Before I go any further with this rant, let me state that I have hyped up my beloved Atlantic Coast Conference in the past – sometimes a bit prematurely. At times I had to eat my words.
Not this time.
Take a look at the ACC teams in the latest Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls. Three ACC teams in the AP’s Top 10 (Clemson, Florida State, and Miami). Four ACC teams total (Virginia Tech being the fourth) in both polls.
Take a look at how the ACC have performed on the gridiron at the halfway point of the 2013 season. Wins over Georgia and Florida – both from the awesome, badass motherfucker known as the Southeastern Conference (or as I call “The Beast”). Three undefeated teams in the conference (Clemson, Florida State, Miami). ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be in Clemson for the Florida State-Clemson game, marking the second time “GameDay” will be in Clemson this season (a first for the “GameDay” crew).
Miami is looking like “The U” again. The Hurricanes’ upcoming games with Florida State and Virginia Tech are going to be must-see games. Miami being “back” is not only great for the ACC, but it’s awesome for college football.
The mid-tier of the ACC is not that bad either. Maryland (yeah, that fucking turncoat that’s headed to the Big Ten next year) is 5-1 and is headed towards a decent bowl. Newcomer Pitt appears to be holding its own right now at the midpoint. Boston College has already surpassed its win total from last season and is more competitive under first-year coach Steve Addazio. And then there’s Duke (that would be 4-2 Duke, thank you). The Blue Devils are already on their way to another bowl, which would be the first time that has happened in a long-ass time – if not EVER.
Before I gush any further on the ACC, we are only at the halfway point of the 2013 college football season. Things could change from now until the end of the regular season. Miami has to travel to Chapel Hill to take on a sorry-ass, yet desperate UNC team this Thursday night on ESPN. Clemson has to travel to Maryland and South Carolina after this weekend. Florida State still has to play Florida.
In short, the ACC’s journey is far from over. Only this time I have been more in tune with ACC football for the first time in recent memory. I think the ACC will continue their breakthrough through season’s end.
I can feel it.
Categories: college football
‘Tis true…ACC football is legit and it’s a nice change from having only pac12 and big12 competing with sec for some sort of dominance. Big 12 is down this year but that will change I think with the coming of Art Bryles to Texas..yes Mack is done and he knows it…Bryles will do to Texas what Saban did to Alabama. God bless cause that means the Sooners are going to need to make some changes to keep up.
Wow, so you think Bryles will leave Baylor for a bigger and wealthier conference rival eh? Wouldn’t be the first time that happened (see Nick Saban from LSU to Alabama).