Winning is cyclical. The only elite ACC team at the time of the last contract was Clemson.
The SEC sucked in the 80’s, the Big 10 sucked in the 90’s.
Miami and FSU picked a bad time to go through a period of mediocrity.
The Big 10 outside of OSU has been mediocre the past 20 years, they just worked behind the scenes to form an alliance with the SEC, which brought them a handsome contract.
Everyone needs an ally with blue blood power. That’s what the Big 10 was for the SEC.
And please don’t confuse my hatred of the Big 10 for love of the ACC. If I had my way, the ACC and Big 12 would have merged yesterday, kicked a couple programs that drag down the ratings to the curb and put a gun to ESPN’s head, demanding payouts commensurate with TV markets.
And most importantly found a commissioner to lead this merger that was as cutthroat and diabolical as the SEC has.
Let’s expand the scope regarding Conferences.
To simplify this, I’m going to give credit to teams that’s won Nat’l titles in their previous conference to their respective, current conferences, & it’ll make sense as I narrow the scope. (For example, if Miami won a Nat’l Title as an Independent or Big East Member, it’ll be assigned to the ACC).
For the past 50 yrs (
1975-present):
•ACC: 13 (Miami: 5, FSU: 3, Clemson: 3, GT: 1, Pitt: 1)
•B1G: 14 (O$U: 3, Nebraska: 3, USC: 3, PSU: 2, UofM: 2 UW:1)
•Big XII: 2 (BYU: 1, Colorado: 1)
•SEC: 24 (Bama: 9, OU: 3, UGA: 3, UF: 3, LSU: 3, UTenn: 1, UT: 1, AU: 1)
•Independent: 2 (ND: 2)
For the past 40 yrs (
1985-present):
•ACC: 10 (Miami: 4, FSU: 3, Clemson: 2, GT: 1)
•B1G: 12 (O$U: 3, Nebraska: 3, USC:2, UofM: 2, PSU: 1, UW:1)
•Big 12: 1 (Colorado: 1)
•SEC: 20 (Bama: 7, UF: 3, LSU: 3, OU: 2, UGA: 2, UTenn: 1, UT: 1, AU: 1)
•Independent: 1 (ND)
For the past 30 yrs (
1995-present):
•ACC: 5 (FSU: 2, Clemson: 2, Miami: 1)
•B1G: 9 (O$U: 3, Nebraska: 2, USC: 2, UofM: 2)
•Big XII: 0
•SEC: 18 (Bama: 6, UF: 3, LSU: 3, UGA: 2, OU: 1, UTenn: 1, UT: 1, AU: 1)
•Independent: 0
For the past 20 yrs (2005-present):
•ACC: 3 (Clemson: 2, FSU: 1)
•B1G: 3 (OSU: 2, UofM: 1)
•Big XII: 0
•SEC: 14 (Bama: 6, UF: 2, LSU: 2, UGA: 2, UT: 1, AU: 1)
•Independent: 0
For the past 10 yrs (
2015-present):
•ACC: 2 (Clemson:2)
•B1G: 3 (OSU: 2, UofM: 1)
•Big XII: 0
•SEC: 6 (Bama: 3, UGA: 2, LSU: 1)
•Independent: 0
There’s several things to note:
1. The ACC has become a more & more diluted conference over the yrs.
2. The ACC is slowly becoming the East Coast version of the PAC-12, relying upon past history while adding no brand power while expanding
3. The B1G has more programs w/in conference that had more eyeballs driving viewing revenue. Out of the top 15, The SEC had 8, the B1G had 5, the Big XII had 1, & Independent had one. No ACC team appeared in the top 20, except for….us.
4. The ACC joining the Big XII does nothing to move the needle. Both conferences are not moving the viewership needle except Colorado (who was the only Big XII school in the top 15, top 20, & top 25.