–4, placing them in the lower half of the ACC standings.
Scoring: The Wolfpack scored 167 total points during the season, averaging 16.7 points per game.
Defense: They allowed 159 points, averaging 15.9 points per game against, indicating a tightly contested season.
Stadium: All home games were held at Riddick Stadium, a 32,000-seat facility that was central to NC State football culture at the time.

Season Structure and Performance

The 1964 campaign followed a standard 10-game college football schedule, featuring a mix of conference and non-conference opponents. The team opened the season with promise but faced challenges maintaining momentum through the second half of the year.

Head Coach: Earle Edwards, in his 11th season, emphasized discipline and fundamentals, shaping the team's identity.
Offensive Output: The offense scored in double digits in eight of 10 games, peaking with a 35-point performance against Duke.
Defensive Lapses: The defense gave up 20 or more points in five games, highlighting inconsistency under pressure.
Key Victory: A 35–14 win over Duke on November 14 was the most dominant performance of the season.
Rivalry Game: The season-ending loss to rival North Carolina (7–6) underscored the tight margins in the rivalry.
Non-Conference Play: NC State went 2–1 against non-ACC opponents, defeating Richmond and Wake Forest while losing to Texas.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1964 NC State Wolfpack’s performance against key ACC teams from the same season:

Team	Overall Record	ACC Record	Points For	Points Against
NC State	5–5	3–4	167	159
Duke	5–5	4–3	167	140
North Carolina	4–6	3–4	142	154
Clemson	4–6	3–4	154	169
South Carolina	5–5	3–3	149	134

The data shows that NC State’s 5–5 record placed them on par with Duke and South Carolina in overall wins, though their defensive performance was among the closest in the conference. Their 3–4 conference record was identical to North Carolina and Clemson, illustrating a tightly contested ACC season. The narrow point differentials across teams highlight how competitive the league was in 1964, with no dominant champion emerging.

Why It Matters

The 1964 season is a notable chapter in NC State football history, reflecting the program’s mid-tier status during the 1960s under long-tenured coach Earle Edwards. While not a championship contender, the Wolfpack demonstrated resilience and laid groundwork for future development.

Program Stability: Maintaining a .500 record showed consistency under Edwards, who built a durable foundation at NC State.
Recruiting Pipeline: The season helped solidify regional recruiting efforts in North Carolina high schools.
Rivalry Intensity: The narrow 7–6 loss to UNC kept the rivalry fiercely competitive and emotionally charged.
Stadium Culture: Games at Riddick Stadium continued to build fan traditions and school spirit.
Statistical Parity: The near-even point differential (167 for, 159 against) indicated a team capable of improvement.
Historical Context: This season preceded the rise of NC State as a national power in later decades, serving as a developmental phase.

Though not a standout year in terms of accolades, the 1964 season remains a representative example of the Wolfpack’s journey through the evolving landscape of college football in the mid-20th century.