All scoring came in the opening half as the Wolfpack scored the game’s first 24 points. NC State LB Caden Fordham is first defensive player to be named Gasparilla Bowl MVP
Dec. 19, 2025
TAMPA, FLA. – The Wolfpack of NC State jumped out to an early 24-0 lead and defeated the University of Memphis Tigers, 31-7, in the 17th annual Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium.
NC State (8-5, 4-4 ACC) wasted no time taking control of the game, driving 75 yards in seven plays on the opening drive of the game to take a 7-0 lead. Sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey finished that drive with a 14-yard touchdown run.
Bailey connected with senior receiver Wesley Grimes on a 31-yard scoring toss with 3:21 left in the first quarter to push the Wolfpack’s margin to 14-0. A 55-yard interception return by NC State linebacker Caden Fordham – who was later named the game’s MVP – set up a three-play, three-yard possession that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by freshman Will Wilson. That score gave the Wolfpack a three-touchdown lead just four seconds into the second quarter.
The advantage grew to 24 points on a 51-yard field goal by Kanoah Vinesett before Memphis (8-5, 4-4 American) finally broke through with a 28-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Brandon Lewis to junior wide receiver Jamari Hawkins with 4:59 left in the opening half.
Bailey connected with freshman receiver Teddy Hoffman for a 40-yard TD pass late in the second quarter to again push the lead to 24 points at 31-7.
Fordham, a graduate student, earned MVP accolades after a performance that featured a game-high 13 total tackles, including five solos, and the game’s only interception which led to an NC State touchdown. He is the first defensive player to win the Gasparilla Bowl’s MVP honors since the event debuted in 2008.
NC State is now 2-0 in Gasparilla Bowl appearances (also won in 2014) and this victory makes it just the third school to win multiple Gasparilla Bowls (Marshall and UCF each own three wins). Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren is just the second coach to lead multiple teams to victory in the 17-year-old event. Former Marshall coach Doc Holliday led his teams to three wins (2011, 2015, 2018) in the game.
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
7-0 NCS – CJ Bailey 14 rush – 11:32 (7-75, 3:28)
14-0 NCS – Wesley Grimes 31 pass from Bailey (Kanoah Vinesett kick) – 3:21 (4-67, 0:55)
Second Quarter
21-0 NCS – Will Wilson 1 rush (Vinesett kick) – 14:56 (3-3, 1:20)
24-0 NCS – Vinesett 51 FG – 8:03 (7-28, 2:30)
24-7 UM – Jamari Hawkins 28 pass from Brandon Lewis – 4:59 (Gianni Spetic kick) (8-75, 3:04)
31-7 NCS – Teddy Hoffmann 40 pass from Bailey (Vinesett kick) – 1:28 (3-75, 0:27)
FINAL SCORE: NC STATE 31 MEMPHIS 7
Game MVP:
Caden Fordham, NC State – The Graduate Student Linebacker from Ponte Vedra, Florida is the first defensive player to earn Gasparilla Bowl MVP Honors. He registered 13 tackles, including five solo tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. He also had an interception that was returned 55 yards.
Bowl Notes:
With their victory, NC State is the third team to secure multiple victories in the 17-year of the Gasparilla Bowl (UCF and Marshall each have three victories). NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren joins former Marshall Head Coach Doc Holliday (three victories) as the only head coaches with multiple victories in the game.
NC State is also the seventh team to score first and then lead for the remainder of the game (Florida, 2024; UCF, 2019; Marshall, 2018; Temple; 2017; UCF, 2012; USF, 2008).
The Wolfpack’s 31 first half points is the most scored by a team in a half in bowl history.
NC State held Memphis to just seven points, the second lowest team score in bowl history.
This marks the first time in the 17-year history of the Gasparilla Bowl that no points were scored in the second half of the contest.
Bowl Game Records Set:
Team Records
Most Points Scored in a Half: 31, NC State (vs. Memphis), 2025
Individual Records
Second longest Interception return: 55-yards, Caden Fordham, NC State (vs. Memphis), 2025
Fifth Longest Kickoff Return: 38-yards, Jamari Hawkins, Memphis (vs. NC State), 2025
Game Notes
The team that scores first has now won 12 of the 17 Gasparilla Bowl games (71%).
By scoring 31 points, NC State extended the streak of consecutive seasons in which the winning team has scored at least 27 points in the Gasparilla Bowl to eight.