We here at NC Football News headquarters readily admit our bias toward North Carolina college football programs. But even taking off our Old North State-colored glasses for a bit makes us wonder why more people aren’t talking about Duke football.
Despite jumping out to a 3-0 start and boasting a seven-game active win streak that dates back to last November (and includes an ACC championship and bowl win), the Blue Devils remain unranked by both Associated Press and AFCA coaches poll voters this week. They are ninth among “others receiving votes” by AP (the third team out in the coaches voting).
Duke has enjoyed three nine-win seasons and one eight-win campaign since David Cutcliffe stepped aside after the 2021 campaign, repeatedly defying low expectations from pundits. They currently boast the most prolific running back in the nation in Nate Sheppard – and for what it’s worth even have the best punter in Kade Reynoldson, who is the only FBS kicker averaging more than 50 yards per boot.
But these slights are nothing new if it’s not basketball season in Durham.
“It’s par for the course for Duke. They have to earn it multiple times over before anything is given to them,” John Mitchell wrote for BallDurham this week. “Ask yourself this question: how many teams in the country could be 3-0 with wins over Tulane, Illinois, and Stanford and be unranked? Swap Duke’s helmet with Clemson’s, and would the Tigers be ranked? Of course they would be. Probably in the Top 15, maybe Top 10.”
Well, at least in one poll the Blue Devils come in at a firm No. 1 this week. Duke remains in the top spot in our NC Football News’ FBS Power Rankings after Week 3. This one is a no-doubter.
After the Blue Devils, however, sizing up the rest of North Carolina’s FBS contingent is a much murkier proposition. We did our best. Let the debates begin.
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North Carolina College Football Rankings: FBS Teams After Week 3
1. Duke Blue Devils (3-0)
Duke is better than a 40-point favorite this week, facing an FCS William & Mary team that can’t stop the run. After the bye week on Oct. 3 the real work begins. Miami and Clemson loom as tough November opponents, but there is a path unfolding where Duke could have seven, eight or even nine wins in the bag before those two vital contests.
After Duke, our power rankings conversation gets much more difficult. While we wrote the Blue Devils into the top spot in ink, we’re using a pencil – with a giant eraser at the ready – for the next five slots.
2. Wake Forest (2-1): Another program that should get more respect got our attention last Friday night against Miami. The Demon Deacons still have to clean up the penalties, but this was a physical team that asserted itself in the second half, turning a potential blowout into some uncomfortable moments for the Hurricanes. Gio Lopez has exceeded expectations so far.
3. NC State (1-2): Imagine how different the conversation would be right now if CJ Bailey had simply stepped out of the back of the end zone for a safety and the Pack had covered the ensuing kick. That’s why we still have NCSU ranked this high. Despite the noise (and despair for some), we still believe there is a good football team in Raleigh, and historically this is about the time when Dave Doeren’s troops start turning the ship around – right as everyone else is planning last rites for the team and the season. (Be on notice Louisville – you’re in prime Dave Doeren upset spot next week).
4. North Carolina (2-1): Again, imagine the different conversation we would be having right now if the Heels had figured out a way to close things out at Clemson after a lengthy lightning delay. The Heels might be Top 25 (sorry Duke), and the Triangle might be the epicenter of a lot of positive football vibes. UNC has shown improvement from 2025, that is certainly true, and they owned the line of scrimmage for a while against Clemson (noteworthy). But there are flaws, too, and the defense can only do so much if the offense can’t find more steam. We’ll get a real gauge on this team when Notre Dame visits in early October.
5. Appalachian State (3-0): We can hear the protests loud and clear from Boone: “You just lectured us about why Duke should be ranked higher, and you’re putting us fifth?! We’re undefeated! We’re 3-0 for the first time since 2019!” We see it. We see it all. North Carolina is a better place when App State has it rolling in football. But the three wins have come against Maine, ECU and Charlotte, who are a combined 2-8 right now. We’re reserving judgement until after this weekend’s game at NC State. Beat the Pack, and we’ll beat the drum for moving the Mountaineers way up.
6. East Carolina (1-2): It can’t be understated how much the transfer portal took from this program in the off-season. A sampling:
- Quarterback Katin Houser → Illinois.
- Wide receiver Yannick Smith → SMU
- Safety Ja’Marley Riddle → Georgia.
- Corner Jordy Lowey and running back London Montgomery → Florida.
- Defensive lineman Zion Wilson → Virginia.
- Offensive linemen Emmanuel Poku and Jimarion McCrimon → South Carolina and NC State, respectively.
- Tight ends Desirrio Riles and Jayvontay Conner → Florida State and Vanderbilt, respectively.
You get the picture. Refilling the talent pool hasn’t been easy, and it’s understandable why the Pirates are off to a sluggish start.
7. Charlotte (0-3): No one expected the 49ers to beat Ole Miss, but The Citadel and App State losses hurt. The Citadel is FCS and hasn’t won another game. The schedule doesn’t get easier for the 49ers. Charlotte is a double-digit underdog this weekend against Louisiana at home. Memphis and North Texas are next up as conference play begins.
What’s next for North Carolina FBS teams?
Six of our seven teams will be in action this week, with UNC taking its second and final bye before welcoming Notre Dame to Kenan Stadium on Oct. 3 …
The marquee matchup is of course the highly anticipated Appalachian State-NC State showdown in Raleigh on Saturday night. Expect Carter-Finley to be raucous and the tailgates to be top-level. The Mountaineers and Wolfpack haven’t faced off in 20 years, and App State has never beaten NCSU in football. Our crack power rankings staff is watching this one with great interest, pencil and eraser in hand …
Wake Forest at Louisville highlights the ACC schedule. Louisville ascended seven spots to No. 16 in the AP poll after its 41-31 win over SMU. For some reason – though we’re bullish on the Demon Deacons and coach Jake Dickert in general – we have a bad feeling about this one. This just seems like a tough matchup for Wake Forest’s defense, and the oddsmakers may be telling us something by putting the Deacs as a 12-point dog.
Louisville might be undersold as a playoff contender and could be the second-best team in the ACC behind Miami. The Cardinals right now average 7.0 yards per play – 13th best in FBS football – and have scored 18 touchdowns in three games. Wake Forest ranks 49th in opponent yardage per play (4.9 yards) …
Duke will play William & Mary on Saturday afternoon, renewing what once was a Southern Conference rivalry before the ACC even existed. This will be the first meeting since 1955 …
East Carolina hosts North Carolina Central in the only in-state FCS vs. FBS clash of the season. Charlotte entertains Louisiana, facing a Sun Belt foe for the second week in a row. As mentioned above, the 49ers are a 10.5-point underdog on their home turf. Ouch.
Schedule Notes
- The ACC has announced its Week 5 TV schedule, and the UNC-Notre Dame start time for Oct. 3 is still TBD. The ACC has placed that game on a “six-day hold”, with the league planning to announce TV and kickoff designations this Sunday after Week 4 results are in.
- The Stanford at Wake Forest game will be played at noon on ACC Network on Oct. 3, while Louisville at NC State will be at 3:30 p.m. on either ESPN2 or ACC Network (to be decided on Sept. 26).
Stat Leaders After Week 3
Passing Leaders
- Malachi Singleton (App State): 889 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT in three games, averaging 296.3 yards per game
- Gio Lopez (Wake Forest): 887 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT in three games, averaging 295.7 yards per game
- Cole Gonzales (Charlotte): 661 yards, 3 TDs, 5 INTs in three games, averaging 220.3 yards per game.
Rushing Leaders
- Nate Sheppard (Duke): 82 carries, 528 yards (No. 1 in FBS), 5 TDs in three games, averaging 176.0 yards per game and 6.4 yards per attempt.
- Benjamin Hall (North Carolina): 33 carries, 215 yards, 0 TDs in three games, averaging 71.7 yards per game and 6.5 yards per attempt.
- Jayden “Duke” Scott (NC State): 32 carries, 198 yards, 2 TDs in three games, averaging 66.0 yards per game and 6.2 yards per attempt.
Receiving Leaders
- Carlos Hernandez (Wake Forest): 21 catches, 322 yards, 2 TDs in three games, averaging 107.3 yards per game and 15.3 yards per reception
- Keenan Jackson (NC State): 15 catches, 231 yards, 3 TDs in three games, averaging 77.0 yards per game and 15.4 yards per reception
- Sam Pickett III (App State): 15 catches, 229 yards, 0 TDs in three games, averaging 76.3 yards per game and 15.3 yards per reception
Tackles
- Popo Aguirre (NC State): 27 tackles (8 solo), averaging 9.0 tackles per game
- Vincent Firenze (Wake Forest): 26 tackles (12 solo), averaging 8.7 tackles per game
- Derek McDonald (North Carolina): 24 tackles (10 solo), averaging 8.0 tackles per game.
Notable
- Will Wilson (NC State): The backup quarterback has five rushing touchdowns in three games.
- UNC’s Xavier Lewis is tied for the FBS lead with 6.0 sacks, while App State’s Caleb Sandstrom is tied for third place with 4.0 sacks. Lewis has 8.5 tackles-for-loss, best at any level of play in North Carolina. Sandstrom has 5.0 TFLs.
- App State’s Dre Walker and UNC’s Greg Smith both have two interceptions on the season
- Kade Reynoldson (Duke) leads all of FBS football in punting average. He’s covered 611 yards in 12 punts, an average of 50.9 yards per kick. The next closest player in FBS has a 49.0 average.
- App State’s James London leads our state’s FBS contingent in kicker points. He’s made six field goals and 11 PATs for 29 total points.
👉 View the full Week 4 college football schedule around the state, including FCS, D2, D3 and junior college levels.
👉 When the games start Saturday, track all the action at our North Carolina College Football Scoreboard.
