035: π ACC records in the division era
In the fall, the ACC is abandoning divisions in football and moving to a 3-3-5 scheduling model. The intention is to make more money to produce a more competitive regular season and a more compelling conference championship game.
Before next season, letβs take a look back at past seasons under the divisional format.
Clemson has won almost 80 percent of all regular season conference games over the past 18 seasons. The Tigers have represented the Atlantic Division eight times in the conference title game, and won the championship game in 2020 when the league abandoned divisions because of the pandemic. The last time Clemson finished below .500 in conference play was 1998.
Virginia Tech won around 76 percent of its regular season conference games from 2005 to 2013. The Hokies are one game above .500 (37-36) in conference play since the start of the 2014 season, but do own the most Coastal Division titles with six.
Florida State has won four league titles and played in the conference championship game five times. The Seminoles won just 16 of 40 conference games from 2017 to 2021, and still remain 30 games above .500 in conference play over the past 18 seasons.
Miami has yet to win a conference football championship game since joining the league in 2005. The Hurricanes have the fourth best regular season win percentage during this time frame despite winning the Coastal Division only one time (2017).
Georgia Tech has won the Coastal Division four times and the conference title game once. The Yellow Jackets 4-4 finish in conference play last season ended a streak of three consecutive conference records below .500.
North Carolina is two games below .500 in conference play over the past 18 seasons. The Tar Heels have won the Coastal Division twice, and lost to Clemson both times in the league title game. The Heels were 2-14 in conference play during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Under Mack Brown, Carolina is 20-14 in regular season play.
Boston College has not finished above .500 in conference play since 2009. The Eagles represented the Atlantic Division in the 2007 and 2008 conference championship games, and lost to Virginia Tech both times.
NC State is one of four teams that have not competed in the conference championship game over the past 18 seasons. The Wolfpackβs conference record has been at or below .500 in 13 of those 18 seasons.
Wake Forest is 21 games under .500 in conference play since 2005. The Demon Deacons have won the Atlantic Division twice and the 2006 conference championship with a 9-6 win over Georgia Tech.
Virginia has played 15 of the last 18 regular season at or below .500 in conference play. The Cavaliers won the Coastal Division in 2019 and lost to Clemson in the title game by 45 points.
Duke won the Coastal Division in 2013 and lost to Florida State in the conference championship game by 38 points. Since the 2014 season, Notre Dame has won 41 games against ACC opponents. This is one more win than the Blue Devils have earned over the last 18 seasons of regular season conference play (40).
Pittsburgh joined the league in 2013 and played eight of the last 10 regular seasons at or above .500 in conference play. The Panthers have won the Coastal Division twice and the 2021 conference championship beating Wake Forest.
Louisville began its ACC play in 2014. The Cardinals are 37-37 in regular season play and have yet to win the Atlantic Division or compete in the conference title game. This is despite having the Heisman Trophy winner on its roster in the 2016 season.
Syracuse is 30 games below .500 in conference play since joining the ACC in 2013. The Orange have finished the regular season above .500 only once over the past 10 seasons.
Maryland left the ACC to join the Big Ten in 2014. The Terrapins were 27-45 in ACC play from 2005 to 2013. Maryland is 23-52 in Big Ten play since 2014.
Notre Dame joined as a part-time football member of the conference since around 2014. The Irish did go 9-0 in the ACC during the 2020 COVID regular season. The Irish lost 34-10 in the conference title game.
Seven different Coastal Chaos Division champions and four different Atlantic Division champions. Six different conference champions (12 from Atlantic, five from Coastal, one to Clemson in 2020). Four-ish1 new members and one former member.
Plus, several television deals:
2004 NY Times article discussing ACC expansion
2010 ESPN article about 12-year ACC deal
2013 Sports Business Journal article about the grant of rights and ACC network
2016 article about extending the grant of rights deal 20 more years
The last six title games have been decided by 35, 32, 45, 24, 24, and 29 points. Thatβs an average of 31.5 points. And Clemson has won five of those six titles.
Hereβs hoping ditching divisions produces more money competitive games.
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Notre Dameβs part-time membership in football feels a bit one-sided, right?