Coming out of week 7, we have 14 college football teams in North Carolina with winning records.
We need exactly that many to fill out our weekly Best In State Fabulous 14 poll. With enough resumes to consider for our unique statewide rankings, here is how we sorted everyone out for this week:
NOTE: Keep in mind, the Fabulous 14 isn’t a “power ranking” per se. It’s not necessarily a measure of who we think would win a head-to-head match-up (though that may come into play). It’s more about how special a season is and the splash teams are making within their own division of play, hence why you may see Division II and III teams ahead of FBS squads, etc.
Also, keep in mind that we only consider schools with .500 records or better for the Fabulous 14. You may be a good team with a losing record but in our world, you’re not yet Fabulous.
14. Johnson C. Smith (5-2)
The Golden Bulls haven’t won five games since the 2013 season. Reaching that milestone already this fall is pretty fabulous. Coach Maurice Flowers’ squad still has CIAA title hopes, and beating reigning champ Fayetteville State this weekend would be a big step toward that goal.
13. Brevard (4-3)
The Tornados have been high-octane since USA South Conference play began, winning all four of their league games and averaging 43 points per contest. The schedule gets tougher (Brevard has a bye this weekend) but the ‘Nados are in a position to challenge for a conference title. That definitely marks a team as Fabulous.
12. Fayetteville State (5-2)
The Broncos have been doing just enough in CIAA play to get by. Despite being pushed to the brink by teams like Livingstone, Virginia Union and Lincoln, FSU always seems to get the last word. Beating upstart Johnson C. Smith this Saturday puts the Broncos in the driver’s seat to return to Salem, Va., for the CIAA title game.
11. Wingate (4-3)
The Bulldogs struggled with turnover issues last week in a seven-point loss to Limestone. Reaching the South Atlantic Conference championship game seems like a tough ask at this point — the ‘Dogs have to win out and hope for help — but coach Joe Reich’s stingy, defensive-minded group can still create havoc with the rest of the teams on its schedule.
10. UNC Pembroke (4-3)
The Braves rewrote multiple school rushing records in dismantling a five-win Fairmont State team this past weekend. Sincere Baines galloped for 186 yards by himself, including a 69-yard touchdown. Baines and the Braves as a team averaged first-down yardage each carry.
9. NC State (4-3)
The Pack, alas, has been trending down since remnants of a tropical storm forced a delay in the Notre Dame game. We still think the NC State defense, wide receiver KC Concepcion and young quarterback MJ Morris can get this team back to a bowl and maybe spring an upset or two. Clemson and Miami await at home after the bye week.
8. Davidson (4-2)
The Wildcats surge into our poll at No. 8, winning their fourth straight after an 0-2 start. We’ve seen our fair share of game-winning field goals this season across the state. This past Saturday, the ‘Cats prevailed when an attempted game-winner by Butler missed from 58 yards in the final seconds.
7. Barton (5-2)
Despite losing big to Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday, it doesn’t feel right dropping the Bulldogs down in our Fabulous rankings. The body of work still has been of an overachieving nature, with the only losses to our No. 6 and No. 2 Fabulous teams. Barton also has a big win over No. 8 Davidson from the FCS that for now keeps them ahead of the Wildcats in these rankings.
6. Mars Hill (5-1)
The Lions haven’t been as flashy as other top teams in the SAC and haven’t yet established themselves in the national D2 rankings or conversation. But they have been steadily good. Mars Hill has four league wins and has players near the top of every major statistical category in the conference, such as quarterback JR Martin (fourth in passing yards, fifth in passing TDs), running back Jon Gullette (fourth in rushing yards, 103.3 ypg), receiver Malik Laurent (third in receiving yards) and linebacker Landon Honeycutt (fourth in tackles).
5. Duke (5-1)
The Blue Devils continue to write a special tale in 2023, turning away an old rival Saturday despite a rainstorm, using a back-up quarterback and having its home stadium filled with as much red as dark blue. Now, the Devils get their shot at Florida State. Starting QB Riley Leonard could be available to play, which puts an upset within reach if he can go. “I do think there is a chance we’re able to get him back healthy on Saturday and able to be playing at the level he’s capable of playing,” coach Mike Elko said.
4. Western Carolina (5-1)
The Catamounts advanced to No. 8 in the latest FCS media poll, the highest the program has ever been ranked since going to the NCAA Division I level in 1976. WCU plays one of the biggest games in program history — this biggest? — this weekend, hosting Furman, which is ranked fourth in the media poll and third in the coaches poll. Whitmire Stadium has never before featured a match-up of two top-10 teams.
3. North Carolina Central (5-1)
The Eagles start MEAC play on Thursday at Morgan State. With everyone else in the conference holding 2-4 records or worse, it would seem NCCU is a shoo-in the capture another league crown. But as folks have reminded us on Twitter/X this week, strange twists and turns happen in the MEAC every year. Central will have to be sharp every week to earn a return trip to Atlanta for the Celebration Bowl.
2. Lenoir-Rhyne (7-0)
The Bears have the best overall record of any team in the state and also have made a foray into the top 10 of the NCAA Division II rankings this week. Lenoir-Rhyne is listed 10th in the coaches poll and 11th in the D2Football.com media rankings. LR quashed a talented Barton team this past weekend and will take aim at the defending conference champs this week, going to Newberry.
1. North Carolina (6-0)
Speaking of top-10 teams, the Tar Heels sit at No. 10 in both the Associated Press and AFCA coaches rankings this week. There has been a significant increase in chatter about UNC’s college football playoff potential. Carolina can’t mess around the next two weeks, hosting Virginia and visiting tricky Georgia Tech. The biggest fish remain out there to be fried, namely Duke, Clemson and NC State. Dare we think the Heels can run the table? That possibility seems a lot more real than a few weeks ago.
Knocking on the door
Campbell, coming off a bye, sits at 3-3 and will put its high-powered offense to the test against Maine … Elon (3-4), which dropped out of our rankings when it dipped below .500, will try to recover from a recent two-game skid against Monmouth … Can Appalachian State and Wake Forest fix what has been ailing them in recent losses and get back into our rankings?
