North Carolina State picked up an important win over Florida State on Saturday night, defeating the Seminoles 28-14 in Tallahassee.

The win was vital for a number of reasons. For one, it means NC State will essentially be playing for the ACC Atlantic title next week at Wake Forest. NC State hasn’t won the ACC since 1979.

On a more symbolic note, it means the Wolfpack have defeated both Florida State and Clemson this season. NC State took down the Tigers 27-21 in overtime back on Sept. 25.

After the game, coach Dave Doeren wondered how many times that had ever happened in program history.

The answer? Three times previously. North Carolina State scored wins over Clemson and FSU in 2002, 1998 and 1957.

That’s a remarkable achievement for Doeren and his staff. This is his ninth year at the helm at NC State, and this might be his best team yet. He’s never led the Wolfpack to a 10-win season and hasn’t won 9 games in a year since 2018.

It’s been steady progress for NC State rather than a meteoric rise. Doeren’s program has won at least seven games in seven of their last eight seasons.

Perhaps it’s a bit ironic, then, that NC State’s fate in the ACC comes down to a game vs. Wake Forest and not one of the conference’s traditional powers. The Demon Deacons are 8-1 after dropping their first game of the season to North Carolina on Saturday.

It’s worth noting NC State also defeated Wake Forest in 2002, 1998 and 1957.

North Carolina State is 67-41 all-time against Wake Forest.