NC State’s 8–5 Season Was Tougher Than It Looks

NC State’s 8-5 record this season when put in perspective, might be more impressive than you realize.

According to ESPN’s David Hale, NC State is 1 of 10 teams in the last 10 years to win 8+ games while facing 9+ teams who also won 8+ games.

In the last 10 years, teams to win 8+ games while facing 9+ teams who also won 8+ games…
2016 Bama**
2016 Clemson**
2018 Bama**
2019 UGA
2019 Ohio St*
2023 Wash**
2024 Texas*
2024 ND**
2024 Ohio St**
2025 NC State

* made playoff
** made nat champ game

— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) December 22, 2025

Eight of the 10 teams played in the College Football Playoff. The only two teams to not do so were the 2019 Georgia Bulldogs and the 2025 NC State Wolfpack. The Bulldogs might not have gone to the Playoff, but they did finish the year ranked 4th in the AP Poll.

Obviously, this random statistic doesn’t imply this NC State team was on the same level as these other 9 teams, but it does put the season in perspective.

NC State’s 2025 Opponents with 8+ Wins
ECU: 9-4
UVA: 11-3 (ACC Title Game) (20th in AP Poll)
WFU: 8-4 (still has a bowl game)
Duke: 8-5 (ACC Champ) (Still has a bowl game)
Notre Dame: 10-2 (9th in AP Poll)
Pitt: 8-5 (39th in AP Poll)
Georgia Tech: 9-4 (24th in AP Poll)
Miami: 11-2 (Still in CFP) (10th in AP Poll)
Memphis: 8-5