Comparing the south’s football conferences
It’s common knowledge that the SEC is annually the premier conference in all of college football, though the Big XII may be clinging to a current “king of the hill” claim this fall. It’s also pretty evident that the ACC is a league attempting to reconstruct its image. While the two leagues have shared formats, two six-team divisions and a conference championship game, the similarities end there.
When the ACC added Boston College, Miami and Virginia Tech via expansion, many expected the new look to be comparable in ways to the SEC. With 12 teams, two divisions and a championship game, the ACC was joining the Big XII and the SEC as the only BCS conferences with that format. Three years into the 12-team setup, results have been disappointing. One could make the argument that national criticism of the ACC peaked over the weekend. After a rough early start, this season has been a statement of sorts for once-maligned conference. League teams have gone 34-10 against non-conference foes in 2008, including a respectable 12-7 versus BCS teams plus Notre Dame.
seymourherald.com
11/19/08
