NC State ranked in the top-15 of USA Today Coaches Poll
The first USA Today AFCA coaches poll of the season was released Monday, and NC State received recognition as one of the top teams in the nation. After finishing last season 9-3 and bringing back 17 starters, the Wolfpack checked in at No. 13.
NC State received a total of 726 votes in the poll, sandwiching itself between Oregon, No. 12, and Michigan State, No. 14 on the list. Clemson is the only ACC team ranked higher than the Wolfpack at No. 4, with Notre Dame directly behind the Tigers in fifth.
A total of five ACC team made the cut, with Pittsburgh (No. 16), Miami (No. 17) and Wake Forest (No. 19) all making the list as well. Head coach Dave Doeren is a voter on the poll. The highest NC State appeared on the 2021 coaches poll was No. 18.
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Alabama topped the ranking with 54 first-place votes, followed by Ohio State and Georgia, the defending national champion. The Buckeyes picked up five first-place votes, and Georgia received six. Texas is the main outlier, finishing 18th in the rankings but also holding a singular first-place ballot. Here is the full list of preseason rankings.
| Rank | Team | Record | PTS | 1st | Prev | Chg | Hi/Lo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | 0-0 | 1634 | 54 | NR | — | 1/1 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 0-0 | 1564 | 5 | NR | — | 2/2 |
| 3 | Georgia | 0-0 | 1542 | 6 | NR | — | 3/3 |
| 4 | Clemson | 0-0 | 1356 | 0 | NR | — | 4/4 |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 0-0 | 1284 | 0 | NR | — | 5/5 |
| 6 | Michigan | 0-0 | 1232 | 0 | NR | — | 6/6 |
| 7 | Texas A&M | 0-0 | 1219 | 0 | NR | — | 7/7 |
| 8 | Utah | 0-0 | 1134 | 0 | NR | — | 8/8 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 0-0 | 1027 | 0 | NR | — | 9/9 |
| 10 | Baylor | 0-0 | 891 | 0 | NR | — | 10/10 |
| 11 | Oklahoma State | 0-0 | 859 | 0 | NR | — | 11/11 |
| 12 | Oregon | 0-0 | 734 | 0 | NR | — | 12/12 |
| 13 | NC State | 0-0 | 726 | 0 | NR | — | 13/13 |
| 14 | Michigan State | 0-0 | 711 | 0 | NR | — | 14/14 |
| 15 | Southern California | 0-0 | 602 | 0 | NR | — | 15/15 |
| 16 | Pittsburgh | 0-0 | 450 | 0 | NR | — | 16/16 |
| 17 | Miami | 0-0 | 433 | 0 | NR | — | 17/17 |
| 18 | Texas | 0-0 | 383 | 1 | NR | — | 18/18 |
| 19 | Wake Forest | 0-0 | 381 | 0 | NR | — | 19/19 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 0-0 | 369 | 0 | NR | — | 20/20 |
| 21 | Kentucky | 0-0 | 353 | 0 | NR | — | 21/21 |
| 22 | Cincinnati | 0-0 | 339 | 0 | NR | — | 22/22 |
| 23 | Arkansas | 0-0 | 334 | 0 | NR | — | 23/23 |
| 24 | Mississippi | 0-0 | 327 | 0 | NR | — | 24/24 |
| 25 | Houston | 0-0 | 257 | 0 | NR | — | 25/25 |
The above table is from the USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Poll website.
“The USA TODAY Sports AFCA football coaches poll is conducted weekly throughout the regular season using a panel of 65 head coaches at Football Bowl Subdivision schools,” USA Today’s website said. “The panel is chosen by random draw, conference by conference plus independents, from a pool of coaches who have indicated to the American Football Coaches Association their willingness to participate. Each coach submits a Top 25 with a first-place vote worth 25 points, second place 24, and so on down to one point for 25th.”
