NC State will play Purdue in 2014 ACC/Big Ten Challenge

NC State will return to the scene of its lone Big Ten/ACC Challenge road game triumph in 2014. The Wolfpack will play at Purdue on Dec. 2--the game time and television information for what I'm going to refer to as the Billy Randy Bowl has not yet been set. (NCSU Chancellor William Randolph Woodson came to State from Purdue. I'm still a tad bummed that "Billy Randy" hasn't caught on.) The Boilermakers finished the 2013-14 season 15-17 overall and 5-13 in Big Ten play, which was good enough for dead last.

Justin Gainey was the hero the last time State traveled to West Lafayette, which was ... good heavens ... 15 years ago. It was Gainey's three-pointer with less than 20 seconds left in regulation that propelled the Wolfpack to an upset win. This time around, State probably will be favored. The Boilermakers finished last season 97th in the Pomeroy Ratings, easily their lowest ranking since 2006--Matt Painter's first year as head coach.

All of the 2014 Challenge matchups, via GoPack.com:

Monday, Dec. 1
Nebraska at Florida State
Rutgers at Clemson

Tuesday, Dec. 2
Illinois at Miami
Minnesota at Wake Forest
NC State at Purdue
Ohio State at Louisville
Pittsburgh at Indiana
Syracuse at Michigan

Wednesday, Dec. 3
Duke at Wisconsin
Georgia Tech at Northwestern
Iowa at North Carolina
Michigan State at Notre Dame
Virginia at Maryland
Virginia Tech at Penn State