College Football: 2017 Week 7 AP Poll winners and losers

Winner: NC State Wolfpack (No. 24 to No. 20)

The NC State Wolfpack are quietly becoming the team to beat in the ACC Atlantic division. They won convincingly over the 17th-ranked Louisville Cardinals, 39-25, on Thursday night and have put the conference on notice that they’re the real deal.

The Wolfpack are now 5-1 and 3-0 in ACC play after holding former Heisman winner Lamar Jackson to three total touchdowns in Week 6. Jackson threw for 354 passing yards and ran for 73 rushing yards, but he also threw a pick-six and was sacked four times in the game.

Quarterback Ryan Finley and running back Nyheim Hines came up big for the Wolfpack offense. Finley threw for 367 passing yards and a touchdown. Hines finished with 102 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

NC State earned yet another statement victory over another ranked opponent and at 3-0 in conference play, they’re looking like a serious contender for the ACC crown.

The Wolfpack face the Pittsburgh Panthers on the road this week but they shouldn’t struggle. Their next big struggle comes on Nov. 4 when they face the second-ranked Clemson Tigers.