The Disrespect for NC State QB CJ Bailey is Getting Ridiculous

The disrespect for NC State QB CJ Bailey is getting ridiculous.

USAToday released their 2025 ACC Preseason Quarterback rankings last week, and they ranked Bailey as the 15th best Quarterback out of 17.

1. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
2. Haynes King, Georgia Tech
3. Kevin Jennings, SMU
4. Carson Beck, Miami (Fla.)
5. Darian Mensah, Duke
6. Chandler Morris, Virginia
7. Max Johnson or Gio Lopez, North Carolina
8. Miller Moss, Louisville
9. Thomas Castellanos, Florida State
10. Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech
11. Robby Ashford or Deshawn Purdie, Wake Forest
12. Eli Holstein, Pitt
13. Grayson James, Boston College
14. Rickie Collins, Syracuse
15. CJ Bailey, North Carolina State
16. Devin Brown, California
17. Elijah Brown or Ben Gulbranson, Stanford

On what analytical bases were these rankings created?

Mensah, Lopez, Morris and Purdie all played at lower level schools in 2024.

Robby Ashford has only attempted 59 passes over the past two seasons. Grayson James played in only 6 games for BC last year. Rickie Collins only attempted 7 passes in 4 games for LSU the past two seasons.

If you look at the Passing Efficiency Rating numbers for the ACC Quarterbacks, Bailey had the 8th best numbers in 2024, and that was as a True Freshman.

Darian Mensah (Duke) – 166.7 (Tulane)
Thomas Castellanos (FSU) – 163.4 (Boston College)
Haynes King (Georgia Tech) – 154.6
Kevin Jennings (SMU) – 150.9
Gio Lopez (UNC) – 150.8 (South Alabama)
Cade Klubnik (Clemson) – 148.2
Carson Beck (Miami) – 145.3 (Georgia)
CJ Bailey (NC State) – 144.0
Eli Holstein (Pitt) – 140.6
Chandler Morris (UVA) – 140.1 (North Texas)
Max Johnson (UNC) – 136.7 (2023 at Texas A&M)
Deshawn Purdie (Wake Forest) – 136.2 (UNC Charlotte)
Miller Morris (Louisville) – 135.1 (USC)
Grayson James (Boston College) – 134.2
Kyron Drones (Virginia Tech) – 128.7
Ben Gulbranson (Stanford) – 126.9 (Oregon State)
Robby Ashford (Wake Forest) – 114.3 (3 years at Auburn and South Carolina: 160 attempts)
Rickie Collins (Syracuse) – 145.6 (7 career pass attempts at LSU)
Devin Brown (Cal) – 130.6 (48 career attempts at Ohio St.)
Elijah Brown (Stanford) – 107.5 (48 pass attempts)

UNC and Wake Forest’s Quarterbacks are ranked ahead of Bailey, and we don’t even know which one of them will start in the Fall.

Wild.

Bailey’s Passing Efficiency Rating numbers were better last year than Purdie, Ashford and Johnson, and Lopez posted his numbers at South Alabama.

EA Sports College Football 26 is set to officially release to the public on Thursday, and they gave Bailey a grade of 78, tying him for the 19th highest grade on the Wolfpack roster.

When NC State posted their 10th highest rated players in the video game, found his absence to be laughable, replying with 3 crying laughing emojis.

Bailey’s PFF Grade in 2024 was 74.0, which is the 4th highest grade of any returning player.

Make it make sense.

Keep doubting CJ.

I know what I saw last season. Bailey passed the eye test.

I saw a star in the making.