Expectations for NC State football have been high all summer in Raleigh, but those beliefs haven't been reflected thus far in preseason polls.

Until now.

When CBS Sports released its college football preseason poll on Tuesday, NC State registered at No. 23 as one of six teams from the ACC to make the Top 25. Playing in the toughest division in the ACC, of course, means that the Wolfpack will have to face two teams in the top six and Louisville, which came in at No. 17.

While the expectations are steadily growing for the Pack, coach Dave Doeren has kept his team in check throughout fall camp.

"We’re taking it one day at a time," Doeren said. "That’s all we’re doing. We don’t have a schedule board up in our building. All it says is today. That’s all we’re going to focus on. The only expectation we have is how good we’re going to play today."

Heading into Chapel Hill last year, the Pack was sitting at 5-6 with losses in five of its last six games. But with a win over North Carolina and a trouncing of Vanderbilt, NC State earned respect with a 3-1 finish to the year.

With many of the same pieces at key positions including Ryan Finley, the top four receivers, four returning starters on the offensive line and a stacked front seven, the Pack heads into the season with a wealth of experience and weapons.

"Obviously, what they went through last year and how they finished, they want to continue with the momentum they had," Doeren said. "I think the lessons learned in life are for you to do something with what happens [to] you and the obstacles you face. I think the guys did that, and we’ll see where that takes us. I do like where they’re at mentally right now."

The Coaches Poll released earlier this offseason left NC State off the Top 25. But the Pack did receive 39 votes, good enough to put the program at 33rd in the nation.

With a showdown against South Carolina looming on Sept. 2 in Charlotte, State has a good chance to turn some more heads during the season opener. A win on the national stage could propel the Pack into the Top 25 in more than just the CBS Sports poll.