We got this question recently in our NC Football News mailbag:
“What’s up with your Fabulous 15 rankings? How are Division II teams like Fayetteville State ranked ahead of NC State? That makes no sense!”
— Confused in NC
Well, Confused, thanks for writing. To answer your question fully, I (Eric) need to point you back to my mom and her style of cooking, may she rest in peace.
She was amazing in the kitchen — a true Southern chef through and through. But she was also as confounding as all heck when it came to sharing recipes.
“Mom, what did you put in this dish. It’s incredible!”
“You know, a dib of this. A dab of that.”
Many in my family tried — unsuccessfully — to learn the secret to her world-famous peanut butter fudge (which my dad, who isn’t much of a dessert guy, could eat by the pound). The conversation usually went like this:
“How much peanut butter do you use? A cup? Two cups?”
“To taste,” she would say.
“But what does that mean?!? How much is that?”
“I don’t know … Till it tastes right.”
Deep sigh. But it usually tasted better than right, my dad as chief witness.
So what does this have to do with North Carolina college football rankings? Plenty.
Like my mom, we here at NC Football News headquarters take a similar approach when we head into the proverbial kitchen to cook up our weekly Fabulous 15. We scour through the pantry — the 33 college football programs that call the Old North State home. We add a dib of this, a dab of that, and when it feels right to us, we publish. Chef’s kiss. (We hope).
There’s some method to the madness, of course. The recipe has some staples. For instance:
- One part “What have you done for me lately?”
- One part “How has the season gone as a whole?”
- A healthy dash of “What’s the vibe and buzz around the program right now?”
It all blends into a unique stew each week.
So to get back to your core question, Confused: Why, you ask, is a 4-3 Fayetteville State team ranked several spots ahead of a 4-3 NC State team that would win 100 out of 100 head-to-head matchups?
Simple, using our metrics:
- What have they done lately? Fayetteville State has won four straight and climbed to the top of the CIAA standings. NC State, meanwhile, just got mauled by Notre Dame — and fans not long ago were chanting “Fire Dave!” after a home loss to Virginia Tech.
- Season as a whole? Fayetteville State is trending up since rough 0-3 beginnings, getting mentioned in the latest D2 playoff conversations. NC State? Trending mostly downward since that early win over current playoff-hopeful Virginia.
- The vibes? The Broncos believe the sky’s the limit, with their biggest CIAA games on deck. Wolfpack Nation seems ready to get the season over with and see what happens next with coach Dave Doeren.
Boom. There’s your secret sauce. There’s your Fabulous 15 in a nutshell.
Hope that helps, Confused. Now, on to this week’s rankings. Anyone seen our spatula?
📣 Partner Spotlight: The North Carolina Sports Network Has You Covered Year-Round
Before we jump into this week’s Fab 15, we want to tip our caps to our friends at the North Carolina Sports Network — a presenting sponsor of NC Football News for the past two seasons. Their support helps us continue bringing you statewide college football coverage every week.
The North Carolina Sports Network features some of the best voices in the business, including long-time ACC and North Carolina sports authority David Glenn. Be sure to visit their website for the latest stories, and check out The David Glenn Show and the Bold North State podcasts for more great NC sports insight.
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🚨🏈DG's "3⃣ To See" CFB Previews🏈🚨
(NC Edition)
✅ #16 Virginia at UNC (@ONSTailgate game)
✅ NC State at 5-2 Pitt (Doeren=Year 13; Narduzzi=Year 11)
✅ 5-2 SMU at Wake Forest (Mustangs perfect in #ACC play)
(👇Article/Video/ACC & NC TV Schedules👇)https://t.co/2fnm37paFV pic.twitter.com/LvMfONjzgx — David Glenn Show (@DavidGlennShow) October 22, 2025
🏈 Fabulous 15 North Carolina College Football Rankings
After Oct. 16-18, 2025 Games
1. Johnson C. Smith (6-1): Welcome back to the top spot, Golden Bulls. Coach Maurice Flowers’ team has outscored three opponents 152-33 since losing at Virginia Union in mid-September. The Bulls are ranked No. 21/22 nationally and showing up in D2 playoff bracketology. The table is set for a magical finish.
2. Western Carolina (5-3): Yes, the Catamounts have three losses, but that seems so long ago. Vibes are as strong in Cullowhee as anywhere in the state, with WCU riding the state’s longest win streak (five games) and quarterback Taron Dickens generating national FCS player of the year buzz.
3. North Carolina Central (5-2): The last team in our state to start conference play, the Eagles begin their five-game gauntlet through the MEAC against visiting Delaware State and first-year coach DeSean Jackson this Saturday.
4. Wingate (5-2): Our 2024 Fabulous 15 champions have been surging since a two-game losing skid earlier in the season. The Bulldogs handed Emory & Henry a stinging 27-20 loss, knocking the Wasps out of the D2 top 25 and out of first place in the South Atlantic.
5. UNC Pembroke (6-2): North Greenville grounded last week’s No. 1 team, holding the usually potent Braves offense to 7 points and snapping their six-game win streak. The good news: UNC Pembroke can earn a rematch in the Conference Carolinas title game if it beats Chowan and Barton to close out regular season.
6. Fayetteville State (4-3): Picked to finish fourth in the CIAA, the Broncos sit on top right now with Virginia Union with no league losses. Shaw, Johnson C. Smith and Winston-Salem State await over the next three weeks. Can the Broncos make their seventh CIAA title game appearance in eight seasons?
7. Wake Forest (4-2): Jack Dickert has the Demon Deacons off to a solid start. WFU has had two weeks to get ready for an SMU team that is still undefeated in regular season ACC play since joining the league (8-0 last year, 3-0 so far this season).
8. Catawba (5-2): High-scoring Indians, who average better than 35 points per game, coming off a bye week and ready for four-game stretch to finish season.
9. Duke (4-3): Blue Devils missed a golden opportunity to derail Georgia Tech and keep ACC title game hopes alive. The Devils have now lost nine in a row to ranked foes since beating Clemson on opening night 2023. Tigers come back around on the schedule this weekend.
10. East Carolina (4-3): One mark of a solid team: beat the opponents you’re supposed to beat. Pirates have done that this season. Temple isn’t a foe to sleep on this week, though.
11. Gardner-Webb (4-3): The Runnin’ Bulldogs took one on the chin against UT Martin but still have a lot to play for in the OVC/Big South. They’ve already matched last year’s win total, with five games left to play.
12. Lenoir-Rhyne (4-4): The Bears climbed back to .500 with a 23-10 homecoming win over UVA Wise. Coach Doug Socha’s team played ball-control offense and held the Cavaliers to 47 yards on the ground.
13. North Carolina Wesleyan (3-3): The Battling Bishops knocked off defending USA South champion and preseason favorite Huntingdon 21-20 to climb back into our rankings. Running back Nahjiir Seagraves (900 yards) leads the state in rushing yards, all levels.
14. NC State (4-3): Ask Google: What are the vibes surrounding Wolfpack football right now? Google AI: “Frustration and tempered disappointment … losses and uninspired play have reignited long-standing fan criticism of head coach Dave Doeren.” Still, the Pack is brewing a winning season again.
15. Appalachian State (4-3): Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Getting running back Rashod Dubinion back on track after his hot start could be key to a strong season finish.
Honorable Mention
- Elon (4-4): Phoenix still have chance for strong CAA finish despite setback at William & Mary
- Winston-Salem State (4-4): Played its most complete game of the season in dismantling Livingstone on homecoming. If they spoil JCSU’s homecoming this week, the Rams will make a big jump back into the rankings
- Brevard (3-3): Tough loss to LaGrange on Saturday but still competitive in the D3 ranks.
