How does a conference enhance it perception in football? The last 3 years have taught us that it depends on how big your TV contract is! Wait wrong discussion… We know what it is, it’s winning. It’s winning against quality teams out of your conference. The ACC is a work in progress when it comes to it’s football programs, but there have been some noteworthy wins in recent years. I won’t go beyond 5 years, because wins or losses beyond that, I don’t think are relevant anymore.
Let’s start with the good fun wins. These are the ACC’s 10 best out of conference wins since 2008. That should give ACC fans hope, because in a later article I’ll give you the 10 worst. The kind of losses that hold a conference back if you know what I mean.
How did I decide on the games? Well they weren’t necessarily just the highest ranked teams defeated, but they were the ones that I did think brought the most positive national attention. Hence the kind of wins that could change the ACC’s national football perception.
1. #15 Clemson 25 #9 LSU 24 – December 31, 2012
In the mighty SEC outside of Alabama, there’s not a more physical more talent laden team than the LSU Tigers year in and year and out. Clemson’s 4th quarter comeback led by QB Tajh Boyd opened eyes around the country. It was a great win over a LSU team that spent all 2012 in the top 10.
2. #21 Miami 21 vs #8 Oklahoma 20 – October 3, 2009
Oklahoma has been one of the country’s premier programs for more than a decade. It wasn’t a vintage Sooner team. They eventually lost 5 games, but at the time it still looked like Bob Stoops might have a national title contender and Hurricanes stunned them down in Miami.
3. #18 Georgia Tech 45 vs #11 Georgia 42 – November 29, 2008
In Paul Johnson’s first year at Georgia Tech, he broke a 7 game losing streak to the hated top 15 ranked Georgia Bulldogs. His triple option offense ran wild against Georgia to the tune of 409 yards on the ground. What his offense can do when it has a little talent…
4. Florida State 54 #9 BYU 28 – November 19, 2009
There are more high profile wins on this list, but this is an underrated victory. Florida State won in Provo against a BYU team that finished 11-2 with wins over Oklahoma, and top 20 teams Utah and Oregon State. It was one of the first signs that the Seminoles program was starting to turn the corner.
5. #23 Florida State 26 #19 South Carolina 19 – December 31, 2010
With this win, Florida State had their first 10 win season since 2003. The victory was over a South Carolina team that won the SEC East and had defeated an Alabama team that was ranked #1 at the time.
6. Clemson 38 #21 Auburn 24 – September 17, 2011
This was the game that began Clemson’s march from unranked team to an 8-0 start and a top 10 ranking. Auburn was the defending national champion and was on a 17 game winning streak. The final score was closer than it really was.
7. Virginia Tech 35 Nebraska 30 – September 27, 2008
As I was going through the ACC games of the last 5 years, I’ll be honest I had forgot about this game. Once I saw it and remembered a little bit more about game and teams, I knew it belonged on the list. The Hokies won this game in prime-time at Lincoln against a Cornhusker team that went on to win 9 games and was the Big 12 North Co-Champs.
8. #25 Florida State 18 Notre Dame 14 – December 29, 2011
Who was the last team to defeat Notre Dame, before Alabama did in the BCS National title game? It was the Florida State Seminoles. This was the ACC’s best bowl win of 2011, and got the Noles into the national title discussion to start the 2012 season for the first time in several years.
9. Miami 24 #16 Ohio State 6 – September 17, 2011
This win could have been higher on this list but the Buckeyes collapsed to a 6-7 season. Coming into the game though Ohio State had won 24 of their previous 26 games. It was Al Golden’s first marquee win and may have set the foundation for Miami’s slow climb back to relevance.
10. Georgia Tech 21 USC 7 – December 31, 2012
Yes you can argue that USC was a team in total disarray by the time the Sun Bowl rolled around, but the fact remains the Trojans opened the season ranked #1 in the country and had a roster filled with future NFLers. Georgia Tech’s win shocked many across the nation, and set the tone for a December 31, 2012 that saw Clemson defeat LSU later in the day.
Become a fan of the ACC on Facebook and follow the ACC on Twitter
