The ACC has garnered notable respectability over the last half-decade when it comes to the overall product on the gridiron. Since 2012, the conference is 7-3 in BCS and New Year’s Six bowls and has had teams play for three national championships and win two.
The class of the conference over that time has been either Florida State or Clemson. FSU won three straight ACC crowns from 2012-14, but defending national champion Clemson would do likewise with an ACC championship this season. The conference hasn’t had a team other than FSU win three straight titles since Clemson did so in an 8-team league from 1986-88.
The Tigers have won two straight in the series and since 2005, are 7-5 against FSU. The Seminoles have been competitive the last two years, leading 34-29 in the fourth quarter last season in a 37-34 loss in Tallahassee after being tied at 13 in the fourth quarter the year before in Death Valley in a 23-13 defeat.
As was the case prior to last season, the expectations are sky high for Florida State, who will start No. 3 in the Amway Coaches Poll. For FSU to live up to those lofty expectations, beating Clemson is a must.
After dominating the conference from 2012-14, going 23-1 in ACC play and 39-3 overall, Florida State has been surpassed by the Tigers as the class of the conference. Clemson has played for national championships in each of the last two seasons, rallying last year for a 35-31 victory over Alabama.
Since 2009, the annual winner of the contest between Florida State and Clemson has gone on to win the ACC Atlantic each year. Since 2011, the winner of that game has gone on to win the conference.
This year, the teams will meet on Nov. 11 at a place Clemson fans affectionately refer to as Death Valley. FSU has lost five of its last six at the venue with the exception being a 51-14 win in 2013 as the Seminoles scored most points there than any visiting team ever en route to a national championship. To do the latter this season, Florida State will probably also have to do the former.
As far as the ACC Atlantic goes in 2017 however, it is more than a 2-team race. Louisville returns Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Lamar Jackson and a number of quality defenders like James Hearns, Jaire Alexander and Stacy Thomas. N.C. State should also be better with quarterback Ryan Finley and tight end Jaylen Samuels returning on offense to compliment a stacked N.C. State front seven on defense.
FSU is fortunate enough to get each of those two opponents at home while Clemson will visit both after beating the two teams by just a combined 13 points a season ago. The Seminoles rallied to beat the Wolfpack 24-20 last season, but will look to avenge a 63-20 loss to the Cardinals last season.
While Louisville and N.C. State hope to compete for the division and conference crown this year, the Tigers and Seminoles are still the front-runners. Both teams play tough schedules, but have no doubt that when it comes to the class of the ACC, Nov. 11 is the date circled on most calendars.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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