A week after the Coaches Poll came out—with NC State at 22—the media has weighed in, with NC State checking in at No. 24 in the AP Poll. As in the other poll, State is ranked behind FSU, Clemson, and Miami in the ACC. Georgia, Ohio State, and Oregon run 1-2-3, and those were the only teams to get a first-place vote.
This is the second time in the last three years that State has landed in the preseason AP Poll.
Since the voters’ ballots are public, we can see which media members are True Heroes and which are Despicable Haters. Auburn beat writer Adam Cole, and Ohio State beat writer Stephen Means placed NC State higher than anyone else, at No. 13. Local reporters Jordan Crammer (WNCN) and Steve Wiesman (N&O) are also buying the Wolfpack. Eleven total voters put NC State in the top 20, while 23 voters left State off their ballots. One of those two groups has made a terrible mistake.
In the also-receiving-votes category, Louisville and Virginia Tech check in at No. 26 and No. 27. UNC did not receive a vote.