RALEIGH - Just when N.C. State’s hopes for a dramatic win seemed squashed, Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder unexpectedly brushed up against running back Ty Jones in the backfield.

It appeared that Ponder had a chance to throw for the winning touchdown on a tackle eligible play Thursday night. Instead, the contact in the backfield dislodged the ball.

N.C. State linebacker Nate Irving recovered the fumble at the Wolfpack 9-yard line with 48.3 seconds remaining. And N.C. State finished off its biggest win in years, a 28-24 decision over Florida State at Carter-Finley Stadium that put the Wolfpack squarely in the race for the ACC Atlantic Division championship.