Here are the numbers so far:

ACC / Wk3 / YTD
vs P5 0-1 / 3-6
vs G5 4-1 / 12-1
vs FCS 1-0 / 7-0
overall record, YTD: 22-7
Big OOC wins: Clemson over Georgia, Miami over Florida, Virginia over BYU

Big XII
vs P5 0-2 / 1-4
vs G5 3-1 / 9-1
vs FCS 1-0 / 6-2
overall record, YTD: 16-7
Big OOC win: Oklahoma over Mississippi State

IMO, there's no way you can rank the ACC 5th this year. The Big XII is a dumpster fire, with 2 very bad teams (Kansas, Iowa St) and a bunch of mediocre ones (including Texas). By contrast, the ACC has 2 teams in the top 10 vs. none for the Big XII.

You could make an argument that the ACC might be stronger than the Big Ten also, but I'm not ready to go out on that limb just yet.

Definitely agree. The two conferences are definitely trending in opposite directions currently.

Sadly, 'Cuse couldn't get it done against Penn State or Northwestern. You have to wonder what would have been if we played Terrel Hunt instead of Drew Allen. I think we would have beaten PSU for sure.

The Big 12 sucks, actually, so I think this is true.

(09-15-2013 05:34 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  Here are the numbers so far:

ACC / Wk3 / YTD
vs P5 0-1 / 3-6
vs G5 4-1 / 12-1
vs FCS 1-0 / 7-0
overall record, YTD: 22-7
Big OOC wins: Clemson over Georgia, Miami over Florida, Virginia over BYU

Big XII
vs P5 0-2 / 1-4
vs G5 3-1 / 9-1
vs FCS 1-0 / 6-2
overall record, YTD: 16-7
Big OOC win: Oklahoma over Mississippi State

IMO, there's no way you can rank the ACC 5th this year. The Big XII is a dumpster fire, with 2 very bad teams (Kansas, Iowa St) and a bunch of mediocre ones (including Texas). By contrast, the ACC has 2 teams in the top 10 vs. none for the Big XII.

You could make an argument that the ACC might be stronger than the Big Ten also, but I'm not ready to go out on that limb just yet.

The Big XII could be in world of pain. OU is good and they aren't what they used to be and the same goes for Texas. Those are the only two money makers in the conference.

Even beyond that, OSU is on the verge of major sanctions, and theyre the only other team in the conference with a high ceiling as of late.

That doesn't bode well for the conference.

Plus the ACC has elite basketball.

This year it's:

1) SEC
2) Pac-12
3) ACC
4) Big Ten
5) Big 12

(09-15-2013 10:18 PM)fsugrad99 Wrote:  This year it's:

1) SEC
2) Pac-12
3) ACC
4) Big Ten
5) Big 12

This. I don't even think there's a question the ACC is better than the Big 12 so far this year. The main thing being, I don't think any of the Big 12's undefeateds look like they have a real chance to run the table. I think there is a realistic chance nobody in the Big 12 has less than two losses, especially if ND beats OU.

That said, the ACC could certainly screw this up, starting Thursday.

However, even worse case scenario and NCSU beats Clemson, thanks to NC State's smart scheduling OOC, the net result is probably the ACC having four ranked teams next week, with Clemson and NC State both in the 20s. That's how you hedge your bets as a conference.

Obviously it's better if Clemson wins, but if NCSU wins, there's a good chance they come into Tallahassee unbeaten.

Anyway, there is still plenty of time for the ACC to screw this up, but so far so good. Georgia Tech has to be getting close to the top 25 with wins against UNC and VT I would think.

(09-16-2013 09:14 AM)Lou_C Wrote:  ...Georgia Tech has to be getting close to the top 25 with wins against UNC and VT I would think.

Not so fast, Lou... VT's defense looks real to me. (Q: can we trade with Clemson to get Cole Stoudt? If he were a Hokie we'd be undefeated right now, IMO)

(09-16-2013 09:21 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(09-16-2013 09:14 AM)Lou_C Wrote:  ...Georgia Tech has to be getting close to the top 25 with wins against UNC and VT I would think.

Not so fast, Lou... VT's defense looks real to me. (Q: can we trade with Clemson to get Cole Stoudt? If he were a Hokie we'd be undefeated right now, IMO)

Sorry, I didn't mean to say GT would win either of those games. Just that they were probably those two wins away from getting ranked.

I was at the opener vs. Alabama. The VT defense was beastly.

See, even the folks over at Bleacher Report are starting to realize that ACC has improved:

Power Ranking Football Conferences:
1. SEC
2. Pac-12
3. ACC
4. Big Ten
5. Big XII
6. AAC
etc.

Meanwhile, SBNation got a little silly with the whole MWC thing (IMO):

College Football Conference Ranking, Week 3:
1. Pac-12
2. SEC
3. ACC
4. MWC
5. MAC
6. Big Ten - LOL
7. Sun Belt
8. Big XII - OUCH!
9. AAC - OUCH, part 2
10. C-USA

So far so good for sure. But I want to wait until after Bowl Season to fully judge this. Def liking what I'm season.

And Mark... SBNation is on crack rating the MAC above the Big 10 and the Sun Belt above the Big XII.

(09-18-2013 11:24 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  So far so good for sure. But I want to wait until after Bowl Season to fully judge this. Def liking what I'm season.

And Mark... SBNation is on crack rating the MAC above the Big 10 and the Sun Belt above the Big XII.

Apparently so