All-Carolina College Football Poll: Wake Forest’s historic season still has a roadblock
We here in the Carolinas have been treated to some quality, high-level drama this season, have we not? The thought occurred to me Saturday night during the N.C. State-Wake Forest game: The marquee match-ups among state teams have delivered this season, from the very beginning.
The season began with Charlotte’s memorable victory against Duke, which resulted in Charlotte students taking over their team’s home field. ECU-South Carolina was a close, entertaining game. N.C. State (finally) defeated Clemson, after years of close calls, in overtime. Appalachian State’s triumph over Coastal Carolina was fun, and also ended in a field-storming.
And then State-Wake Saturday night, which came down to the final moments.
That there have been so many close games among teams in the Carolinas (we’ll just forget about UNC-Duke) speaks to something that has become clearer and clearer as the season has progressed: The margins are especially thin this year. That’s true locally. That’s true nationally.
N.C. State is a strong example. The Wolfpack has lost two ACC games by a combined four points, and the difference Saturday night in Winston-Salem was a short missed field goal and, perhaps, recovering an onside kick about a foot too early. (Oh, and a defense that couldn’t get off the field often enough on third down.)
All of this should make for an especially fun final couple of weeks of the regular season. Buckle up, and enjoy the latest iteration of the All-Carolina Poll:
1. Wake Forest (9-1, 6-0 ACC)
Previous ranking: 1
Last week: W 45-42 vs. N.C. State
Up next: at Clemson, Saturday
Just how rare is a nine-win season at Wake Forest? So rare that this is the third time it has ever happened, in 114 seasons. The first time was 2006, when Wake won the ACC and played in the Orange Bowl. The second time came the next season, when the Demon Deacons finished 9-4 with a bowl victory. This is only the second time Wake has won nine regular-season games.
2. N.C. State (7-3, 4-2 ACC)
Previous ranking: 2
Last week: L 45-42 at Wake Forest
Up next: vs. Syracuse, Saturday
The Wolfpack was right there Saturday night in Winston-Salem, the moment begging to be seized. Opportunities like that just don’t come around too often, especially for State. Even so, the Wolfpack remains alive for the Atlantic Division — and a Wake loss at Clemson and a State victory against Syracuse would make Thanksgiving weekend mighty interesting, indeed.
3. Clemson (7-3, 5-2 ACC)
Previous ranking: T-5
Last week: W 44-7 vs. Connecticut
Up next: vs. Wake Forest, Saturday
Ah, yes — just as we all predicted back in August. Clemson has a chance to keep its waning Atlantic Division hopes alive with a victory against Wake Forest. But laugh not: The Tigers’ path to Charlotte isn’t as far-fetched as you might’ve thought. They need to win, and they need help, but they’re in it — especially with a victory Saturday.
4. Appalachian State (8-2, 5-1 Sun Belt)
Previous ranking: T-5
Last week: W 31-7 vs. South Alabama
Up next: at Troy, Saturday
After another dominant victory Saturday, there’s nothing really standing in the way of a 10-win regular season for App. Anything less would be a disappointment (and a surprise, given the remaining competition). Indeed, the Mountaineers appear to have hit something of a groove, with victory margins of 31, 34 and 24 points over their past three games.
5. North Carolina (5-5, 3-4 ACC)
Previous ranking: 3
Last week: L 30-23 at Pittsburgh
Up next: vs. Wofford, Saturday
The good for the Tar Heels: Their defense (at last) showed signs of life and put together a mostly complete game at Pitt, which has been known to score points in large quantities. The bad: UNC was already losing 17-0 when it began its shift to defensive competence. After a breather against Wofford, the Heels’ Super Bowl is in Raleigh on the day after Thanksgiving.
6. Coastal Carolina (8-2, 4-2 Sun Belt)
Previous ranking: 4
Last week: L 42-40 vs. Georgia State
Up next: vs. Texas State, Saturday
After a 6-0 start, Coastal is 2-2 over its past four games. The loss at Appalachian State last month wasn’t all that surprising. On the other hand, the defeat Saturday against Georgia State was surprising, indeed — even if it came without regular starting quarterback Grayson McCall. The Chants now must avoid going into snooze mode over the final couple of weeks.
7. ECU (6-4, 4-2 American)
Previous ranking: 8
Last week: W 30-29 at Memphis
Up next: at Navy, Saturday
For months and months the Pirates’ goal has been to become bowl eligible; to end a long slide of losing seasons. Mission accomplished (at least on the bowl eligibility part). Who knows which bowl, or where it’ll be, but ECU is headed to the postseason for the first time since 2014. The Pirates have won three straight and six of eight after the 0-2 start.
8. South Carolina (5-5, 2-5 SEC)
Previous ranking: 7
Last week: L 31-28 at Missouri
Up next: vs. Auburn, Saturday
A reliable pattern has emerged for the Gamecocks, who have alternated wins and losses over their past six games. A win followed by a loss followed by a win and ... you get the idea. South Carolina lost at Missouri, which means, clearly, that a home victory against Auburn is forthcoming. Isn’t that how this works? Well, keep in mind Auburn has lost two straight and looked bad doing it.
9. Charlotte (5-5, 3-3 Conference USA)
Previous ranking: 9
Last week: L 42-32 at Louisiana Tech
Up next: vs. Marshall, Saturday
Speaking of bowl eligibility: Will the 49ers achieve it? They need to beat either Marshall this week or Old Dominion the next to make it happen, and neither of those games represents an easy task. A side note, too: The game Saturday against Marshall will be Charlotte’s 100th, all time. A victory would give the 49ers their second season with at least six wins.
10. Duke (3-7, 0-6 ACC)
Previous ranking: 10
Last week: L 48-17 at Virginia Tech
Up next: vs. Louisville, Thursday
What can you say at this point about the Blue Devils? That’s six consecutive losses now and, with the exception of a 31-27 loss against Georgia Tech, none of the other defeats have been particularly close. Duke closes the season with home games against Louisville and Miami and the Blue Devils need to win one of those to avoid its first winless ACC season under David Cutcliffe.
This story was originally published November 15, 2021 at 1:16 PM.
