Football Ranked 24th in Preseason by Sports Illustrated

Football Ranked 24th in Preseason by Sports Illustrated

8/7/2018 5:11:00 PM | Football

RALEIGH, N.C. - Sports Illustrated ranked the NC State football team No. 24 in the nation heading into the 2018 season. The Wolfpack opens the new campaign Sept. 1 against James Madison in Carter-Finley Stadium.

Here is what Sports Illustrated had to say:

24. NC STATE WOLFPACK
Last year: 9–4 (6–2 ACC); Beat Arizona State in Sun Bowl
X-Factor: NC State lost all four of its starting defensive linemen to the NFL draft, so head coach Dave Doeren had some rebuilding to do up front. Enter senior end Darian Roseboro, who is set to lead a unit that will have to hold its own for the Wolfpack to be a threat in the ACC Atlantic. Over the course of his three-year career, Roseboro has logged 76 tackles and 13.5 sacks playing in the shadow of several future pros. The question now is whether he can produce at that clip with increased reps and set the tone for a defense that is replacing eight starters from a year ago. — Joan Niesen