Suddenly State has potentially its best college football season ever in front of them for the taking. The loss to USC to open the season is particularly disappointing now, since it was a game they should have won, in which case they would be undefeated. Nevertheless, wins over FSU and Louisville were impressive and puts them in good position.
Still a very tough stretch over their next 5 games: @PIT, @ND, Clemson, @BC, @Wake. Notre Dame and Clemson are obviously the toughest opponents in that stretch, and State beat ND last season and should have taken Clemson to OT in Death Valley, so we know they can win either or both of those games. State has beaten Wake each of the last 3 seasons, but is 1-2 vs. BC in that span.
If they finish the season 5-1 with the 1 loss to Clemson, they would be 7-1 in ACC play and 10-2 overall, but presumably not eligible for the ACC championship game. So they still have to beat Clemson to have a shot at the championship, a very tall order.