NC State #24 in Sports Illustrated’s 2018 Preseason Top-25

Sports Illustrated just revealed their 2018 college football preseason Top-25, and NC State is sitting at #24.

1) Clemson
2) Alabama
3) Wisconsin
4) Washington
5) Oklahoma
6) Georgia
7) Penn St.
8) Auburn
9) Ohio St.
10) West Virginia
11) Michigan St.
12) Stanford
13) Miami
14) TCU
15) Michigan
16) Notre Dame
17) UCF
18) Florida St.
19) Arizona
20) Houston
21) Mississippi St.
22) Texas
23) LSU
24) NC State
25) Florida Atlantic

Here’s what they had to say about the Wolfpack:

Last year: 9–4 (6–2 ACC); Beat Arizona State in Sun Bowl

SI Top 100 players: None

X-Factor: NC State lost all four of its starting defensive linemen to the NFL draft, so head coach Dave Doeren had some rebuilding to do up front. Enter senior end Darian Roseboro, who is set to lead a unit that will have to hold its own for the Wolfpack to be a threat in the ACC Atlantic. Over the course of his three-year career, Roseboro has logged 76 tackles and 13.5 sacks playing in the shadow of several future pros. The question now is whether he can produce at that clip with increased reps and set the tone for a defense that is replacing eight starters from a year ago. — Joan Niesen (SI)