NC State returns to the College Football Playoff poll
After a brief absence from the College Football Playoff Poll, NC State is once again ranked in the top-25 at No. 25 in the second-to-last poll of 2022. The ranking is a reflection of the Wolfpack’s thrilling win over North Carolina in double overtime last week.
NC State finished the season 8-4 as one of five 4-loss teams included in the poll. A total of 4 ACC programs appeared in the top-25, with Clemson leading the way at No. 9, Florida State continuing its surge to No. 13 and UNC remaining ranked at No. 23 after a 6-spot drop despite its loss to the Pack.
While the program is back in the Playoff Poll, it fell out of both the Associated Press Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll. NC State’s win over UNC was its second ranked win of the season after defeating a top-25 Wake Forest team in Carter-Finley Stadium earlier this year.
After starting the year at No. 22 in the poll, the Wolfpack climbed as high as No. 16 before dropping out of the poll due to back-to-back losses to Boston College and Louisville. NC State has a chance to climb in the ranking once again before selection day depending on what happens during the conference championships.
| RANK | TEAM | OVERALL RECORD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 12-0 |
| 2 | Michigan | 12-0 |
| 3 | TCU | 12-0 |
| 4 | Southern California | 11-1 |
| 5 | Ohio State | 11-1 |
| 6 | Alabama | 10-2 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 10-2 |
| 8 | Penn State | 10-2 |
| 9 | Clemson | 10-2 |
| 10 | Kansas State | 9-3 |
| 11 | Utah | 9-3 |
| 12 | Washington | 10-2 |
| 13 | Florida State | 9-3 |
| 14 | LSU | 9-3 |
| 15 | Oregon State | 9-3 |
| 16 | Oregon | 9-3 |
| 17 | UCLA | 9-3 |
| 18 | Tulane | 10-2 |
| 19 | South Carolina | 8-4 |
| 20 | Texas | 8-4 |
| 21 | Notre Dame | 8-4 |
| 22 | UCF | 9-3 |
| 23 | North Carolina | 9-3 |
| 24 | Mississippi State | 8-4 |
| 25 | NC State | 8-4 |
About the CFP Poll (per the ranking’s website):
“The College Football Playoff matches the No. 1 ranked team vs. No. 4, and No. 2 vs. No. 3 in semifinal games that rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl Game. This season’s Playoff Semifinals will take place Saturday, December 31, 2022 at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The Los Angeles region will host the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, January 9, 2023, at SoFi Stadium.”
