Liberty @ NC State preview

THE STORY: Looking to build off its best season since 2002, North Carolina State kicks off the new season with a new quarterback at home against Liberty. Junior Mike Glennon takes over for three-year starter Russell Wilson, who did not commit to returning for his senior season due to his baseball career and was subsequently released by head coach Tom O’Brien. Liberty won its fourth consecutive Big South Conference title last year and is 34-11 the past four years.

TV: ESPN3.com. LINE: N.C. State, -29.

ABOUT LIBERTY (2010: 8-3, 5-1 Big South): Senior quarterback Mike Brown, the two-time Big South Offensive Player of the Year, returns after passing for 2,956 yards and 23 touchdowns. His favorite target is senior Chris Summers, who set school records in 2010 for receiving yards (1,081) and touchdowns (15). Eight starters return on offense for the Flames, who averaged 36.4 points per game in 2010. Five starters are back on defense, including all four defensive backs. The Flames allowed 20.2 points per game last season.

ABOUT N.C. STATE (2010: 9-4, 5-3 ACC): The biggest question is at quarterback. Wilson passed for 3,563 yards and 28 touchdowns last year; Glennon has 52 pass attempts in two years. Six starters return on offense, including three on the offensive line and senior All-ACC tight end George Bryan. Leading rusher Mustafa Greene is back after gaining 597 yards as a freshman in 2010. N.C. State brings back eight starters on defense from a unit that allowed after allowing 21.3 points per game, which ranked 21st nationally. All four starters return in the secondary.

EXTRA POINTS

1. N.C. State’s nine victories last season were the program’s most since it won 11 in 2002.

2. Liberty scored 40-plus points six times in last season.

3. N.C. State senior T.J. Graham has 2,167 kickoff return yards in his career, the most in school history and fifth all-time in ACC history.

PREDICTION: N.C. State 38, Liberty 21 – The Flames will hang around, but the Wolfpack should wear down Liberty in the second half.