ESPN: How NC State Can Make the College Football Playoff in 2024

ESPN just released an article this morning breaking down how every team in their Way-Too-Early Preseason Top-25 can make the College Football Playoff, which will be expanded to 12 teams in 2024.

The Wolfpack ranks 18th in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Preseason Top-25. Here’s what Heather Dinich of ESPN thinks is necessary for NC State to do in order to make the 12-team College Football Playoff.

18. NC State Wolfpack

How to impress the committee: Win the ACC and win on the road. NC State has a chance to beat Tennessee in nearby Charlotte, N.C., but it also has conference road trips to Clemson, Cal, Georgia Tech on a Thursday night and at rival North Carolina. While Cal might not be ranked, the committee will still appreciate the difficulty of the cross-country trip to its new ACC opponent. If the Pack loses to the Vols but still wins the ACC, it will earn a playoff bid as one of the five highest-ranked conference champs. If Florida State wins the ACC, the winner of the NC State-Clemson game will have the edge if both are in contention for an at-large spot.

How the path will be different in the 12-team field: NC State doesn’t have to be concerned about being excluded if it wins the league. It’s possible, though, that if NC State loses to Tennessee and loses to an ACC opponent — finishing as a two-loss ACC champ — it could be snubbed for a first-round bye. If there is an undefeated conference champion from the American Athletic Conference, MAC, Sun Belt, C-USA or MWC that is ranked higher, the Pack could wind up as the fifth-best conference champ guaranteed a spot. If NC State doesn’t win the ACC, it could face an uphill battle for one of the at-large spots without enough statement wins or convincing performances.