The next year, Doeren's team finished 7–6, losing the 2015 Belk Bowl. The team was led by quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who was eventually selected by the New England Patriots in the 2016 NFL Draft. For the 2016 season, the Wolfpack again finished 7–6. NC State began the season with a victory over William & Mary. After losing the following week to East Carolina, State won three straight, defeating Old Dominion, Wake Forest and Notre Dame (in a game infamously played during Hurricane Matthew). NC State would then lose four games in a row, first in a heartbreaker against No. 3 Clemson, then to No. 7 Louisville, and finally to Boston College and No. 19 Florida State. The Wolfpack would close the season with a win over Syracuse, a loss to Miami, a victory in the regular season finale against archrival North Carolina and a win over Vanderbilt in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana.