The Wolfpacker 3-2-1 Reflections from week three

Week two did not go as planned for NC State, but week three went exactly to script.

So what's next, and where does the Pack stand after three games?

Here are some thoughts from the past weekend in our 3-2-1 format.

1. Clemson is still at the top. The overreaction to the Tigers' sluggish 2-1 start would lead you to believe the Tigers are an average team. While they are more vulnerable at the moment than probably any point previously in their recent reign of ACC dominance, it's still the cream of the crop because of a defense that has yet to allow an offensive touchdown this year in three games.

Eventually, young potential stars on offense like sophomore quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, freshman running back Will Shipley and junior receiver Joseph Ngata will form one of the best skill position combination in the country if the offensive line comes together. It's just not happening as quickly as expected.

But it's tough to beat Clemson when all the Tigers need to do, at the moment, is reach the end zone a couple of times.

2. There are challengers, just not impressive ones. The biggest difference is in years past the next tier would be clearly defined as a tier II. This year you can, at the moment, conceivably call them challengers, even if they are not a group of world-beaters.

This is where NC State hopes to prove they belong after Saturday's home game against the Tigers.

UNC seems to have rebounded nicely from a season-opening loss, at least on offense, but the yards allowed to Virginia in a shootout win over the Cavs is alarming. Virginia Tech has a nice feather in its cap with its win over UNC, and nearly came back to win at West Virginia.

Wake Forest put on an impressive display against Florida State last Saturday, but to be fair how big of a test is that at the moment? The Deacons' other wins came against teams that did not play college football in 2020.

Pittsburgh scored a nice win at Tennessee but then laid an egg at home to Western Michigan, losing some of its luster. However, both Virginia and Pitt, despite losses this past weekend, still have to be reckoned with due to their strong quarterback play.

Boston College would surely belong in this group with Phil Jurkovec at quarterback, but it must now prove it can survive without him. And could Louisville have found some momentum after its win over Central Florida at home in improbable fashion?

3. Then there is the rest of the league. Kudos to Georgia Tech for a moral win at Clemson and Duke for knocking off Northwestern this past weekend, but both still have a ways to go to prove they are challengers after dropping their respective openers, Georgia Tech to a bad Northern Illinois squad and Duke to Charlotte.

Syracuse has looked perhaps better than expected, but that's not saying a lot yet.

The disappointment is Miami, and with national media writers wondering if head coach Manny Diaz is in trouble, it makes you wonder how long Diaz could hold the team together. FSU's second-year coach Mike Norvell may face a similar crisis in the near future.

1. The Pack may be getting teams at the right times, at least early in the conference slate. NC State's first three ACC games are Clemson at home, at Boston College Oct. 16 after a bye week and then at Miami Oct. 23. Before the season that looked like a tough three-game stretch.

But Clemson is still trying to find its offense and just suffered a key loss on the interior of its defensive line in junior Tyler Davis. Boston College is trying to rebuild its offense after losing its star quarterback, and if Miami does not have it turned around in a month from now then they are in real trouble of having its year spiral. The Hurricanes' two games before NC State? Hosting Virginia and then at UNC.

2. The defense still looks good. NC State passed its first test without redshirt sophomore linebacker Payton Wilson by not allowing a first down before halftime after Furman's first drive in the game.

But that was, of course, Furman.

Still, NC State has held both South Florida and Mississippi State to their season lows thus far in total yards in each of those opponents' respective three games. If that trends continues, NC State should be able to hold up well in most games.

1. This weekend will be telling, but not everything. The ACC looks to be wild this year, and probably not in a good way. Teams that look like the breakout one week come back to earth (or worse) in another, and teams that looked doomed early break through the next.

That cycle is likely to be repeated by conference all year long.

Yes, it would be nice for NC State fans' psyche to have a marquee win over Clemson, and despite what Clemson may be compared to years past that would still be a significant accomplishment, but the ACC is truly week-to-week this year for teams like the Wolfpack.

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