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See the full story · 1 sourcesCJ Bailey and N.C. State football aren’t ranked in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, which was released Tuesday, Aug. 4.
But the Wolfpack , which finished with an 8-5 record in the 2025 season, was among the teams to receive votes in the preseason poll. N.C. State is in its 14th season under coach Dave Doeren and opens its 2026 schedule against ACC foe Virginia in Charlottesville on Aug. 29 (3:30 p.m., ESPN) .
No. 7 Miami, No. 20 SMU and No. 23 Clemson are the ACC teams ranked in the preseason top 25. The Wolfpack doesn’t play those teams in the regular season.
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Reigning national champion Indiana enters the year at No. 6 in the preseason poll, with Ohio State at No. 1, Oregon at No. 2, Georgia at No. 3, Texas at No. 4 and Notre Dame at No. 5.
Here is the full preseason US LBM Coaches Poll.
College football rankings, preseason
Here’s a look at the preseason US LBM College Football Coaches poll, which includes three ACC teams.
Preseason US LBM Coaches Poll
The preseason US LBM coaches poll Top 25 with team's records from last season in parentheses, total points based on 25 for first place through one point for 25th, ranking in last year’s final poll and first-place votes received.
Rank, School (record in 2025), Points, Last season’s final rank, First-place vote
1. Ohio State (12-2) 1,741 6 38
2. Oregon (13-2) 1,637 4 6
3. Georgia (12-2) 1,591 5 7
4. Texas (10-3) 1,544 13 2
5. Notre Dame (10-2) 1,524 11 5
6. Indiana (16-0) 1,522 1 14
7. Miami (Fla.) (13-3) 1,409 2 0
8. Texas A&M (11-2) 1,174 8 0
9. Oklahoma (10-3) 1,104 10 0
10. Ole Miss(13-2) 1,096 3 0
11. Alabama (11-4) 1,050 9 0
12. Texas Tech (12-2) 1,034 8 0
13. LSU (7-6) 951 NR 0
14. Southern Cal (9-4) 838 21 0
15. BYU (12-2) 781 12 0
16. Michigan (9-4) 719 22 0
17. Penn State (7-6) 463 NR 0
18. Tennessee (8-5) 428 NR 0
19. Washington (9-4) 406 NR 0
20. SMU (9-4) 378 NR 0
21. Utah (11-2) 313 14 0
22. Iowa (9-4) 291 17 0
23. Clemson (7-6) 235 NR 0
24. Houston (10-3) 194 19 0
25. Missouri (8-5) 158 NR 0
Dropped out : No. 15 Vanderbilt (10-3); No. 16 Virginia (11-3); No. 18 Tulane (11-3); No. 20 James Madison (12-2); No. 23 Navy (11-2); No. 24 Georgia Tech (9-4); No. 25 Illinois (9-4).
Others receiving votes : Louisville (9-4) 153; Florida (4-8) 147; TCU (9-4) 63; Illinois (9-4) 62; Arizona (9-4) 50; South Carolina (4-8) 50; Virginia (11-3) 40; Vanderbilt (10-3) 37; Auburn (5-7) 29; Georgia Tech (9-4) 26; Boise State (9-5) 24; Oklahoma State (1-11) 22; UNLV (10-4) 17; Florida State (5-7) 13; N.C. State (8-5) 13 ; Nebraska (7-6) 12; Virginia Tech (3-9) 12; Memphis (8-5) 9; Arizona State (8-5) 8; Duke (9-5) 6 ; James Madison (12-2) 6; New Mexico (9-4) 4; Pittsburgh (8-5) 4; Navy (11-2) 3; Western Michigan (10-4) 3; San Diego State (9-4) 2; California (7-6) 1; Hawaii (9-4) 1; Jacksonville State (9-5) 1; Kansas State (6-6) 1.
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to [email protected] .
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Is NC State football ranked in preseason US LBM Coaches Poll?
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