Here’s where Wake Forest, NC State rank in first CFP Top 25 for 2021 season
Wake Forest and N.C. State were two of three ACC schools ranked in the College Football Playoff poll revealed on Tuesday evening. The Demon Deacons were No. 9, the Wolfpack No. 19 and Pitt rounded out the list at No. 25.
The top six in order were Georgia (8-0), Alabama (7-1), Michigan State (8-0), Oregon (7-1), Ohio State (7-1) and Cincinnati (8-0).
Wake (8-0) is being introduced to a neighborhood that’s been unfamiliar in program history. The Deacs have never been unbeaten through eight games in a season. They have also never been ranked in the Top 10 of the Associated Press Top 25 Poll until now, as the No. 10 ranked team. Tuesday’s CFP unveiling introduced Wake to another new poll position.
Wake, which plays at North Carolina on Saturday in a non-conference game, hasn’t won the ACC title since 2006. It’s been even longer for the Wolfpack. For N.C. State, the drought extends to 1979, but the two are front-runners for the league’s Atlantic Division and a spot in the ACC Championship game.
The Pack (6-2) fell out of the most recent AP poll but are ranked No. 22 in the AFCA Coaches poll. Their 24-3 road loss at Mississippi State probably factored into their CFP ranking, as the Bulldogs with three losses sit ahead of them at No. 17 in the poll.
Ohio State, which was ranked No. 16 in the first-ever CFP poll in 2014, was the lowest-ranked team ever to win the national title under this format.
The four top-ranked teams advance to the College Football Playoff. That selection show takes place on Sunday, Dec. 5.
Clemson and Florida State are the only ACC programs that have ever played in the playoff. Wake would likely need a lot of help in order to become the third league team to make an appearance in the four-team playoff.
The Deacs are the lowest-ranked team that is still undefeated. Four one-loss teams — Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State and Michigan — are ranked ahead of them.
This season’s semifinals will be played in the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl on Dec. 31. The national championship game will be on Jan. 10, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
College Football Playoff rankings
1. Georgia 8-0
2. Alabama 7-1
3. Michigan State 8-0
4. Oregon 7-1
5. Ohio State 7-1
6. Cincinnati 8-0
7. Michigan 7-1
8. Oklahoma 9-0
9. Wake Forest 8-0
10. Notre Dame 7-1
11. Oklahoma State 7-1
12. Baylor 7-1
13. Auburn 6-2
14. Texas A&M 6-2
15. BYU 7-2
16. Ole Miss 6-2
17. Mississippi State 5-3
18. Kentucky 6-2
19. NC State 6-2
20. Minnesota 6-2
21. Wisconsin 5-3
22. Iowa 6-2
23. Fresno State 7-2
24. San Diego State 7-1
25. Pitt 6-2
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 7:17 PM.