2026-27 Outlook
LangIndex projects NC State at #51 nationally for the 2026-27 college basketball season with a projected efficiency margin of +7.4 points per 100 possessions. The model projects a step back from last season's #32 finish. The model slots this team in the NCAA-tournament conversation.
Only 14% of last season's minutes return, so this roster will look very different. Expect some early-season volatility while new pieces settle in. The incoming class is headlined by 4-star Cole Cloer, part of a 2-commit group.
Last Season (2025-26)
NC State finished 2025-26 at 19-13, ranked #32 in the final LangIndex ratings with adjusted offense of 122.9 and adjusted defense of 102.9 points per 100 possessions.
How LangIndex Rates NC State
NC State's power rating of +7.4 is an adjusted efficiency margin: the points per 100 possessions the model expects them to outscore an average Division I team by, once you strip out schedule strength. It combines adjusted offensive efficiency, adjusted defensive efficiency, and pace into one number, so a rating of +7.4 means NC State projects to beat a neutral-court average team by about 5 points on a typical night. The full live version updates every morning during the season.
NC State Rating History
Season-by-season LangIndex power rating and national rank. NC State has trended upward over the last few seasons. Their best finish in this window was #32 in 2025-26.
| Season | Power Rating | Nat. Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | +15.3 | #32 |
| 2024-25 | -1.1 | #187 |
| 2023-24 | +5.4 | #99 |
| 2022-23 | +12.1 | #42 |
| 2021-22 | -4.1 | #223 |
| 2020-21 | +4.1 | #100 |