Athlon Predicts NC State Football Will Finish 10th in the ACC in 2025

Athlon has released their 2025 ACC Football projections, and they predict that NC State will finish 10th in their Preseason rankings.

ACC Football 2025 Predictions
1. Clemson
2. Miami
3. SMU
4. Louisville
5. Georgia Tech
6. Duke
7. Florida State
8. Pitt
9. North Carolina
10. NC State
11. Virginia Tech
12. Boston College
13. Syracuse
14. Virginia
15. California
16. Wake Forest
17. Stanford

(Athlon)

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

Last season’s 6-7 record was NC State’s first losing mark since 2019, but coach Dave Doeren still guided the program to its fifth straight bowl appearance. With new coordinators on both sides of the ball, along with the development of promising quarterback CJ Bailey, could the Wolfpack make a big jump in the ACC standings?

Sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey is Doeren’s biggest reason for optimism in ‘25. As a true freshman last year, Bailey threw for 2,413 yards and 14 touchdowns and finished sixth among ACC signal-callers in completion rate (64.9 percent). New play-caller Kurt Roper aims to take Bailey’s game to the next level and having talented pass catchers in tight end Justin Joly and receivers Noah Rogers and Justin Grimes can aid in that development. Running back Hollywood Smothers (571 yards in ‘24) is poised for a breakout year.

New coordinator D.J. Eliot inherits a defense that ranked 15th in the ACC in points allowed per contest (29.7) and is navigating significant offseason turnover in the secondary. Linebackers Caden Fordham and Sean Brown form a solid second level, while Temple transfer Tra Thomas could boost a pass rush that generated only 16 sacks in ACC play last season. (Athlon)