ACC division realignment ideas

[Garrett_TD23]

Division re-alignment topics is a tricky subject in the ACC, you want balance in the divisions without abandoning rivalries. The current set up kind of stinks and Im sure most of us here toyed with their own division model. So how bout eliminating divisions? Each school keeps 5 games with their closest conference neighbors and rivals and the other 3 conference games will alternate with the remaining 6 ACC schools.

A conference championship game can still be played between the 2 teams with the best conference record, first tie breaker would be head to head winner, 2nd tie breaker would be higher ranked in the BCS. This would guarantee the 2 best teams out of the ACC meet each other instead of a default division winner.

BC
vs VT
vs Miami
vs Clemson
vs UMd
vs Wake

Clemson
vs FSU
vs Miami
vs GT
vs BC
vs UNC

Duke
vs UNC
vs NCSU
vs Wake
vs UVA
vs UMd

FSU
vs Miami
vs Clemson
vs GT
vs NCSU
vs UVA (Jefferson-Eppes trophy)

GT
vs Clemson
vs FSU
vs Miami
vs VT
vs Wake

UMd
vs BC
vs Duke
vs NCSU
vs UVA
vs VT

Miami
vs BC
vs Clemson
vs FSU
vs GT
vs VT

UNC
vs Clemson
vs Duke
vs NCSU
vs UVA
vs Wake

NCSU
vs Duke
vs FSU
vs UMd
vs UNC
vs Wake

UVA
vs Duke
vs FSU
vs UNC
vs UMd
vs VT

VT
vs BC
vs GT
vs Miami
vs UMd
vs UVA

Wake
vs BC
vs Duke
vs UNC
vs NCSU
vs GT

 

[ACC_HOKIES]

The NCAA mandates two defined divisions

17.9.5.2 Annual Exemptions. [FBS/FCS] The maximum number of football contests shall exclude the following:

(c) Twelve-Member Conference Championship Game. [FBS/FCS] A conference championship game between division champions of a member conference of 12 or more institutions that is divided into two divisions (of six or more institutions each), each of which conducts round-robin, regular-season competition among the members of that division;

http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/D110.pdf

 

[Garrett_TD23]

The NCAA mandates two defined divisions

17.9.5.2 Annual Exemptions. [FBS/FCS] The maximum number of football contests shall exclude the following:

(c) Twelve-Member Conference Championship Game. [FBS/FCS] A conference championship game between division champions of a member conference of 12 or more institutions that is divided into two divisions (of six or more institutions each), each of which conducts round-robin, regular-season competition among the members of that division;

http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/D110.pdf

Well so much for that idea unless the NCAA rules change. The only other good idea I have which has a few minor holes:

ACC Atlantic Division ACC Coastal Division

Boston College cross division rival Clemson

Maryland cross division rival N.C. State

Miami cross division rival Florida State

Virginia cross division rival North Carolina

Virginia Tech cross division rival Georgia Tech

Wake Forest cross division rival Duke

 

[bchampy]

The SEC has the best current set up IMO.

Teams placed in divisions based on geography.
One permanent cross divisional rival, rotate 2 other cross divisional teams.
Conference Championship Game in a Central Location.

ACC North
Boston College
Maryland
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Duke
Wake Forest

ACC South
Miami
FSU
Georgia Tech
Clemson
N Carolina
NC State

Permanent Cross Division Rivals
WF vs NC State
Duke vs N Carolina
Virginia vs Clemson
BC vs FSU
VT vs GT
Maryland vs Miami

Championship Game held in: Charlotte, NC @ Bank of America Stadium

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

The SEC has the best current set up IMO.

Teams placed in divisions based on geography.
One permanent cross divisional rival, rotate 2 other cross divisional teams.
Conference Championship Game in a Central Location.

ACC North
Boston College
Maryland
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Duke
Wake Forest

ACC South
Miami
FSU
Georgia Tech
Clemson
N Carolina
NC State

Permanent Cross Division Rivals
WF vs NC State
Duke vs N Carolina
Virginia vs Clemson
BC vs FSU
VT vs GT
Maryland vs Miami


Championship Game held in: Charlotte, NC @ Bank of America Stadium

I like this conceptually butthe south is significantly stronger than the north. Also, swap the permanent rivals and make VT-Miami an annual game and Maryland-FSU, and GT-BC as these first two need to be maintained annually.

 

[bchampy]

I like this conceptually but the south is significantly stronger than the north. Also, swap the permanent rivals and make VT-Miami an annual game and Maryland-FSU, and GT-BC as these first two need to be maintained annually.

Yeah I had trouble deciding what the permanent rivals would be. Some made sense and some teams had their main rivals in the division. As far as the power being in the south, since 05 only 2 southern teams(in this format) have won the ACC championship game, with the other 4 being north teams(3 were VT).

 

[Taz_Hokie]

I think if you switched UNC and Duke that would balance them out a bit, and seeing as how these schools are like 12 miles apart, that wouldn't be too much of a stretch.

 

[Garrett_TD23]

The SEC has the best current set up IMO.

Teams placed in divisions based on geography.
One permanent cross divisional rival, rotate 2 other cross divisional teams.
Conference Championship Game in a Central Location.

ACC North
Boston College
Maryland
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Duke
Wake Forest

ACC South
Miami
FSU
Georgia Tech
Clemson
N Carolina
NC State

Permanent Cross Division Rivals
WF vs NC State
Duke vs N Carolina
Virginia vs Clemson
BC vs FSU
VT vs GT
Maryland vs Miami

Championship Game held in: Charlotte, NC @ Bank of America Stadium

Does not work.

UNC vs UVA must happen, its the "oldest rivalry in the south". If you shore up this hole and if VT and Miami don't care to play one another then it could probably work.

You could swap FSU and Clemson's cross division game. FSU-UVA plays for the Jefferson-Eppes trophy and Clemson-BC plays for some other lame trophy.

 

[bchampy]

Does not work.

UNC vs UVA must happen, its the "oldest rivalry in the south". If you shore up this hole and if VT and Miami don't care to play one another then it could probably work.

You could swap FSU and Clemson's cross division game. FSU-UVA plays for the Jefferson-Eppes trophy and Clemson-BC plays for some other lame trophy.

Like TAZ said I could swap UNC and Duke, and Virginia and UNC would be in the same division, and then UNC could still play Duke as its annual cross divisional game.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Where do Pitt and WVU fit in

It's coming....

 

[ACC_HOKIES]

If I were to choose a new alignment, I would propose the following.

ACC North

Boston College
Virginia
North Carolina

Maryland
Virginia Tech
North Carolina State

ACC South

Wake Forest
Clemson
Miami

Duke
Georgia Tech
Florida State

In this scenario, there would be no "Cross Division Rival" that you play every year. Instead you play 5 division games in addition to 3 teams from the other division, based on the triple groups above. (example for Virginia Tech: play Wake/Clemson/Miami in 2012 and 2014, play Duke/Georgia Tech/Florida State in 2013 and 2015). This ensures that every ACC team plays at least one game against a Florida, Virginia, GT/Clemson, MD/BC, and at least 2 games against the state of North Carolina. Every team plays every other team in the conference atleast once every two years (four years at home).

The ACC would unfortunately lose some annual rivalries, such as UNC-Duke, VT-Miami, NCSU-Clemson, etc. IMO, UNC-Duke is a sacrifice for those two but a loser matchup to everyone else, more VT-FSU helps overall ratings, and Clemson-UNC and GT-NC State evens out. The southern division would also likely become stronger than the north in the long term. Such is the case in every other conference. However, the proposed division alignment should allow for some new rivalry and regional identity to be developed. Wake and Duke would likely act as the sacrificial lamb to the four most southern schools to build a fiercely competitive and winning division. The north would foster a true Mid Atlantic feel with the top programs in the region, anchored by the conference's top performer in recent years, and capped by northern outpost Boston College. Less travel should also increase attendance, including a permanent home for the ACC-CG (the only devasting matchup in Charlotte would be Miami-BC).

 

[bchampy]

Where do Pitt and WVU fit in

It's coming....

In that case I'd say they join the ACC North and bump WF and Duke down south with their tobacco road brothers.

 

[The Crimson King]

Does not work.

UNC vs UVA must happen, its the "oldest rivalry in the south". If you shore up this hole and if VT and Miami don't care to play one another then it could probably work.

You could swap FSU and Clemson's cross division game. FSU-UVA plays for the Jefferson-Eppes trophy and Clemson-BC plays for some other lame trophy.

that's AU/UGA