RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 31: Jacoby Brissett #12 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack runs with the ball against the Clemson Tigers during their game at Carter-Finley Stadium on October 31, 2015 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Football is a game of opportunity, where new stars step up to the plate each and every season. NC State had one of the best defenses a year ago, thanks to all-world pass rusher Bradley Chubb, the fifth overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft. Seven other starters from this stout defense have also said there goodbye’s, leaving the fate of the Wolfpack to fall on some unfamiliar faces. Offensively, there may not be a better receiving core in the nation, and the defense-first approach may need to change in coach Dave Doeren’s system.
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With Dave Doeren’s decision to reject big name schools like Tennesse to stay with the Wolfpack, NC State should see similar success to that of the 2017 season. After going 9-4 a year ago, with three of those losses coming by seven or fewer points, the Wolfpack are poised to get back to that nine-win mark. Also returning will be quarterback Ryan Finley, who will have a chance to take advantage of one of the most reliable offensive lines and receiving cores in all of college football. The loss of eight starters will hurt on defense, but now we will see just how good of a recruiter Dave Doeren is.
The out-of-conference game to watch will be the week three matchup against West Virginia. The Mountaineers will be led by star quarterback and potential first overall pick, Will Grier. With him at the helm of things once again, WVU should have a terrific season and will have a slight advantage over the Wolfpack and their depleted defense that will likely still be figuring things out early in the year. If Doeren’s group does pull through and get that win, there is a good shot both NC State and Clemson will be undefeated in their week eight matchup. Their last test will be against a Florida State team that is a bit of an unknown right now, and that game looks like a coin flip. All in all nine wins seems about right for NC State, with the potential for ten or eleven, and possibly a BCS bid.
Record: Wins 9, Losses 3
Week 1: NC State 34, James Madison 21 (W)
Week 2: NC State 42, Georgia State 13 (W)
Week 3: NC State 24, West Virginia 31 (L)
Week 4: NC State 49, Marshall 21 (W)
Week 5: NC State 27, Virginia 17 (W)
Week 6: NC State 30, Boston College 21 (W)
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: NC State 21, Clemson 24 (L)
Week 9: NC State 33, Syracuse 20 (W)
Week 10: NC State 27, Florida State 28 (L)
Week 11: NC State 38, Wake Forest 27 (W)
Week 12: NC State 34, Louisville 21 (W)
Week 13: NC State 41, North Carolina 20 (W)
