NC State football has announced that true freshman quarterback CJ Bailey will start his first game against Clemson this Saturday, replacing Grayson McCall, who is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. McCall suffered the injury during a recent victory over Louisiana Tech, where Bailey led a comeback in the second half, completing 13 of 20 passes for 156 yards and scoring a rushing touchdown. Coach Dave Doeren expressed confidence in Bailey, stating, 'It's his team' for the time being. Despite the circumstances, the matchup against Clemson presents a low-pressure situation for Bailey as NC State is considered an underdog. The game marks the first conference matchup for both teams this season, with NC State having won two of the last three games against Clemson. Redshirt freshman Lex Thomas will serve as Bailey's backup during this period.