Take a bow, North Carolina Tar Heels, Duke Blue Devils and Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls. You, too, Lenoir-Rhyne Bears, Wingate Bulldogs and Guilford Quakers.
We’ve completed three weeks of college football in North Carolina, and you are the last six schools standing without a blemish in the loss column.
That’s right. Thirty-four college football programs set sail into the 2024 season less than a month ago and 28 have already suffered the agony of defeat. Some more than once. A handful three times.
The Heels, Devils and Bulls meanwhile are 3-0. The Bears, Bulldogs and Quakers sit at 2-0.
It only makes sense, then, as we assemble our latest Fabulous 15 statewide football rankings to put this Super Six Pack at the head of the class. Of all the metrics we can use, winning still ranks at the top of the list. The scoreboard always stands as the final arbiter.
Before we present our full Fabulous 15, sponsored this season by The North Carolina Sports Network, a few reminders:
* The Fabulous 15 isn’t a typical power ranking. It’s not necessarily about who we think would win a head-to-head match-up (although that may come into play). It’s mostly about which of our state’s teams are having the most special seasons within their realm and division of play. That’s why you see D2 and D3 schools ahead of the big boys.
* We insist that our Fabulous 15 schools have, at the very least, .500 records. This knocks several teams out of contention for this week’s Fab 15 (looking at you FCS!). Don’t fret. It’s still early. Many will be back.
* We reserve at least one spot for a school from each of our major divisions of play in our state: FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III/NAIA/JUCO.
And now, this week’s list:
1. Lenoir Rhyne Bears (2-0) | D2
Next Game: Saturday at Mars Hill (0-1)
The Bears finished as Fabulous 15 champions last season, compiling a 13-2 record and advancing to the Division II semifinals. With new coach Doug Socha at the helm, LR is up to old tricks.
They’ve been impressive so far in wins over Bowie State and Tiffin, and it’s hard to justify NOT having them at No. 1 considering that D2 coaches have voted them at No. 6 nationally in the latest Top 25 (the Bears are 12th in the D2 media poll). Only two other teams in our entire state are ranked at this point, and neither are near sixth or 12th.
2. Wingate Bulldogs (2-0) | D2
Next Game: Saturday at Carson-Newman (2-0)
This is the other nationally ranked Division II squad from the Old North State, and we still believe the ‘Dogs could be standing tallest in the South Atlantic Conference by season’s end — their defense is that good. Wingate posted an impressive 21-7 win over previously 12th ranked Delta State on Saturday, holding in check the Statesmen’s usually potent attack. Delta State made the D2 playoffs a year ago and received two first-place votes in the Gulf South preseason poll.
3. Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls (3-0) | D2
Next Game: Saturday vs. Virginia Union
One of the most explosive teams in the state thus far, the Golden Bulls put up 52 points on Saturday in their conference opener against Lincoln. The defending CIAA champs come to Charlotte this Saturday, and JCSU could turn everything on its head with an upset win over the Jada Byers-led Panthers. Johnson C. Smith was picked fourth in preseason CIAA balloting.
4. North Carolina Tar Heels (3-0) | FBS
Next Game: Saturday vs. James Madison
A lot of empty calories? Sure. Quarterback inconsistencies? Yep. But the win-loss record still says 3-0. And only a couple of other programs in our state can say that at this point. We’ll give the Heels their props until they give us reasons not to.
5. Duke Blue Devils (3-0) | FBS
Next Game: Saturday at Middle Tennessee
A lot of empty calories? Sure. Quarterback inconsistencies? Yep. But the win-loss record still says 3-0. And only a couple of other programs … Wait, we just wrote that for UNC above. But the same applies for the Blue Devils.
Coach Manny Diaz’s group is learning how to win and regardless of the class of opponent, that is an important piece of the puzzle when building a program. (Just ask 0-3 Gardner-Webb how razor-thin the margin can be between wins and losses).
6. Guilford Quakers (2-0) | D3
Next Game: Saturday vs. Sewanee
The Quakers have parlayed two stout defensive performances into wins over in-state Division III rivals. Greensboro didn’t crack the scoreboard at all in week one, and Methodist managed just 0.6 yards per rush this past Saturday.
For homecoming this weekend, Guilford will host a D3 foe from south-central Tennessee that was once a part of the SEC. Yes, that SEC.
7. Appalachian State Mountaineers (2-1) | FBS
Next Game: Thursday vs. South Alabama
The Mountaineers beat their rivals from the coastal plain for the third time in a row (all since 2021). Joey Aguilar uncorked 424 passing yards on East Carolina, and App State overcame a 16-0 deficit. Conference play begins this week, and everything is still in front of this team it hopes to accomplish.
8. NC State Wolfpack (2-1) | FBS
Next Game: Saturday at Clemson
Former Pack QB Philip Rivers famously said that being an NC State fan is not for soft people. The Wolfpack gave fans another roller coaster ride on Saturday, falling behind Louisiana Tech 17-6 in the first half.
A Twitter thread emerged at that point where NCSU fans began asking where the tallest building in Raleigh was. But CJ Bailey engineered a pleasing second-half rally, and folks have walked back off the ledge — and many are now trumpeting how the Pack and their new starting quarterback will take down nationally ranked Clemson this weekend in Death Valley. Not for the soft-hearted indeed.
9. Davidson Wildcats (2-1) | FCS
Next Game: Sept. 28 at Presbyterian
Mari Adams rushed for 207 yards and two touchdowns, and the Wildcats put up 482 (!) rushing yards on Point University (NAIA) this past weekend. If you’re a fan of old-school, option-style football, this is a team you should follow. Has anyone put Davidson into the new EA Sports College Football game yet? We’d love to play with a team like this.
10. Winston-Salem State Rams (2-1) | D2
Next Game: Saturday at Virginia State
The Rams believe they have their best team in place since the school ran roughshod through the CIAA from 2011-16 (four championships). After surviving in OT against Ohio Dominican on Saturday, WSSU will jump right into the CIAA fires, visiting the projected league champion.
11. Catawba Indians (1-1) | D2
Next Game: Saturday at UVA Wise
Preston Brown has been one of the most prolific D2 quarterbacks in the state since taking the helm in Salisbury last season. Brown threw for nearly 300 yards and four touchdowns in Saturday’s win over Shaw. Looking for a darkhorse in the SAC behind Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne? Keep an eye on the Indians.
12. Fayetteville State Broncos (1-1) | D2
Next Game: Saturday vs. Elizabeth City State in Rocky Mount
Fayetteville State took it on the chin against a projected national title contender, Valdosta State, on Saturday. No shame in that. The reigning CIAA Southern Division champs can now turn their full attention on earning their way to another conference title game appearance, starting with this Saturday’s Down East Viking Classic. The FSU showed a lot of promise in the opener vs. UNC Pembroke.
13. Shaw Bears (2-1) | D2
Next: Saturday vs. Lincoln (PA)
The Bears weren’t able to keep their win streak alive after toppling Albany State and Elizabeth City State in back-to-back weeks to open the season. But Shaw can insert itself into the CIAA conversation by taking care of business at home this Saturday against Lincoln.
14. Livingstone Blue Bears (2-1) | D2
Next Game: Saturday at Bowie State
Three Bears in the Fabulous 15? Yes! North Carolina’s CIAA contingent is enjoying its best start, collectively, in quite awhile. We’re going to give those league teams their props as a reward. Livingstone, brand new to our Fabulous 15, polished off a six-game sweep for the CIAA against SIAC foes, beating Allen 23-21 with a late fourth-quarter field goal on Saturday night.
15. Elizabeth City State Vikings (2-1) | D2
Next Game: Saturday vs. Fayetteville State in Rocky Mount
The Vikings have the most dominating defensive performance, from a stats perspective, on record in the state of North Carolina this season. The Vikings held Chowan to 164 total yards — including a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter — in a 12-9 victory on Sept. 7. ECSU then blanked Erskine 20-0 this past Saturday.
Outside Looking In… For Now
East Carolina (2-1) takes a backseat to our CIAA spotlight this week. The Pirates have plenty of chances to win their way back into Fabulous-ness, starting Saturday at Liberty. We’re still bullish on the purple and gold…
We expect teams like Elon (1-2), Western Carolina (1-2), North Carolina Central (1-2), Campbell (1-2) and Mars Hill (0-1) to get back into the Fab 15 conversation as the calendar advances. Just have to get that win-loss record back to at least .500 …
We think UNC Pembroke (0-2) will be a Fab 15 factor at some point. Too much talent on that roster to stay under .500.
