Before the start of Illinois football's training camp on Aug. 2 in Champaign, beat writer Bob Asmussen is counting down the Top 50 teams heading into the 2019 college football season:
No. 43: North Carolina State
Coach: Dave Doeren
2018 record: 9-4
Projected 2019 record: 9-3
Circle the date: Nov. 9 vs. Clemson
Bowl trip: Music City
Why No. 43: Consecutive nine-win seasons prove Doeren, formerly at Northern Illinois, knows what he is doing.