Kansas State vs. NC State: Pop-Tarts Bowl TV Channel, Live Stream, Time, How to Watch – December 28

Updated Dec. 28, 2023 5:28 p.m. ET

Data Skrive

The Pop-Tarts Bowl sees Will Howard and the Kansas State Wildcats and the NC State Wolfpack take the field on Thursday, December 28, 2023. The matchup begins at 5:45 PM ET and airs on ESPN.

The matchup is on ESPN, if you're looking for how to watch.

Learn more about the Kansas State Wildcats and the NC State Wolfpack.

How to Watch Kansas State vs. NC State

When: Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 5:45 PM ET
Location: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida
TV: Watch on ESPN

Kansas State's 2023 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Score	Spread
9/2/2023	vs. Southeast Missouri State	W 45-0	-28.5
9/9/2023	vs. Troy	W 42-13	-14.5
9/16/2023	at Missouri	L 30-27	-3.5
9/23/2023	vs. UCF	W 44-31	-6
10/6/2023	at Oklahoma State	L 29-21	-11.5
10/14/2023	at Texas Tech	W 38-21	+1
10/21/2023	vs. TCU	W 41-3	-5.5
10/28/2023	vs. Houston	W 41-0	-18
11/4/2023	at Texas	L 33-30	+3.5
11/11/2023	vs. Baylor	W 59-25	-21
11/18/2023	at Kansas	W 31-27	-7
11/25/2023	vs. Iowa State	L 42-35	-9.5
12/28/2023	vs. NC State	-

Wildcats 2023 Stats & Insights

On the offensive side of the ball, Kansas State has been a top-25 unit, ranking 22nd-best in the FBS by totaling 446.3 yards per game. The defense ranks 59th (370.3 yards allowed per game).
Kansas State is compiling 246.4 passing yards per game on offense, which ranks them 51st in the FBS. The defense ranks 76th, surrendering 230.2 passing yards per contest.
The Wildcats rank 31st in scoring defense this year (21.2 points allowed per game), but they've been playing really well on the offensive side of the ball, ranking 10th-best in the FBS with 37.8 points per game.
The Wildcats rank 46th in run defense this year (140.2 rushing yards allowed per game), but they've been thriving on the other side of the ball, ranking 14th-best in the FBS with 199.9 rushing yards per game.
Kansas State has been making things happen on both sides of the ball on third down this season, owning the sixth-best mark in third-down percentage (49.1%) and seventh-best in third-down defense (28.7% third-down conversion rate allowed).
The Wildcats own the fifth-best turnover margin in college football at +11, forcing 22 turnovers (25th in the FBS) while turning it over 11 times (11th in the FBS).

Kansas State 2023 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Will Howard	QB	2,643 YDS (61.2%) / 24 TD / 10 INT 354 RUSH YDS / 9 RUSH TD / 29.5 RUSH YPG
DJ Giddens	RB	1,075 YDS / 9 TD / 89.6 YPG / 5.5 YPC 28 REC / 286 REC YDS / 2 REC TD / 23.8 REC YPG
Treshaun Ward	RB	651 YDS / 5 TD / 54.3 YPG / 5.2 YPC 17 REC / 129 REC YDS / 2 REC TD / 10.8 REC YPG
Ben Sinnott	TE	49 REC / 676 YDS / 6 TD / 56.3 YPG
Austin Moore	LB	57 TKL / 9 TFL / 1.5 SACK
Kobe Savage	S	53 TKL / 3 TFL / 3 INT / 3 PD
Desmond Purnell	LB	41 TKL / 2 TFL / 0.5 SACK / 1 INT
Marques Sigle	S	56 TKL / 3 TFL / 1 INT / 1 PD

NC State's 2023 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Score	Spread
8/31/2023	at UConn	W 24-14	-14.5
9/9/2023	vs. Notre Dame	L 45-24	+7
9/16/2023	vs. VMI	W 45-7	+7
9/22/2023	at Virginia	W 24-21	-8
9/29/2023	vs. Louisville	L 13-10	+3
10/7/2023	vs. Marshall	W 48-41	-6.5
10/14/2023	at Duke	L 24-3	+4
10/28/2023	vs. Clemson	W 24-17	+9.5
11/4/2023	vs. Miami (FL)	W 20-6	+6.5
11/11/2023	at Wake Forest	W 26-6	-1
11/18/2023	at Virginia Tech	W 35-28	+2.5
11/25/2023	vs. North Carolina	W 39-20	+2.5
12/28/2023	at Kansas State	-

Wolfpack 2023 Stats & Insights

NC State ranks 97th with 346.3 total yards per contest on offense, and it ranks 26th with 323.5 total yards surrendered per contest on the defensive side of the ball.
From an offensive angle, NC State is putting up 196.3 passing yards per game (100th-ranked). It ranks 55th in the FBS on the other side of the ball (218.8 passing yards given up per game).
The Wolfpack's defense has been leading the charge for the team, as they rank 23rd-best in the FBS with 20.2 points allowed per game. In terms of offense, they are generating 26.8 points per game, which ranks 70th.
The Wolfpack have been excelling on run defense, surrendering just 104.8 rushing yards per contest (15th-best). Offensively, they rank 78th in the FBS by posting 150.1 rushing yards per game.
NC State's defense has been excelling on third down, surrendering a 27.7% third-down conversion rate (fifth-best). Offensively, it ranks 64th in the FBS with a 39.3% third-down rate.
The Wolfpack have thrived in terms of turnovers, as their turnover margin of +10 ranks ninth-best in the FBS, with 24 forced turnovers (10th in the nation) and 14 turnovers committed (29th in the nation).

NC State 2023 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Brennan Armstrong	QB	1,619 YDS (62.4%) / 11 TD / 6 INT 544 RUSH YDS / 6 RUSH TD / 45.3 RUSH YPG
Kevin Concepcion	WR	64 REC / 767 YDS / 10 TD / 63.9 YPG
Delbert Mimms III	RB	269 YDS / 8 TD / 22.4 YPG / 2.9 YPC
MJ Morris	QB	719 YDS (55.8%) / 7 TD / 5 INT
Payton Wilson	LB	133 TKL / 14 TFL / 6 SACK / 3 INT
Davin Vann	DT	37 TKL / 5 TFL / 6.5 SACK
Sean Brown	S	55 TKL / 2 TFL / 2 SACK / 2 INT
Jaylon Scott	LB	70 TKL / 1 TFL / 2 SACK