Want proof the ACC is enjoying an early-season renaissance?
Look no further than Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who on Saturday did a little boasting on behalf of his conference cousin, Miami.
“How about that ACC?” he told reporters after his team’s Saturday dismantling of South Carolina State. “Spunky little old league?” As he left the news conference, Swinney flashed the ‘U’.
When informed of the gesture, Miami coach Al Golden was appreciative.
“I think Dabo’s a class act,” Golden said. “Obviously he’s excited about his team, he’s confident about his team, and he’s excited for the league. I share his excitement.”
Heady times indeed. There’s swagger across the conference after the ACC scored two wins in two weeks over SEC teams in the top 15. Swinney’s Tigers, then ranked No. 8, beat No. 5 Georgia. They did in it front of their home crowd, which led thousands in Death Valley to chant “ACC.”
After then-unranked Miami’s upset of No. 12 Florida, the ACC is now 2-2 against the SEC this year. Clemson, now No. 3 in the AP poll, was the first ACC team since 2007 to earn first-place votes. There are three ACC teams in the top 15 (Florida State is 10th), with future member Louisville coming in at No. 7.
Miami has an excellent chance to start 4-0 with upcoming games against Savannah State and South Florida, two programs that are a combined 0-4 and have been outscored 217-39.
Clemson and FSU should be undefeated when they play each other at Clemson on Oct. 19.
Add in Virginia’s Week 1 comeback win over BYU and the fact every ACC team has handled its business against FCS opponents in the first two weeks, and the ACC is showing the college football world something.
Miami linebacker Denzel Perryman said the 2-2 mark against SEC opponents means one thing in particular:
“That we ain’t no cupcake league,” Perryman said.
Golden said “we have to do our part” for the ACC to become one of the top conferences in the nation, noting that Florida State and Clemson have made great strides in recent seasons.
“There’s a great storied tradition here,” Golden said. “What we have to do now is respect the past, but we have to represent the future. We have to move forward. And the way we help the conference is to become the old Miami Hurricanes. That’s the truth — for us to grow up and play like Miami Hurricanes.”
The SEC is college football’s heavyweight, and, ever prideful, prefers to keep the competition in-house. It will move from eight to nine conference games next year, the main factor squashing the Florida-Miami series.
“One thing about the ACC, we haven’t shied away from these intersectional games,” Golden said. “Hopefully we can continue to schedule like this, and maybe find a way to work it out where we can continue to having Florida moving forward, even if it’s every third year or something.”
Anytime you’re ready for a fight, SEC, little brother is ready for you.
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