It could be a rough year.
David Pollack Names College Football Team with a High Chance of Falling Off a Cliff originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2024 college football season did not go as expected for some programs that aimed to take the next step.
One such program was the NC State Wolfpack, which finished the year with a record of 6-7. Prior to last season, the Wolfpack had enjoyed four consecutive seasons with eight or more wins, including two seasons with nine victories. This success had created considerable optimism heading into the 2024 season.
On his podcast "See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack," the former "College GameDay" analyst discussed the ACC as it approached the 2025 season. He expressed low expectations for the Wolfpack in the upcoming year.
"NC State, there's a very good chance they fall off a cliff," Pollack said.
ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) is slightly more optimistic about NC State than analyst Pollack, but it still doesn’t have high expectations. The FPI predicts a 6-6 season for the Wolfpack and gives them only a 1.3% chance of winning their conference. Additionally, the FPI forecasts that NC State will finish No. 11 in the ACC.
The Wolfpack rank No. 36 in the country for returning production, with 62% of their output returning from last year. However, they lose a significant amount on the defensive side, returning only 53% of their defensive production. On offense, they return 71%, which ranks No. 18 nationally.
On the downside, NC State struggled offensively last year, ranking No. 76 in total offense, No. 83 in rush offense, No. 58 in pass offense and No. 62 in scoring offense. Thus, even though they are returning a lot of production, it is largely from a struggling unit.
Key returnees include tight end Justin Joly, offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak, defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland and running back Hollywood Smothers. Quarterback CJ Bailey is back after throwing for 2,413 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while rushing for 279 yards and five touchdowns last season.
The Wolfpack will open their season at home against the East Carolina Pirates on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. ET.
Related: Paul Finebaum Takes Subtle Shot at Clemson Ahead of LSU Showdown
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
