- BEST IN STATE -

FBS power rankings: Duke, UNC jump to the top after week one

Six of the state’s seven FBS teams won their season openers

Eric Lusk

Published

September 5, 2023

Duke's Jaylen Stinson returns a Clemson fumble near the goal line 55 yards to set up the Devils' third touchdown. (Photo courtesy Duke University athletics).

So, a few weeks ago NC Football News proudly proclaimed that “We’re all in on NC State football this season.”

Puffing out our chest, we asserted that the Wolfpack belonged ahead of North Carolina, Duke and all the rest in our preseason Best In State FBS rankings and didn’t mind that we were one of the few — if not the only — media outlet to arrange the teams in that order.

By golly, we believed in the Red and White of NC State!

Then week one happened.

While we’re still bullish on the Pack, it is kind of hard to ignore the 1-2 punch of what the Blue Devils and Tar Heels accomplished in front of national TV audiences over Labor Day weekend.

First, UNC dominated an upper echelon SEC team Saturday night in Charlotte, sacking South Carolina nine times (!) en route to a 31-17 triumph. Then Duke pulled a “whatever you can do, I can do better” show Monday night, stunning ninth-ranked Clemson 28-7 and setting off a field storming that may now just be breaking up.

Duke hadn’t beaten a top 10 team in football since 1989, the last year the Devils won an ACC championship. Clemson had been picked in the preseason to win this year’s ACC title.

All this to say, a reshuffling of our Best In State FBS power rankings is in order heading into week two.

The FBS Super Seven

1. Duke (1-0):

The Blue Devils’ decision to ink second-year coach Mike Elko to a contract extension over the summer keeps looking better and better. Elko backed up his first-year results with the Blue Devils (9-4 after being picked to finish at the bottom of the ACC Coastal) with a thumping of the No. 9 team in the country.

After what should be a breather this Saturday against Lafayette, the Devils have to run a gauntlet that includes Notre Dame, Florida State, Louisville and Pittsburgh in addition to NC State, Carolina and Wake Forest. Still a long ways to go but the Blue Devils certainly look ready to be players in the ACC title chase.

2. North Carolina (1-0)

After countless questions about their defense during the off-season, the Tar Heels answered critics by recording 16 tackles for loss and holding South Carolina to five rushing yards. Now we get to see how the Heels handle success and loftier expectations. A tricky foe visits this week, Appalachian State.

Will this year’s UNC-App game match last year’s excitement (Carolina won 63-61 in Boone)? Likely not. But we’ll certainly learn whether this new physical version of the Tar Heels has staying power.

3. NC State (1-0):

The Wolfpack’s 24-14 win at UConn last Thursday has gotten lost amid the headlines generated by their ACC comrades Duke, Carolina and Florida State. But NCSU still looks ready to be reckoned with this season. The defense proved stern in the opener, as expected, and new quarterback Brennan Armstrong delivered with his arm and his legs, scoring touchdowns both ways. Nothing flashy, but that’s not Dave Doeren’s Wolfpack.

The Pack will get its nationally televised showcase opportunity this week, hosting 2-0 Notre Dame at high noon on ABC. State is plenty familiar with Irish quarterback Sam Hartman, who started three times against them while at Wake Forest. Hartman is 1-2 against NCSU, winning in Winston and losing twice in Raleigh.

4. Wake Forest (1-0)

The Deacs will have the first hour of Saturday college football all to themselves, hosting Vanderbilt in an 11 a.m. game on ACC Network. Quarterback Mitch Griffis enjoyed an impressive debut as the full-time starter, throwing for 329 yards and three TDs against Elon.

5. Appalachian State (1-0)

The Mountaineers are no strangers to winning against Power Five teams on the road. ASU upset Texas A&M in College Station a year ago and knocked off UNC in Chapel Hill in 2019 (and never forget the stunner at the Big House in 2007).

Quarterback Joey Aguilar enjoyed a stellar relief appearance this past Saturday against Gardner-Webb, throwing four TD passes after starter Ryan Burger left with a hand injury. Aguilar will get his starting chance this week.

6. Charlotte (1-0)

Who can forget coach Biff Poggi walking away from the podium at AAC media days in July when reporters only asked him three questions? Poggi and the 49ers started answering their (silent?) critics on Saturday with a convincing 24-3 win over South Carolina State.

The Niners won the way Poggi wants them to, with defense and power running. The competition will prove much fiercer this week, though. Charlotte visits Maryland and must face a talented quarterback in Taulia Tagovailoa, who threw three TD passes and rushed for another score against Towson. The game will get a national TV billing as part of NBC’s new night-time Big Ten package.

7. East Carolina (0-1)

The Pirates couldn’t replicate what Appalachian State did 16 years ago and score an upset at Michigan. While the Wolverines won 30-3, ECU refused to serve as a week one patsy and made UM grind out a victory. We should learn much more about where the Pirates stack up this week with a renewal of their series against former C-USA partner Marshall in Greenville.

Last Week’s FBS Rankings

NC State
North Carolina
Duke
Wake Forest
Appalachian State
East Carolina
Charlotte

This Week’s Schedule

Saturday, September 9
Vanderbilt at Wake Forest	11 a.m.	ACCN
Notre Dame at NC State	Noon	ABC
Marshall at East Carolina	4 p.m.	ESPNU
Appalachian State at North Carolina	5:15 p.m.	ACCN
Lafayette at Duke	6 p.m.	ACCNX
Charlotte at Maryland	7:30 p.m.	NBC