Let's take a look at NC State Football
Best / Worse Case Record for :
Louisville | Virginia | Miami | Duke | Georgia Tech | Boston College | Notre Dame | Pittsburgh | Florida State | Virginia Tech | Clemson | Syracuse | North Carolina | Wake Forest
NC State
When you are in your 7th year at an ACC school, you should not end the season as the worst team in the conference no matter what the circumstances. That’s exactly what happened to Dave Doeren and NC State in 2019. Yes there were injuries, but six straight losses to end the season with all but one by 2 TDs or more has put pressure on Doeren and his staff to show significant improvement this season. Another sub .500 season may not end Doeren’s time at NC State, but it will definitely put him on the hotseat for 2021.
Will Go 6-5 (5-5) if:
The multiple staff changes can make a difference quickly. NC State was just bad all around last season. Any improvement on either side of the ball will help a ton. QB Devin Leary showed some promise last season. Should he take a step forward this season, he has some weapons. Bam Knight is a solid RB, and Cary Angeline is one of the better TEs in the ACC. Alim McNeill is a good DT that anchors the defense. If NC State can start the season at least 3-2 with Wake Forest, at Virginia Tech, at Pitt, at Virginia, and Duke at home, then a winning season could be in the cards.
Will Go 3-8 (2-8) if:
NC State can’t pull off some upsets this season. Look at the schedule, and tell me where NC State will be favored? – Liberty probably Georgia Tech. Wake Forest, Duke and Syracuse look like swings games at best. Actually Wake Forest is a huge opening game. If NC State loses that they could be starting an 0-4 start to the season. They won’t recover from that. If the Wolfpack put up similar TO margin numbers to last year when thy were 126th in the country, they don’t have enough ability to win most games on sheer talent. That number has to get better or it’s hard to see NC State winning more than 3 or 4 games in 2020.