When we started NC Football News three years ago, we wanted a set of statewide college football rankings that no one else was doing – something that would account for every program in North Carolina, from the FBS giants to our D2, D3 and junior college programs.
The Fabulous 15 was born.
Our guiding metric: Which teams are having the most special seasons? It’s subjective, no doubt, especially when trying to evaluate such a diverse football landscape. But it’s our unique way of recognizing the schools that are excelling on the field and generating hype, regardless of whether their stadium holds 50,000+ or less than 1,500.
So far, it has been the “smaller schools” that have owned the Fabulous crown:
- 2022 – North Carolina Central (FCS): Celebration Bowl champs and HBCU national champions.
- 2023 – Lenoir-Rhyne (D2): 13 wins, a SAC title and a run to the national semifinals.
- 2024 – Wingate (D2): Conference champs (the only team from NC) and consensus All-American honors for defensive stalwart Marquise Fleming.
So who takes the mantle in 2025? The chase begins this weekend when North Carolina Central opens the season in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Atlanta.
The Eagles figure to be in the thick of it for sure – but the race is wide open, literally. All 33 college programs have a shot to make the list and earn the championship.
Could an FBS program finally break through and make the College Football Playoff AND win our Fabulous 15 title? Do fans of Duke, UNC, NC State or maybe App State dream this big?
Could Western Carolina end its decades-long title drought? Will D2 powers like Lenoir-Rhyne, Wingate, or Johnson C. Smith keep their grip on the Fab 15 throne?
Don’t forget Brevard in D3 or Louisburg at the JUCO level – both programs have proven they can leave their marks.
Since no games have been played yet, our preseason Fabulous 15 list is built around three things: who’s winning the preseason, momentum from 2024 and who we believe will still matter when the weather turns cold.
Without further ado, let’s get to our 2025 preseason rankings. The envelope, please…
The North Carolina Sports Network played an instrumental role in sponsoring our Fabulous 15 in 2024. The NCSN is back in 2025 with plenty of great football content for the upcoming season, including The David Glenn Show and the new Bold North State Football Weekly podcast.
Check out the latest North Carolina Sports Network content HERE (to read) and HERE (to watch).
🏈 NC Football News: Preseason Fabulous 15
1. Western Carolina (FCS) – The buzz is real in Cullowhee. Catamounts enter the year ranked in the national Top 20, armed with an explosive offense, an improved defense and a hunger to end a more than 40-year conference title and playoff drought.
2. North Carolina (FBS) – With Bill Belichick taking over in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels are the most talked-about team in the country, even if ACC on-field projections are modest.
3. Lenoir-Rhyne (D2) – Picked to win the SAC, ranked No. 14 in the nation and built for another playoff run, the Bears are among the most consistent Division II powers in our state and region.
4. Johnson C. Smith (D2) – Coming off a bitter finish to the 2024 season, the Golden Bulls return hungry and talented, determined to prove last year was not a fluke.
5. North Carolina Central (FCS) – The Eagles are loaded with star power, pegged as Celebration Bowl contenders yet again, and are aiming to return to the top of FCS HBCU football.
6. UNC Pembroke (D2) – The Braves, another offensive juggernaut, are co-favorites in Conference Carolinas and eager to capitalize on being a rising program with a favorable path to the playoffs.
7. Duke (FBS) – The Blue Devils, winners of 27 games the past three seasons, are the only FBS team in the state to receive Top 25 votes, but they’ll need to prove themselves with the doubters yet again.
8. Wingate (D2) – A perennial postseason threat, the Bulldogs are picked second in the SAC and always bring a physical defense and playoff-tested style.
9. NC State (FBS) – The Wolfpack sit in the ACC’s middle tier but return enough experience to surprise if things break their way. Plus, Dave Doeren-coached teams always seem to do their best when the expectations are lowest. With NCSU the lack of buzz counts as buzz.
10. Appalachian State (FBS) – The Mountaineers are in transition but remain a perennial fan favorite. New coach Dowell Loggains is winning at recruiting and has ASU trending in the right direction.
11. Elon (FCS) – Dangerous in the CAA (especially against ranked teams), the Phoenix have the talent and discipline to challenge for an upper division finish in the league yet again.
12. Winston-Salem State (D2) – The Rams are trying to recapture their old magic after some quiet years. If there is a potential disrupter in the CIAA pecking order, WSSU – picked fifth by league coaches – fits the bill.
13. Brevard (D3) – The Tornados hung around conference contention last year and have the pieces to take another step forward, including the reigning conference defensive player of the year in Robert Dorsey.
14. Louisburg (NJCAA) – A national runner-up in 2024 and an under-appreciated asset in the NC college landscape, the Hurricanes are once again expected to be a Cat 5 force on the field.
15. Fayetteville State (D2) – Are we all sleeping on the Broncos, who made six straight trips to the CIAA title game until the streak was broken last season? Consistent winners, Fayetteville State has the ability to be a factor in November, thus why they make our list.
🏈 Don’t Sleep On These Teams
- Mars Hill (D2) – A surprise coaching change last week shouldn’t change expectations too much. The Lions will be in the hunt under new head man Kevin Barnette.
- East Carolina (FBS) – The Pirates are out to prove last year’s strong finish, which included a bowl win over the Wolfpack, wasn’t just lightning in a bottle.
- Gardner-Webb (FCS) — Physical and scrappy, the Runnin’ Bulldogs remain a dangerous Big South/OVC foe. Chance to make a big statement week 1 vs WCU.
- Catawba (D2) — A proud program on the rise, the Indians could make big steps forward in Tyler Haines’ third season.
- Campbell (FCS) – If the Camels can survive a brutal early schedule, their talent and growing culture could spark a climb up the CAA standings.
Agree? Disagree? Think your team should be higher? Think “the other guys” should be lower, or off the list completely? Sound off on X! We want to hear your thoughts on the season ahead.
Our preseason Fabulous 15 rankings are here! 🏈🔥
We know what you may be thinking: What a strange list!
Yes, we use a different metric for this one: Who is set up to have the most special season? All 33 NC teams considered.
Story + full explanation 🔽https://t.co/JBE1u4QkcN — NC Football News (@NCFootballNews) August 19, 2025
🏆 Looking Back
The Wingate Bulldogs topped our 2024 Fabulous 15 after winning the SAC title. See the full final rankings from last season HERE.
