The downfall of the ACC

After the PAC-12 all but folded, the college football landscape changed dramatically. Most of the teams reclassified conferences and it opened up the college football competition.

Oklahoma and Texas left the Big 12 in favor of the SEC for stronger competition, FSU fought to leave the ACC and is struggling to get through. All signs are pointing to a two-conference NCAA in the future.

Those two conferences are more than likely going to be the SEC and the Big Ten. Both conferences have heavy top talent and rising talent under those big teams.

After the first College Football Playoff, you saw many of those two conferences in the playoff and the champion coming from the Big Ten. Along with the transfer portal, these players want to go to competitors.

The ACC seems to be the weakest conference in college football. Conference realignment may not be based on football, but it does play a big factor in the realignment being the highest-grossing sport.

With FSU already trying to leave, the ACC may be the next conference to fold, especially after their last playoff performance. ACC basketball is one of the powerhouses in the nation, but the rise of the SEC and Big Ten pose a threat to the ACC.

In the final rankings, the ACC along with the Big 12 only had four teams in the top 25. The Big 12 made a splash in the playoffs though and in bowl games giving them the upper hand.

The ACC had a measly 2-11 record in bowl games (including playoffs) allowing 34.1 points per game and only scoring 25.2 points per game. The ACC only went 1-7 against the other three Power Four conferences.

Their only two wins came from Syracuse against Washington State and Louisville beating Washington by one.

Even with the realignment, the ACC did not add that much more talent. They added SMU, California and Stanford.

SMU made the most noise losing in the conference championship before getting blown out at Penn State in the first round of the CFP. Cal had a decent season going 6-6 and losing to UNLV in a bowl game. Stanford was barely seen going 3-9 on the season.

Going back to the basketball argument, these schools wouldn’t make a difference in basketball. SMU last made the tournament in 2017, Stanford in 2014 and Cal in 2013.

The ACC has just lacked a lot of competition in recent memory in football. Miami made a minor run but had their season ended with a disappointing loss to Syracuse, ending their conference championship hopes.

Outside of Duke, and UNC, who are perennial favorites in March Madness, they are starting to lack any sort of threat from basketball too.

If the NCAA were to narrow down to a two-conference league, the ACC may be a favorite.

Tristan Kunec is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email tqk5432@psu.edu.