VIBES CHECK: HEELS, PACK DOWN
Byes came at right time for Wake Forest, Charlotte
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The sports world is a small one.
This week, I attended a college commitment at Forsyth Country Day. Turns out Jayon Connor, who announced on Friday that he would continue his basketball career at Wake Forest, attended my smalltown high school before arriving in Lewisville. He knew my family.
It's always special to discover unexpected connections with the people you report on, but it means a little more when someone from your hometown is succeeding.
Personal rambles aside, if you're new here, I am presenting readers with an unserious ranking list of North Carolina FBS Division I college teams based purely on vibes: a mathematical formula I calculate from Twitter chatter + off-the-field drama + viral moments + on-field performance.
Let's get into it:
1. Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons are off this week, so they're safe from a vibes change.
Vibes grade: A+
2. Charlotte
The 49ers are also on a bye this week, so they are still reaping the benefits of their first win of the season last Saturday.
The Temple head coach called that loss to Charlotte the most embarrassing of his career.
49er fans are just glad they aren't at risk of losing another game this week and can still enjoy what took place in Philadelphia.
Vibes grade: A (↑)
3. App State
I love it when fans storm the field. The Mountaineers toppled undefeated JMU, 34-31, with a field goal in overtime, prompting App State students and fans to hop the fence and rush the field.
The Dukes scored a touchdown in the final three seconds to tie it and force extra time, but App State rallied to clinch the upset.
Now that's a signature win. Vibes grade: A (↑)
4. Duke
The Blue Devils have finally bounced back. I gave Duke a hard time the last few weeks, but Friday's win over Virginia is a big one.
The Blue Devils got creative with a trick play to win it and succeeded on a two-minute, game-winning drive for the first time in three weeks.
It's also very fitting that running back Nate Sheppard, the core of Duke's offense, threw the touchdown pass to clinch it. Where Sheppard goes, the Blue Devils follow.
Vibes grade: B+ (↑)
5. ECU
The Pirates continue to get their hopes up, only to fall short.
ECU lost for the second week in a row in overtime. This time, the Pirates led all the way to the final 10 minutes of regulation before losing to Memphis, 41-34.
Don't worry, baseball season is around the corner.
Vibes grade: D (↓)
6. UNC
What in the world was that?
In Carolina's first prime-time game of the season, the Tar Heels lost to Syracuse, a team that hadn't won in the ACC in 11 games entering the day.
A controversial two-point conversion was the final dagger in the one-point game. Still, UNC is the only one to blame for Saturday's outcome, struggling to be more productive on offense and running out of gas on defense.
Goodbye two-game win streak. Goodbye to the rumors that the Tar Heels would host College Gameday in Chapel Hill with No. 1 Miami coming to town.
Vibes grade: F (↓)
7. NC State
The Wolfpack has reached dumpster fire status.
NC State embarrassed itself with a 31-28 loss to Stanford late on Friday night in California. The Cardinal are ranked the worst offense in the ACC yet managed four touchdown drives and 477 yards of total offense.
Wake Forest beat Stanford by 54. Duke won by 28.
The defeat for the Wolfpack was so bad that players were not made available for post-game interviews as the team slipped to second-to-last place in the conference.
By Saturday, Dave Doeren was out as head coach to end his 14-year career at NC State most unceremoniously.
This season has been a humiliation ritual for Wolfpack fans.
Only five more weeks to go.
Vibes grade: F (↓) Caroline Wills is a sportswriter for the Winston-Salem Journal and Greensboro News & record, primarily covering college and high school sports. she is a 2025 graduate of UNC chapel hill and first worked as an intern for the N&r (2024) and hickory daily record (2023). Why I Cover This Beat: I cover sports in order to tell the stories beyond the court and field that teach people lessons about the human experience. My reporting focuses on relatable storytelling and answering the pressing questions readers have about the sports they watch on TV or sign their child up for.
