Each one is either a win or a loss. And all wins count the same.

On one level, that's an obvious truth. But, in college football, life is a little more ambiguous. Some games do mean more than others.

For example, there is this week's regular-season finale between North Carolina and N.C. State at noon at Carter-Finley Stadium.

The Wolfpack (going into the game at 4-7, 1-6 ACC) is going to have a losing season.

On the other hand, Carolina (8-3, 3-3 ACC) has a chance at a nine-win regular season. Coming off a 31-13 victory at Boston College, UNC is playing its finest football of the season -- at least on defense. Tar Heel defenders scored two more touchdowns last weekend.

No one believes N.C. State will be going through the motions to get its season over and done. This game has an impact on more people in the state than any other, and that means recruits, too.

This game also will reveal just how much Butch Davis has learned in three seasons at Chapel Hill.

First of all, Davis has worked wonders with the program. He has wrought a remarkable transformation in the program he inherited it in 2007. And he's done it this season as a list of injuries continues to grow each week. This year has been defined by who is not on the field as opposed to who is on offense.

UNC really has no right to be in a spot where it can still win 10 games.

Nonetheless, the biggest question of the week is: "Does Davis understand the utter magnitude of this one?"

This game can be the cherry on top of UNC's season, but, lose to the Wolfpack and it will be more like pouring motor oil on ice cream.

Davis has far bigger goals than winning the mythical state championship. But the fact is every year that UNC will find a red-and-white hurdle to take somewhere along the road. Make no mistake about it: UNC is No. 1 on the Wolfpack's wish list of victories each season.

Mack Brown did not seem to grasp this at first when he was UNC's football coach, but, once he did, his program took off in a big way.

Coaches talk about building programs and laying foundations. When Carolina has been at its best, it made a good, solid base of victories by squashing the other in-state ACC schools. That added to recruiting and kept UNC fans quite happy.

Carolina fans will not soon forget the Wolfpack's stunning 41-10 victory at Kenan Stadium in 2008. Nor will they forget the boastful statements Wolfpack coach Jim O'Brien had after the game.

The Wolfpack had defeated Wake Forest, Duke, East Carolina and finally the Tar Heels. O'Brien felt on top of the world, but especially on top of the state.

"What it speaks to is we're the best football program in the state -- without question," O'Brien said.

Yes, the goal of playing for top-10 rankings and Orange Bowls should be a part of what the Tar Heels strive to do in the coming years under Davis. He has big dreams and huge goals.

That is wonderful.

But stop and think about this: Roy Williams plays to win national titles, and he wins them, but he does not coach any harder on the last Monday night of the season than when he's coaching against the Wolfpack.

Williams would rather be covered in boils than lose to N.C. State. He knows who the enemy is, and he takes full aim every time.

Carolina's defense has been extraordinary for the past several weeks, scoring four touchdowns in the last two games. This week it must contend with Russell Wilson, who completed 17 of 28 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns last season at Kenan.

Forget what has happened up to now. The Wolfpack is playing its bowl game on Saturday.

All Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates has to do is remember back the nightmare of a year ago to understand that.

"They came in on a mission, came to take us out as soon as possible," Yates said.

And the Wolfpack succeeded. Will Carolina let that happen again? There stands the true question of the week.