The NC State Wolfpack continued their climb in both college football polls this week.
The Pack moved up four spots in the AP Top 25, into a tie at No. 16 with 6-0 South Florida. The Bulls and Wolfpack both received 573 poll points. No. 15 Washington is just five points ahead, and 20 poll points separate the five teams ranked 15 through 19.
State passed San Diego State (19 last week, out of the Top 25 this week), Auburn (10 last week, 21 this week) and Michigan (17 last week, 19 this week), while catching South Florida, who was two spots ahead, at No. 18, last week.
This is the highest NC State has been ranked in the AP poll since Sept. 1, 2003, when it was No. 15. That was also the last time the Pack were ranked three straight weeks. NC State opened the 2003 season at 16, moved up to 15 in week one and dropped to 24 in week three.
This is just the 10th time in the last 25 seasons that NC State has been ranked in the top 16.
After entering the poll at No. 24 two weeks ago, NC State has moved up eight spots. The last time the Pack had such a large two-week jump was the start of the 1993 season, when State opened the year at No. 25 and moved to No. 17 after two wins.
State was one of three ACC teams to move up in this week’s poll. Virginia Tech moved up one spot to No. 14 after a bye week. Miami jumped three spots to No. 8 after beating Georgia Tech. Clemson is still the highest-ranked ACC team, but after a loss to Syracuse, the Tigers dropped five spots to No. 7.
In the coaches poll, NC State jumped three spots, to No. 17, passing San Diego State (18 last week, unranked this week), Washington State (9 last week, 18 this week) and Auburn (11 last week, 21 this week).
