NC State Wolfpack Preseason Rankings and Expectations for 2026

The NC State Wolfpack enters the 2026 college football season with a mixed bag of expectations from national preview magazines. Despite finishing last season with eight wins and a bowl victory, the Wolfpack is not ranked among the top 40 teams in the preseason polls by major publications like Athlon, Lindy’s, and Phil Steele. This skepticism comes even as NC State is viewed as the best college football team in North Carolina, consistently ranked higher than rivals Duke and Wake Forest. Heading into the new season, NC State is projected to finish in the middle of the ACC standings, with Phil Steele placing them tied for fifth in the conference. However, the Wolfpack lacks standout individual players, as they have no projected first-team all-conference selections. This suggests that their strength lies in overall roster stability rather than star power. As the season approaches, the NC State Wolfpack will aim to prove the doubters wrong and solidify their position as a top contender in the ACC.