A long time ago, a grizzled ol’ football coach gave us this pearl of wisdom during a post-game interview:
You can’t sugarcoat the scoreboard.
In that moment, the veteran coach was referring to an attempt at positive spin after a lopsided loss. But his point is universal when it comes to the life on the gridiron: the scoreboard is the final arbiter of your success or failure.
That’s why, when we put together our early season Fabulous 15 statewide rankings, we put a heavy stock in the teams that come away with a “W”.
Sure, there’s a time and place for moral victories. And we’re all-in on Jim Valvano’s creed to “Never, ever give up.” But at this stage — when our overarching metric for ranking teams from a statewide list is “Who is having the most special season?” — the scoreboard has to lead the way.
This week, because of who’s winning and who’s not, you’ll see another major reshuffling in our Fabulous 15 list (sorry for the whiplash — it will settle down, we promise).
We vault the four remaining North Carolina college football teams with 2-0 records – sadly there are only four! – to the front of the line. Then, we slot the three other undefeated teams (1-0) right behind them.
If your team has already taken a loss, no need to panic — the year-end Fab 15 crown is still very much in play. But for now, the view from the top belongs to those programs whose loss column is still blank. They’ve earned it, regardless of the caliber of opponent, and we won’t sugarcoat that.
And now, let’s get to the rankings:
The NC Sports Network Has Our State’s Sports Landscape Covered
The North Carolina Sports Network is back as a presenting sponsor of the Fabulous 15 in 2025. Get your football and NC sports fix EVERY DAY with great features like The David Glenn Show and the new Bold North State Football podcast.
Check out the latest North Carolina Sports Network content HERE (stories to read) and HERE (videos to watch).
CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS OR BUST?
Two Weeks Into The Season… Our Coaches' Take@TimBrewster @CollinsCoach @ncpork
WATCH https://t.co/R37TreWEmR
READ more at https://t.co/DrOLN7Wu8A pic.twitter.com/sVLnm3mN24 — NORTH CAROLINA SPORTS NETWORK (@TheNCSportsNet) September 9, 2025
NC College Football Fabulous 15 Statewide Rankings
(After Sept. 4-6 Games)
1. Johnson C. Smith (2-0, D2) – Monumental upset over D2 runner-up Valdosta State, arguably the biggest win in the state this season at any level. Our Team of the Week and our Offensive Player of the Week (QB Kelvin Durham).
2. NC State (2-0, FBS) – Two nail-biters, two red-zone stands to seal it in the final minute against ECU, Virginia. Defense has delivered in crunch time.
3. App State (2-0, FBS) – Gritty 2-0, with Charlotte win in Week 1 and a less flashy but still valuable victory over Lindenwood in Saturday’s home opener.
4. Wake Forest (2-0, FBS) – Took care of business, but against lighter competition. The looming Thursday showdown with NC State is their real proving ground.
5. Wingate (1-0, D2) – Beating UNCP is quality in Week 1; having the bye keeps them steady in the mix.
6. NC Wesleyan (1-0, D3) – Scoring 64 points in a season opener is no joke after an up-and-down 2024. Style points count when you’re trying to be Fabulous.
7. Greensboro (1-0, D3) – Ending an eight-game Soup Bowl drought against Guilford = buzzworthy at the D3 level and statewise. Opening kickoff TD a great way to start the season.
8. Winston-Salem State (1-1, D2) – Bounced back with a last-minute TD to edge Mars Hill 28-25. Resilient, clutch, and back on schedule to chase CIAA hardware.
9. UNC Pembroke (1-1, D2) – Knocked off Fayetteville State in a key in-state matchup. Still looks like a solid Conference Carolinas contender.
10. Gardner-Webb (1-1, FCS) – Week 1 win over WCU still resonates. No shame in falling to Georgia Tech, an upper echelon ACC team.
11. Duke (1-1, FBS) – Defense held strong for a half against top-10 Illinois, but things imploded after the break. Darian Mensah Bowl at Tulane this Saturday.
12. East Carolina (1-1, FBS) – After coming up a few yards short in the opener vs NC State, ECU came roaring back with a 56-3 win over Campbell.
13. Elon (1-1, FCS) – Rolled Davidson 55-7, uncovering new offensive playmakers. Big in-state test at Western Carolina next.
14. Lenoir-Rhyne (1-1, D2) – Snuffed out Tusculum’s potent rushing attack (450+ yards in Week 1). The Bears looked like themselves again.
15. Chowan (1-1, D2) – Moved the ball and battled back against top-25 North Alabama before falling. With a Week 1 win already banked, the Hawks look much improved over recent years.
On the Bubble
- Catawba (1-1, D2): Split the first two games but looked flat vs. Emory & Henry. Consistency is the missing piece.
- Mars Hill (0-1, D2): Couldn’t hold late lead vs. WSSU. Still could be dangerous in the SAC.
- North Carolina (1-1, FBS): Beating Charlotte gives Belichick his first college “W.” We’re cautiously optimistic
🔗 More NC Football News From This Week
Want to dive deeper into Week 2 action across North Carolina? Check out these features:
- 📊 Stat Champions – See who posted the biggest numbers across the state this week.
- 🏆 Team of the Week: Johnson C. Smith – How the Golden Bulls shocked Valdosta State in the upset of the year.
- 💪 Offensive Player of the Week: Kelvin Durham (JCSU) – The QB who piloted Johnson C. Smith’s stunning win over Valdosta State.
- 🛡️ Defensive Player of the Week: Vincent Anthony Jr. (Duke) – The defensive end now leads all of FBS in sacks after a career day vs. Illinois.
- 🚀 Special Teams Player of the Week: Luke Barnes (Elon) – The kicker put up 13 points in the Phoenix’s win over Davidson.
- 📋 Statewide Standings – Complete win-loss records for every North Carolina college team.
