RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State hosts VMI on Saturday. The Wolfpack will look to clean up miscues from a loss to Notre Dame last weekend.

That includes dropped passes and defensive breakdowns that allowed multiple explosive plays for the Fighting Irish. The Wolfpack lost three turnovers against Notre Dame. VMI is a Championship Subdivision program. The Keydets are playing their first season under Danny Rocco. VMI has scored just 25 points through two games. The game marks the first meeting between the schools since 1946. They first played in 1895.

VMI (1-1) at North Carolina State (1-1), Saturday, 2 p.m. ET (CW)

Line: No line.

Series record: VMI leads 11-7-1.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

N.C. State is coming off a loss to Notre Dame with multiple issues to address. One was turnovers. Another was mistakes that led to big plays. And a third was a lack of reliable plays from receivers. The Wolfpack can address those against the Keydets, a Championship Subdivision team coming off a loss at Bucknell.

KEY MATCHUP

N.C. State’s receivers against VMI’s defense. This is more about the Wolfpack pass-catchers cutting down their own miscues than matching up with the Keydets. Drops were a problem against the Fighting Irish, including one that went through the hands of a receiver, off his facemask and right to a defender for an interception. N.C. State needs to find production at the position against a defense ranked eighth in the FCS ranks by allowing 14 points per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

VMI: QB Collin Ironside. He has thrown for three touchdowns in two games while completing 64.9% of his passes.

N.C. State: QB Brennan Armstrong. He had three interceptions in the loss to Notre Dame and must do a better job protecting the football.

FACTS & FIGURES

The teams first met in 1895 but haven’t played since September 1946. … Wolfpack linebacker Payton Wilson is leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in tackles at 12 per game, while teammate Davin Vann up front leads the league in sacks (three). … The 45-24 loss to Notre Dame marked the first time since November 2021 that an opponent scored 31 or more points against the Wolfpack. … VMI is 90th out of 113 FCS programs in averaging 12.5 points per game, with 12 points in the season-opening win against Davidson and 13 against Bucknell. … This is VMI’s first year under Danny Rocco as coach. … N.C. State has lost two straight home games going back to last year after winning 16 in a row to tie a program record.