CBS Sports Ranks NC State’s Dave Doeren as the 7th Best Football Coach in the ACC

CBS Sports recently released their College Football Head Coach Rankings heading into the 2025 season, and NC State’s Dave Doeren ranks 31st out of all Power 4 schools, and 7th in the ACC. For perspective, Doeren ranked 3rd in the ACC heading into the 2024 season.

1. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
2. Jeff Brohm, Louisville
3. Mario Cristobal, Miami
4. Rhett Lashlee, SMU
5. Mike Norvell, Florida State
6. Brent Key, Georgia Tech
7. Dave Doeren, NC State
8. Pat Narduzzi, Pitt
9. Manny Diaz, Duke
10. Fran Brown, Syracuse
11. Bill O’Brien, Boston College
12. Bill Belichick, North Carolina
13. Justin Wilcox, Cal
14. Jake Dickert, Wake Forest
15. Brent Pry, Virginia Tech
16. Tony Elliott, Virginia
17. Frank Reich, Stanford

Here’s what Chip Patterson had to say about Doeren:

Last season was a disappointment for the Wolfpack. They entered the year with ACC dark horse buzz but finished 6-7 after a loss to East Carolina in the Military Bowl. The setback snapped a streak of four straight seasons with at least eight wins and marked the third-worst win total of Doeren’s 12-year tenure. NC State has a track record of exceeding expectations when overlooked, and after Doeren dropped 15 spots in the national coach rankings, 2025 could be setting up as one of those bounce-back campaigns. Last year: No. 3 in ACC (CBS)