ACC Power Rankings Week 10: Pittsburgh Rises, Virginia Tech Falls

Nov 1, 2014; Syracuse, NY, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack safety Josh Jones (2) makes an interception in the fourth quarter to end the game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. North Carolina State won the game 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

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11

N.C. State Wolfpack 5-4 (1-4)

Last week: Defeated Syracuse Orange 24-17
Last rank: 12

The streak is over! After a 4-0 start and almost beating Florida State in the fifth game, Dave Doeren’s team had us thinking they were much better than last year. Then came an epic implosion, and we had to re-evaluate that thought.

Luckily, although it was just against Syracuse, we can say for right now that this team is clearly better than last year’s team. That doesn;t make it a very good team, but it makes it a good enough team to be competing for a bowl game. The Wolfpack still have some serious issues with consistency on defense and at quarterback with Jacoby Brissett, but the potential is there. This team is only going to get better as time goes on, so right now they are in a much better position than they could have thought at the beginning of the year.

And with Wake Forest still on the schedule, getting to 6-6 should be expected. A 7-5 record is possible with a winnable game like North Carolina still on the schedule as well.