NC State returns to the top-20 in AP and Coaches polls
NC State picked up its first top-25 win of the season, defeating Wake Forest 30-21 under the lights of Cater-Finley Stadium Saturday night. The impressive win against the ranked in-state rival helped the Wolfpack climb in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls.
After starting the week ranked 21 in the AP Poll and 20 by the Coaches, NC State climbed to No. 17 and No. 16 in the respective polls. It was a tough week for the ACC overall, with Wake Forest and Syracuse dropping out of the rankings and Clemson falling to No. 12 in both polls after losing to Notre Dame.
North Carolina is the only ranked team remaining on NC State’s regular season schedule, sitting at No. 14 in the Coaches Poll and No. 15 in the AP Poll.
The Full AP Poll
| Rank | Trend | Team | Conference | Record | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Georgia | SEC | 9-0 | 1,574(62) |
| 2 | – | Ohio State | Big Ten | 9-0 | 1,500(1) |
| 3 | 1 | Michigan | Big Ten | 9-0 | 1,455 |
| 4 | 3 | TCU | Big 12 | 9-0 | 1,361 |
| 5 | 3 | Tennessee | SEC | 8-1 | 1,339 |
| 6 | 2 | Oregon | Pac-12 | 8-1 | 1,258 |
| 7 | 8 | LSU | SEC | 7-2 | 1,132 |
| 8 | 1 | USC | Pac-12 | 8-1 | 1,061 |
| 9 | 1 | UCLA | Pac-12 | 8-1 | 1,040 |
| 10 | 4 | Alabama | SEC | 7-2 | 1,009 |
| 11 | – | Mississippi | SEC | 8-1 | 962 |
| 12 | 7 | Clemson | ACC | 8-1 | 938 |
| 13 | 1 | Utah | Pac-12 | 7-2 | 881 |
| 14 | 2 | Penn State | Big Ten | 7-2 | 735 |
| 15 | 2 | North Carolina | ACC | 8-1 | 676 |
| 16 | 3 | Tulane | The American | 8-1 | 607 |
| 17 | 4 | North Carolina State | ACC | 7-2 | 547 |
| 18 | – | Texas | Big 12 | 6-3 | 399 |
| 19 | 4 | Liberty | Division I FBS Ind | 8-1 | 358 |
| 20 | – | Notre Dame | Division I FBS Ind | 6-3 | 316 |
| 21 | 7 | Illinois | Big Ten | 7-2 | 262 |
| 22 | 3 | UCF | The American | 7-2 | 257 |
| 23 | 10 | Kansas State | Big 12 | 6-3 | 247 |
| 24 | – | Washington | Pac-12 | 7-2 | 187 |
| 25 | – | Florida State | ACC | 6-3 | 78 |
The Full Coaches Poll:
| Rank | Team | Record | PTS | 1st | Prev | Chg | Hi/Lo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 9-0 | 1572 | 61 | 1 | — | 1/3 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 9-0 | 1505 | 0 | 2 | — | 2/3 |
| 3 | Michigan | 9-0 | 1447 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3/6 |
| 4 | Texas Christian | 9-0 | 1355 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4/NR |
| 5 | Tennessee | 8-1 | 1284 | 0 | 3 | -2 | 3/NR |
| 6 | Oregon | 8-1 | 1272 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 6/24 |
| 7 | Southern California | 8-1 | 1140 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 6/15 |
| 8 | Louisiana State | 7-2 | 1082 | 0 | 17 | 9 | 8/NR |
| 9 | Mississippi | 8-1 | 1056 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 7/24 |
| 10 | UCLA | 8-1 | 988 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 10/NR |
| 11 | Alabama | 7-2 | 973 | 0 | 6 | -5 | 1/11 |
| 12 | Clemson | 8-1 | 896 | 0 | 5 | -7 | 4/12 |
| 13 | Utah | 7-2 | 888 | 0 | 12 | -1 | 8/19 |
| 14 | North Carolina | 8-1 | 737 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 14/NR |
| 15 | Penn State | 7-2 | 717 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 10/NR |
| 16 | NC State | 7-2 | 568 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 10/23 |
| 17 | Tulane | 8-1 | 555 | 0 | 21 | 4 | 17/NR |
| 18 | Texas | 6-3 | 368 | 0 | NR | 10 | 18/NR |
| 19 | Liberty | 8-1 | 366 | 0 | 23 | 4 | 19/NR |
| 20 | Illinois | 7-2 | 302 | 0 | 13 | -7 | 13/NR |
| 21 | Central Florida | 7-2 | 273 | 0 | 25 | 4 | 21/NR |
| 22 | Kansas State | 6-3 | 243 | 0 | 14 | -8 | 14/NR |
| 23 | Washington | 7-2 | 175 | 0 | NR | 6 | 18/NR |
| 24 | Kentucky | 6-3 | 173 | 0 | 24 | — | 8/24 |
| 25 | Notre Dame | 6-3 | 133 | 0 | NR | 8 | 5/NR |
