NC State climbs in Playoff ranking, returns to AP Poll

NC State did not play during championship week, but that did not stop the program from rising slightly in the College Football Playoff ranking and making a return to the Associated Press Poll. The Wolfpack climbed two spots to No. 23, jumping UNC in the playoff poll, and returning to the AP at No. 25.

While the program was not included in the USA Today Coaches Poll, finishing with the 26th-most votes and directly behind the Tar Heels, NC State made it back into the top-25 of the two other rankings, capping off its 8-4 regular season with a chance to reach 9 wins for the fourth time in the past 10 years in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Maryland.

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The Wolfpack is one of 3 ACC programs to make the top-25, joining Clemson and Florida State. North Carolina fell out of the poll following its blowout loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship game Saturday night. All three ranked programs play in the Atlantic Division.

NC State debuted in the poll at No. 22 just over 1 month ago and now wraps up the rankings with just a one-spot drop despite the constant barrage of injuries the program dealt with this season.

The full College Football Playoff rankings:

Rank	Team	Record
1	Georgia	13-0
2	Michigan	13-0
3	TCU	12-1
4	Ohio State	11-1
5	Alabama	10-2
6	Tennessee	10-2
7	Clemson	11-2
8	Utah	10-3
9	Kansas State	10-3
10	Southern California	11-2
11	Penn State	10-2
12	Washington	10-2
13	Florida State	9-3
14	Oregon State	9-3
15	Oregon	9-3
16	Tulane	11-2
17	LSU	9-4
18	UCLA	9-3
19	South Carolina	8-4
20	Texas	8-4
21	Notre Dame	8-4
22	Mississippi State	8-4
23	NC State	8-4
24	Troy	11-2
25	UTSA	11-2

The complete Associated Press Poll:

Rank	Team	Conference	Record	Points
1	Georgia	SEC	13-0	1,574(62)
2	Michigan	Big Ten	13-0	1,513(1)
3	TCU	Big 12	12-1	1,430
4	Ohio State	Big Ten	11-1	1,398
5	Alabama	SEC	10-2	1,285
6	Tennessee	SEC	10-2	1,233
7	Utah	Pac-12	10-3	1,110
8	USC	Pac-12	11-2	1,068
9	Penn State	Big Ten	10-2	1,063
10	Clemson	ACC	11-2	1,042
11	Kansas State	Big 12	10-3	1,032
12	Washington	Pac-12	10-2	933
13	Florida State	ACC	9-3	708
14	Tulane	The American	11-2	681
15	Oregon	Pac-12	9-3	670
16	LSU	SEC	9-4	660
17	Oregon State	Pac-12	9-3	644
18	UCLA	Pac-12	9-3	570
19	Notre Dame	Division I FBS Ind	8-4	394
20	South Carolina	SEC	8-4	382
21	Texas	Big 12	8-4	305
22	UTSA	Conference USA	11-2	227
23	Troy	Sun Belt	11-2	158
24	Mississippi State	SEC	8-4	119
25	North Carolina State	ACC	8-4	59