College Football Playoff Top 25: Final Championship Week Projections

Back in October, NC State looked for a while like a contender in the ACC. After losing the season opener to South Carolina, the Wolfpack reeled off six straight wins to vault up into the teens of the major polls. Losses to Notre Dame and Clemson knocked them out of contention for the ACC crown, but NC State still has a shot at finishing in the Top 25 for just the third time this century.

At the heart of NC State’s success in 2017 was a top-30 passing offense. Veteran quarterback Ryan Finley benefitted from one of the country’s best offensive lines, suffering an average of just one sack per game. Finley did a great job of distributing the ball to a solid corps of receivers as well as running back Jaylen Samuels.

The Wolfpack’s four losses came against four bowl-bound opponents that finished the regular season a combined 35-13. Dave Doeren’s crew will remain in the final College Football Playoff rankings this year, and will jump back into the AP Top 25 and the Coaches Poll with a win in their bowl game.