North Carolina State has lost back-to-back games and dropped out of the Associated Press poll, but the Wolfpack still managed to land at No. 21 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings of the season.
Now, the concern is preventing a further tumble.
Although Clemson has a headlock on the ACC Atlantic Division title, there is still a good bowl at stake for the Wolfpack (5-2, 2-2 ACC, who host struggling Florida State (4-4, 2-4) on Saturday.
N.C. State's losses to end October came on the road, but in much different fashions. There was the 41-7 blowout defeat to No.