ESPN Ranks Which Undefeated Teams Have the Best Chance at the CFP

NC State is 1 of the 11 undefeated college football teams remaining after Week 6. ESPN put each one of them in categories, ranking which undefeated teams had the best chance at making the College Football Playoff.

Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Clemson and Georgia, in that order, made up the category of “Win and They’re In.”

West Virginia and NC State, in that order, are the two teams in the category “Dark Horses.”

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

2. NC State Wolfpack (5-0)

Remaining SOS: No. 67
Toughest remaining game: Oct. 20 at Clemson
FPI says: If NC State can beat Clemson in two weeks, it will be favored the rest of the way, but the FPI gives the Wolfpack only a 10.1 percent chance to win. An average Top 25 team would have only a 3 percent chance to go 11-0 against this schedule, which would fit the résumé of past playoff participants.
Playoff predictor says: Even if NC State finishes as an undefeated ACC champ, it still has only a 44 percent chance to make the playoff.

It hurt NC State tremendously that its game against West Virginia was canceled because of Hurricane Florence, because the Wolfpack don’t have a single Power 5 nonconference win (JMU, Georgia State and Marshall). All 16 past semifinalists have played a regular-season nonconference game against a Power 5 opponent.

Bottom line: Even if NC State shocks Clemson and wins the ACC, it wouldn’t be a lock. (ESPN)

247Sports gave their own take on the Pack’s playoff chances:

247Sports take: Dave Doeren’s team is 5-0 this season, but let’s be real, the Wolfpack would likely have a loss had its September showdown vs. West Virginia not been washed away by Hurricane Florence. On the flipside, had that game been played and NC State beat the Mountaineers, it would be inside the Top 15 right now with a quality win to boast about to the Playoff committee. The Clemson game next weekend is vital to faint Playoff hopes. (247)