Seemingly every year NC State wrestling finds itself near the top of the national rankings. With its ACC opener at Pittsburgh approaching, the Wolfpack is in a strong position to win its sixth-consecutive ACC title.

Through 12 matches the Pack is 10-2 and sits at No. 8 in the FloWrestling poll — by far the best record in the ACC. Meanwhile, the red-and-white’s ranking is also the best in the conference, two spots ahead of perennial powerhouse Virginia Tech.

The Wolfpack ripped off nine consecutive wins to open the year — all either on the road or at neutral sites. Opening strong is key for the Wolfpack, allowing the team to both flex its star power and allow younger players to earn match experience.

NC State’s first three matches all resulted in decisive red-and-white victories. The Pack earned at least 40 points in each match, a rare achievement. The most dominant win came in the season opener against Presbyterian in a 48-0 beatdown.

The Pack followed up its opening trio of wins with its first ranked win of the year, obliterating No. 25 Purdue 37-3 at WrangleMania. The highlight of the match came in the 125-pound bout when redshirt junior Jakob Camacho upset No. 3 Matt Ramos in an 8-5 decision. Additionally, the Pack recorded four tech falls, showing that it could dominate opponents in several weight classes.

The next three matches all took place in New York, with the Pack showcasing its prowess around the state. The Pack’s closest win of these was an impressive 34-6 victory over Army — a team NC State also beat last season.

With a 7-0 record, the Wolfpack competed in three matches at the Collegiate Duals in Nashville, Tennessee. The red-and-white posted a 2-1 record at the event. First, the Pack easily disposed of Lock Haven before picking up its second ranked win in a 25-16 victory over No. 25 North Haven.

To close the Collegiate Duals, NC State fell just short of a massive comeback in a 20-21 loss to No. 10 Ohio State. The Buckeyes opened the match quickly by earning three falls to secure an early 18-0 lead. NC State then won six of the final seven bouts, but struggled to earn extra points. Nevertheless, the overall event was a success for NC State as the team showed its grit while snagging two of their three matches.

Following the Collegiate Duals, NC State hosted its first home meet, a showcase match against No. 9 Oklahoma State. On a night where NC State set a home attendance record in a sellout, the Pack struggled to match its fans’ energy. Like the Ohio State match, the Pack started slow and found itself in a seven-point hole. As the match continued, NC State never quite found its footing and ultimately lost 12-22.

Most recently, NC State eviscerated Hofstra 43-5, taking out its frustrations just days after losing its home opener. Another dominant win was an encouraging sign for the red-and-white as the Pack gears up for conference play.

The Wolfpack is set to open ACC competition at Pitt on Friday Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. and can be found on the ACC Network.