NC State baseball head coach Elliott Avent has done almost everything during his 28 years leading the Wolfpack. From multiple trips to the College World Series to winning the National Coach of the Year, Avent’s track record speaks for itself. However, the Wolfpack coach is missing one major thing: a conference championship.

Entering the 2025 season, NC State has one of the more talented rosters in Avent’s tenure. With a talented and deep pitching staff, the Wolfpack will be in almost every game this season. While the lineup is less proven, NC State has some underrated batters. Given the talent on this roster, NC State has all the pieces needed to finally win an ACC Championship.

Any discussion on NC State baseball should begin with sophomore right-handed pitcher Jacob Dudan. The preseason First-Team All-American emerged as an electric reliever during the Wolfpack’s run to Omaha last season. Cool under pressure, Dudan announced his presence nationally in Game 3 of the Athens Super Regional last season when he struck out Charlie Condon, the nation’s best hitter. With the bases loaded and only one out, Dudan had no margin for error and delivered a four-pitch strikeout. The moment was a reflection of everything Dudan did last season.

This year, Dudan will have plenty of pressure on his shoulders. No longer a freshman, every hitter will recognize Dudan and bring their best against him. However, the pitcher has everything needed to handle it. Allowing opposing hitters just a .218 batting average, Dudan is well-positioned for whatever role he plays this season, whether as a starter or reliever.

Joining Dudan in the spotlight is junior righty Derrick Smith. The Minnesota native played a crucial role as NC State’s closer, shining all season. Playing his best in the postseason, Smith recorded three saves in the NCAA Tournament, including saves against South Carolina, James Madison and Georgia. Having an elite closer is rare at any level of baseball, so the Pack certainly has an advantage that few can match.

With an elite 1-2 punch on the mound and a deep staff of potential starters and bullpen options, NC State’s lineup is a little overshadowed after bringing in multiple impact additions. Sophomore infielder Ryan Jaros transferred in from Georgia Tech as a third baseman and projects to be one of the better hitters in Raleigh. Batting an impressive .343 last season, Jaros is as reliable a hitter as there is. Meanwhile, sophomore infielder Matt Ossenfort brings some potential power to the lineup. The Vanderbilt transfer didn’t play much with the Commodores but has plenty of upside to open up the Pack’s lineup.

Returning to the Pack, sophomore catcher Alex Sosa will hold one of the most important roles for NC State this season. With former standout catcher Jacob Cozart moving on to professional baseball, Sosa will man Cozart’s spot at catcher after learning under him. Sosa broke out during the NCAA Tournament last season, starting eight postseason games, including a brilliant three-hit performance to eliminate Georgia in the Super Regionals. Watch for Sosa to play a key role in NC State’s pursuit of an ACC title.

With this collection of hitters, NC State has an underrated base to work with. The Wolfpack will certainly need to find answers in the later portion of its lineup but should have enough options to create a quality lineup. Paired with one of the best pitching staffs in the nation, NC State is as dangerous as anyone in the ACC.

The road to an ACC title will certainly be challenging, no matter how talented the Pack is. Seven of D1 Baseball’s Top 15 ranked teams come from the ACC — more than any other conference. NC State is ranked No. 13 nationally, which is good for fifth in the ACC. Among the Wolfpack’s toughest opponents this season, the red-and-white will host No. 2 Virginia and No. 15 Clemson, while visiting No. 6 UNC-Chapel Hill and No. 11 Duke. Surviving an intense regular season and then winning an ACC Tournament that features these teams and others will be a major challenge, but if there’s an NC State baseball team that can handle it, it’s this one.