ESPN Ranks NC State’s Offseason 10th in the ACC

ESPN released its offseason rankings for every Power 4 college football program, and NC State landed 10th among ACC teams.

ACC Offseason Rankings

1. Miami
2. SMU
3. Cal
4. Louisville
5. Virginia Tech
6. UVA
7. Pitt
8. Georgia Tech
9. FSU
10. NC State
11. Clemson
12. Duke
13. Wake Forest
14. Syracuse
15. UNC
16. Boston College
17. Stanford

Here’s what ESPN had to say about the Wolfpack’s offseason:

10. NC State Wolfpack

• Key additions: OT Jimarion McCrimon, WR Joshisa Trader, LB Raul Aguirre Jr.
• Key departures: TE Justin Joly, RB Hollywood Smothers, OT Jacarrius Peak
• Top incoming recruits: CB Jordyn Best, WR Amiri Acker, OLB Koby Sarkodie

Biggest coaching move: Dave Doeren kept coordinators DJ Eliot (defense) and Kurt Roper (offense) in place after an improved 2025 season. Veteran assistant Charley Wiles, the team’s defensive line coach the past six seasons, moved into an off-field role, and the D-line responsibilities will now be split. Former NC State three-time captain Isaiah Moore was promoted from a quality control position to oversee the inside linebackers.

What went wrong: The Wolfpack have won at least eight or more games in seven of their past nine seasons under Doeren. If they’re going to hit that win total — or exceed it — again in 2026, they’ll have to overcome a flood of key departures. Though NC State managed to retain quarterback CJ Bailey, it suffered a series of blows in the portal with the departures of Smothers (Texas), pass catchers Terrell Anderson (USC) and Noah Rogers (Alabama), left tackle Peak (South Carolina) and second-leading tackler Kenny Soares Jr. (Michigan State). Add in the graduations of Joly, a fifth-round selection of the Denver Broncos, along with defensive playmakers Brandon Cleveland, Caden Fordham and Sabastian Harsh, and the Wolfpack must account for a substantial talent drain to remain competitive with the top half of the ACC.

What went right: NC State kept Bailey on campus after the junior quarterback’s breakout 2025 campaign, and there’s confidence around the program that running back Duke Scott is ready for his star turn as he steps into Smothers’ place in the backfield this fall. Buffalo transfer Victor Snow and former top-25 recruit Trader (Miami) are two of the newest faces in Bailey’s wide receiver corps as the Wolfpack are preparing to slot another transfer, East Carolina offensive tackle McCrimon, into an offensive line returning three starters from a year ago. Tulane edge rush transfer Harvey Dyson fills a need on the defensive line after totaling eight sacks with the Green Wave a year ago while Aguirre (Miami) and Dakaari Nelson (Penn State) step into a renovated linebacker unit on Eliot’s defense. (ESPN)