NC State earned bowl eligibility, extended their winning streak over rival North Carolina to four games and ended Mack Brown's coaching career with 35-30 victory on a last-minute score in Chapel Hill on Saturday.

NC State grabbed the final edge in a back-and-forth affair on a 2-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds remaining by Hollywood Smothers, his second scoring run of the night,

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Wide receiver Noah Rogers had a tremendous 44-yard catch in double coverage to set up the touchdown for NC State (6-6).

"The guys just fought. That's the DNA of our program," NC State coach Dave Doeren said. "Adversity is going to happen. Life's not fair. What are you going to do about it?

"... Every time they made a play on their sideline, we responded with a play on our sideline."

The game ended with players from both teams in a scuffle on the field as at least one member of NC State's team tried to plant a flag on the field.

The post-game skirmish should not detract from another classic between the rivals — and another year with those in red claiming bragging rights.

"Beating Carolina matters more than winning a game to be bowl eligible to me," Doeren said. "That may sound weird, but when I got hired, they didn't say win six and go to a bowl. They said whatever you do, beat Carolina and we did that for the fourth year in a row. And that means a lot to me, that means a lot to our program."

Once again, in what has been a staple of the Mack Brown 2.0 era, North Carolina's defense could not hold up in the end. Brown had three defensive coordinators in six seasons.

Brown, the winningest coach in program history, was fired Monday, hours after publicly stating his intention to return for a seventh season in his second stint with UNC (6-6).

Brown waved to the crowd twice as he walked off the field for the last time.

"I agree with the administration. We need a change of leadership," Brown said in his postgame remarks. "I just wanted it to happen after the season was over."

The Tar Heels looked as if they would send Brown off a winner in his final game. They took a 30-29 lead with 1:51 left on a 47-yard catch and run by running back Omarion Hampton, who 263 yards of total offense and two scores.

But the Wolfpack was not done.

"We told the defensive guys that we got them," said freshman quarterback C.J. Bailey, who threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns. "Don't come to the sidelines with your head down, cause shoot, we've got y'all's back like how y'all had us in the first half. That's how it is with NC State football."

NC State led 7-6 at halftime, but both teams made a slew of big plays in the second half. The teams combined for 52 points after halftime and swapped the lead several times.

Hampton's 75-yard touchdown run in third quarter gave UNC its first lead at 13-10. After the Wolfpack tied the game at 13, UNC quarterback Jacolby Criswell connected with Chris Culliver for a 50-yard touchdown with 2:19 left in the third quarter.

Minutes later, NC State knotted the game again — on a 14-yard pass from Bailey to Dante Daniels. After a UNC field goal, NC State scored twice, including a touchdown catch by KC Concepcion, to lead 29-23 with 2:39 remaining.

It set up the frantic finish. And another Wolfpack celebration.

"When I said it was the biggest game of the year, it is the biggest game of the year and our players know that, our fans know that, our administration knows that and it's meaningful," Doeren said. "I don't say that to brag. I'm just saying that cause it's a rivalry."

Injuries

UNC defensive end Kaimon Rucker, who missed four games earlier in the season, left the field with broken fibula after just five defensive snaps. Rucker was injured on a low block by NC State guard Timothy McKay. He was ruled out for the rest of the game.

NC State cornerback Brandon Cisse was ruled out for the rest of the game with an upper-body injury after a late hit by UNC left tackle Howard Sampson.

Scoring summary

First quarter

NCSU — Hollywood Smothers 2 run (Kanoah Vinesett kick), 2:50. Drive: 1 play, 11 yards, 0:10. Key play: NC State's Davin Vann sacked UNC QB Jacolby Criswell and forced a fumble that was recovered by NC State's Sean Brown. NC State 7, UNC 0.

Second quarter

UNC — J.J. Jones 17 pass from Jacolby Criswell (kick failed), 7:49. Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 5:41. Key play: On fourth-and-3 from the Wolfpack 31, NC State committed a pass interference penalty, giving the Tar Heels a first down. NC State 7, UNC 6.

Third quarter

NCSU — Vinesett 41 field goal, 10:01. Drive: 8 plays, 36 yards, 4:06. Key play: NC State rushed six straight times on the drive before quarterback CJ Bailey was sacked, leading to the field goal attempt. NC State 10, UNC 6.

UNC — Omarion Hampton 75 run (Burnette kick). Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:11. Key play: Hampton went untouched through the line and raced to the end zone. Hampton has rushed for more than 1,500 yards in back-to-back seasons. It was his 15th rushing touchdown of the year, matching his total from 2023. UNC 13, NC State 10.

NCSU — Vinesett 40 field goal, 5:46. Drive: 7 plays, 54 yards, 3:58. UNC 13, NC State 13.

UNC — Chris Culliver 50 pass from Criswell (Burnette kick), 2:19. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:27. Key plays: UNC converted on fourth-and-1 and third-and-17 on the drive. UNC 20, NC State 13.

Fourth quarter

NCSU — Justin Joly 14 pass from C.J. Bailey (Vinesett kick), 14:15. Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 2:59. Key plays: Smothers accounted for 46 yards on the first three plays of the drive. UNC 20, NC State 20.

UNC — Burnette 25 field goal, 12:29. Drive: 5 plays, 51 yards, 1:39. Key plays: Culliver's 46-yard catch moved the Tar Heels to the NC State 13. UNC 23, NC State 20.

NCSU — Kevin Concepcion 13 pass from Bailey (kick failed), 8:01. Drive: 7 plays, 69 yards, 4:20. Key plays: The Wolfpack started the drive with consecutive 21-yard gains. NC State 26, UNC 23.

NCSU — Vinesett 28 field goal, 2:37. Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 3:54. NC State 29, UNC 23.

UNC — Hampton 47 pass from Criswell, 1:51. Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 0:46. UNC 30, NC State 29.

NCSU — Smothers 2 run (pass failed), 0:25. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:26. NC State 35, UNC 30.