It is interesting to look at the ACC teams over various periods of time to gauge who is on the way up, who is on the way down, and who has maintained a similar ranking over the years.
5 yr rankings:
5. Clemson
6. ND - Play 5 to 6 ACC games per year
20 SMU - Expansion Team
36 NC ST
37. FSU
42. Pitt
44. UNC
48. WF
53. Louisville - Expansion team
60. Miami - Expansion team
76. VT - Expansion team
82. BC - Expansion team
85 UVA
88 CAL - Expansion team
90 Duke
102 Cuse - expansion team
112 GT
120 Stanford - expansion team
Only 3 teams in top 25, Only 8 teams in top 50
10 yrs rankings
3. CL
7. ND
23. FSU
30. NC ST
44. Miami
51. Louisville
54 Pitt
58 VT
60 Stanford
61 UnC
68 SMU
70 WF
72 Duke
79 BC
83 CAL
86 GT
99UVA
106 Cuse
Only 3 teams in top 25, Only 5 teams in top 50
25 yr rankings:
6. Clemson
15. FSU
18. VT
20. Miami
23. ND
26. Louisville
41. Pitt
42. NC ST
46. BC
47. GT
48. Stanford
72. WF
76. CAL
79. UNC
85 UVA
95 Cuse
97 SMU
113 Duke
5 teams in top 25, 11 teams in top 50
50 yr rankings:
7. FSU
10. Clemson
14. Miami
16. ND
22. VT
34. Pitt
37. NC ST
41. Louisville
44. UNC
45. BC
53. GT
57. Stanford
65. Cuse
75. UVA
79. CAL
92. SMU
96. WF
109. Duke
5 teams in top 25, 10 teams in top 50
All time rankings:
4. ND
10. FSU
15. Miami
17. CL
20. VT
28. GT
33. Pitt
35. BC
36. Stanford
41. Cuse
46. UNC
52 CAL
61. Louisville
65. NC ST
66 UVA
83 Duke
86 SMU
101 WF
5 teams in top 25, 11 teams in top 50
Summation:
CL 17-10-6-3-5 (Dabo has really turned this top 20 program into a top 5-10 program over the last 12 years
ND 4-16-23-7-6 (ND started to fall off, but Brian Kelly and their new coach have really turned ND back into a top 10 program)
FSU 10-7-15-23-37 (FSU has really lost their way over this last 2 decades. They finally found some life these last two years under Norvell)
Miami 15-14-20-44-60 (Miami has been in downward spiral since the late 80s and early 90s. They have continually gotten worse. Not sure it will change under their new coach)
VT 20-22-18-58-76 (VT has went from a top 20 program to outside the top 75. I don't see them getting back without a GREAT dynamic coach)
GT 28-53-47-86-112 (GT has been trending downward over the last 50 years. They also would need a Great dynamic coach to breath some life back into them. They have become the new Duke/WF.
Pitt 33-34-41-54-42 (Pitt has stayed in the 30 to 40 range throughout most of their years. They are a competitive football program, but not a top 25 program)
BC 35-45-46-79-82 (Another program trending downward over the last 25 years. They used to be a top 35-45 team. Hopefully, Bill Obrien can get them back to that level)
Stanford 36-57-48-60-120 (Stanford has fallen off the map over this last decade. They are all over the map. Without a great coach they will stink, with one they can be top 40 to 50)
Syracuse 41-65-95-106-102 (They are another that has trended downward over their entire history. I don't think their new coach is going to do much better, but he can recruit, so time will tell)
UNC 46-44-79-61-44 (UNC has basically had their best years under Mac Brown and their worst when he isn't there. They are a top 50 program with a good coach)
CAL 52-79-76-83-88 (CAL has mostly been a top 80 program. They had some decent years under Tedford, but without a good coach they will continue to be a top 80 program)
Louisville 61-41-26-51-53 (Louisville got up to a top 30 program, but has fallen back to a top 60 program while in the ACC. I do think they have the right coach in place now)
NC ST 65-37-42-30-36 (NC St is on an upward trajectory. They have moved into a top 30-40 program. They have a good coach even though I don't like him)
UVA 66-75-85-99-85 (UVA was starting to move in the right direction with Mendenhall, but are back to sucking again. They are a top 75-100 team which is horific for that campus)
SMU 86-92-97-68-20 (SMU is really starting to move in an upward direction going from a top 100 team to a top 20 team recently. This season will tell if they are ready for the ACC or not.)
Duke 83-109-113-72-90 (Duke has been in the range of top 80 to top 120 team. They were very competitive under their last coach, but will most likely fall off with their new one)
WF 101-96-72-70-48 (WF has made HUGE improvements with their last two coaching hires going from a top 110 team to a top 50 team. That is getting it done with the right coaches)
Coaching matters and who you choose is a big deal. Even TN struggled for several decades picking the wrong coaches, but now they have the right one. Even Duke and WF can win with the right coaches. VT, Miami, GT, BC, Stanford, Syracuse, CAL, UVA all need to really look at their coaching hires and make moves if these guys can't get it done.
5 yr rankings:
5. Clemson
6. ND - Play 5 to 6 ACC games per year
20 SMU - Expansion Team
36 NC ST
37. FSU
42. Pitt
44. UNC
48. WF
53. Louisville - Expansion team
60. Miami - Expansion team
76. VT - Expansion team
82. BC - Expansion team
85 UVA
88 CAL - Expansion team
90 Duke
102 Cuse - expansion team
112 GT
120 Stanford - expansion team
Only 3 teams in top 25, Only 8 teams in top 50
10 yrs rankings
3. CL
7. ND
23. FSU
30. NC ST
44. Miami
51. Louisville
54 Pitt
58 VT
60 Stanford
61 UnC
68 SMU
70 WF
72 Duke
79 BC
83 CAL
86 GT
99UVA
106 Cuse
Only 3 teams in top 25, Only 5 teams in top 50
25 yr rankings:
6. Clemson
15. FSU
18. VT
20. Miami
23. ND
26. Louisville
41. Pitt
42. NC ST
46. BC
47. GT
48. Stanford
72. WF
76. CAL
79. UNC
85 UVA
95 Cuse
97 SMU
113 Duke
5 teams in top 25, 11 teams in top 50
50 yr rankings:
7. FSU
10. Clemson
14. Miami
16. ND
22. VT
34. Pitt
37. NC ST
41. Louisville
44. UNC
45. BC
53. GT
57. Stanford
65. Cuse
75. UVA
79. CAL
92. SMU
96. WF
109. Duke
5 teams in top 25, 10 teams in top 50
All time rankings:
4. ND
10. FSU
15. Miami
17. CL
20. VT
28. GT
33. Pitt
35. BC
36. Stanford
41. Cuse
46. UNC
52 CAL
61. Louisville
65. NC ST
66 UVA
83 Duke
86 SMU
101 WF
5 teams in top 25, 11 teams in top 50
Summation:
CL 17-10-6-3-5 (Dabo has really turned this top 20 program into a top 5-10 program over the last 12 years
ND 4-16-23-7-6 (ND started to fall off, but Brian Kelly and their new coach have really turned ND back into a top 10 program)
FSU 10-7-15-23-37 (FSU has really lost their way over this last 2 decades. They finally found some life these last two years under Norvell)
Miami 15-14-20-44-60 (Miami has been in downward spiral since the late 80s and early 90s. They have continually gotten worse. Not sure it will change under their new coach)
VT 20-22-18-58-76 (VT has went from a top 20 program to outside the top 75. I don't see them getting back without a GREAT dynamic coach)
GT 28-53-47-86-112 (GT has been trending downward over the last 50 years. They also would need a Great dynamic coach to breath some life back into them. They have become the new Duke/WF.
Pitt 33-34-41-54-42 (Pitt has stayed in the 30 to 40 range throughout most of their years. They are a competitive football program, but not a top 25 program)
BC 35-45-46-79-82 (Another program trending downward over the last 25 years. They used to be a top 35-45 team. Hopefully, Bill Obrien can get them back to that level)
Stanford 36-57-48-60-120 (Stanford has fallen off the map over this last decade. They are all over the map. Without a great coach they will stink, with one they can be top 40 to 50)
Syracuse 41-65-95-106-102 (They are another that has trended downward over their entire history. I don't think their new coach is going to do much better, but he can recruit, so time will tell)
UNC 46-44-79-61-44 (UNC has basically had their best years under Mac Brown and their worst when he isn't there. They are a top 50 program with a good coach)
CAL 52-79-76-83-88 (CAL has mostly been a top 80 program. They had some decent years under Tedford, but without a good coach they will continue to be a top 80 program)
Louisville 61-41-26-51-53 (Louisville got up to a top 30 program, but has fallen back to a top 60 program while in the ACC. I do think they have the right coach in place now)
NC ST 65-37-42-30-36 (NC St is on an upward trajectory. They have moved into a top 30-40 program. They have a good coach even though I don't like him)
UVA 66-75-85-99-85 (UVA was starting to move in the right direction with Mendenhall, but are back to sucking again. They are a top 75-100 team which is horific for that campus)
SMU 86-92-97-68-20 (SMU is really starting to move in an upward direction going from a top 100 team to a top 20 team recently. This season will tell if they are ready for the ACC or not.)
Duke 83-109-113-72-90 (Duke has been in the range of top 80 to top 120 team. They were very competitive under their last coach, but will most likely fall off with their new one)
WF 101-96-72-70-48 (WF has made HUGE improvements with their last two coaching hires going from a top 110 team to a top 50 team. That is getting it done with the right coaches)
Coaching matters and who you choose is a big deal. Even TN struggled for several decades picking the wrong coaches, but now they have the right one. Even Duke and WF can win with the right coaches. VT, Miami, GT, BC, Stanford, Syracuse, CAL, UVA all need to really look at their coaching hires and make moves if these guys can't get it done.
