Here we are again. NC State’s season will be defined not by 10 wins or a conference championship or some other historical feat. NC State’s season will not be a program-redefining breakthrough. NC State’s season will not fulfill its promise. NC State’s season, yet again, all comes down to appeasing the fan base by beating UNC. Stop me if you’ve heard this before: “Well, at least we beat UNC.”
Each loss has pulled the bar down further. USC-East…forget undefeated. Notre Dame…forget the playoff. Clemson…forget the ACC. Wake Forest…forget 10 wins. Maybe none of those goals were ever realistic, but NC State outgained its opponents in three of those losses and lost in large part to self-inflicted wounds.