A matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State needs no extra hype.

But there's additional fuel for this Thursday night clash in Raleigh, N.C., after the teams ended the 2024 season with a heated bowl game.

East Carolina beat the Wolfpack 26-21 in the Military Bowl, which included a late-game, on-field brawl between the teams at Annapolis, Md. Now the teams are back on home-state soil.

NC State coach Dave Doeren said he was embarrassed by his team's behavior, but also disturbed by how the Wolfpack played that day.

"They've got a lot of good parts coming back," Doeren said of the Pirates, who finished 8-5 last year.

East Carolina receiver Yannick Smith, who was one of the participants in the fight, remains on the Pirates' roster. He made three touchdown catches last year.

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