- Although their championship aspirations are over for this season, Florida State still has plenty to play for, writes Jared Shanker of ESPN.

The 2011 season ended with a mid-level bowl win against Notre Dame, but many point to that 18-14 victory as the jumping-off point for the Seminoles' run that included three consecutive ACC titles, 29 straight wins and a national championship. Next season, the Seminoles should have all 11 offensive starters return as well as seven defensive starters, not including junior cornerback Jalen Ramsey, a projected first-round NFL draft pick. Sixty percent of the defense's tackles return, 72 percent of its tackles for loss and 75 percent of its sacks. Fisher also owns the No. 3 recruiting class for 2016. A 4-0 end to 2015 could serve as a springboard for another big run.

- Joe Giglio, NC State beat writer for the News & Observer, tells the Wolfpack's side of the story entering Saturday's matchup, highlighting how they are ready for another shot at the Seminoles after letting last year's game in Raleigh slip away.

- Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel details how Demarcus Walker is ready to redeem FSU's defense after their questionable showing last year against NC State.

"My mom came in town for the Syracuse game [in late October] and I asked my mom, 'What's one game you thought I've did bad?' She said 'I think you've done good in every game except for the NC State game,'" Walker recalled, stoically. "This week, I'm playing with a chip on my shoulder because of what happened last year."

- Jacey Zembal of the Wolfpacker poses that NC State QB Jacoby Brissett has heated up at the ideal time and is playing at a high level.

- With Warrick Dunn scheduled to give a Sod Talk on Saturday and be on the sideline for the FSU/NC State game, he told Jim Henry, sports editor for the Tallahassee Democrat, that he is excited to see Dalvin Cook break his single-season rushing record, which Cook is currently 12 yards from breaking.

- Heather Dinich of ESPN addresses the scenario for each Power 5 conference that would leave their members out of the College Football Playoff.

Recruiting:

-5-star QB Malik Henry signed his GIA paperwork with Florida State, which signifies that he is on track to be an early enrollee and allows unlimited communication between he and the school.

-LB Zach McCloud, an FSU target, decommitted from Miami.