NC State football makes preseason coaches poll top 25
NC State football made its top 25 debut Monday afternoon in the USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll. The Wolfpack slotted into the rankings at No. 22.
This is the first official top 25 of the season, with the Associated Press preseason poll scheduled to drop next week. With 216 points, the Pack slots between No. 21 Arizona and No. 23 USC.
Florida State leads all ACC teams as the No. 10 team in the country. Clemson checked in at No. 14, and Miami follows the Tigers at No. 19. The poll ranks Tennessee, NC State’s week two opponent, at No. 15.
NC State was not ranked in either preseason poll prior to its 9-win 2023 campaign. ESPN sets the Wolfpack’s expected win total at 8.5 this season with 100-1 odds to win the ACC. Head coach Dave Doeren talked about this team’s goals for 2024 during ACC Kickoff.
“What does greatness look like for NC State?” Doeren said. “We want to hold that trophy up at the end of the year.”
Last week, the conference’s media voted NC State to finish No. 4 in the ACC while also picking senior cornerback Aydan White and sophomore wide receiver KC Concepcion for the preseason all-conference squad.
The Wolfpack added 40 first-year players to its roster over the offseason. Expectations are high, and the Pack needs the next few weeks of fall camp to help meet them.
“You want to see clean [football],” Doeren said. “No penalties, pre-snap. We’re looking at fundamentals, you are still throwing and catching. The alignments and formations, the timing and the plays, communication. All the things that we can do, that’s what we’re looking for.”
Here’s the official coaches poll, courtesy of the NCAA.
1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon
4. Texas
5. Alabama
6. Ole Miss
7. Notre Dame
8. Michigan
9. Penn State
10. Florida State
11. Missouri
12. LSU
13. Utah
14. Clemson
15. Tennessee
16. Oklahoma
17. Kansas State
18. Oklahoma State
19. Miami (Fla.)
20. Texas A&M
21. Arizona
22. NC State
23. USC
24. Kansas
25. Iowa