Aug 12, 2024 - Sports

N.C. State enters college season with high expectations

Zachery Eanes

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 25: Kevin Concepcion #10 celebrates his touchdown with Jacarrius Peak #65 of the NC State Wolfpack during the first half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Carter-Finley Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/ — N.C. State wide receiver Kevin Concepcion, No. 10, is a key returner for the Wolfpack. Photo: Lance King/Getty Images

The North Carolina State Wolfpack will enter the upcoming college football season ranked No. 24 in the country, according to the Associated Press' pre-season ranking released on Monday.

Why it matters: N.C. State is coming into the season with high expectations from some corners of the media and the Wolfpack faithful after going 9-4 last year.

Coach Dave Doeren, entering his 12th year at State, has also brought in one of the most prized quarterback transfers in Grayson McCall of Coastal Carolina.

Driving the news: The Wolfpack will be the fourth-highest-ranked Atlantic Coast Conference team, behind Florida State (No. 10), Clemson (No. 14) and Miami (No. 19).

State also came in at No. 22 in USA Today's coaches' poll.

State of play: In the ACC preseason media poll, N.C. State was voted to finish 4th while UNC was 8th and Duke 11th.

What we're watching: The Wolfpack opens the season on Aug. 29 against Western Carolina in Raleigh.

But State's marquee game comes in week two against Tennessee on Sept. 7 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Tennessee is ranked No. 15 and will give the Wolfpack a chance to prove itself against an SEC opponent on neutral ground.

Flashback: The Wolfpack entered a season with high expectations as recently as 2022, when it was ranked No. 13 in the preseason.

That year State went 8-5 and finished tied for third in the Atlantic division.
Before 2022, the Wolfpack hadn't appeared in the top 25 pre-season poll since 2003.

What they're saying: "We're one of five programs over the last four years that have won eight or more games in college football," Doeren told reporters in July. "We've sustained a level of competitive greatness that not many people have been able to do."

"With that being said, we want to win a championship," he added.

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N.C. State enters college season with high expectations

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