By Jim Johnson
SouthernPigskin.com

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As far as we can tell, the ACCs best days are in the past. Its not a bad conference, but its arguably the weakest Power Five conference.

Remember when the ACC had a legitimate claim as the best conference in college football? The conference was on top of the world from the late x9890s to the middle 2000s. Duke and North Carolina were winning basketball titles. The x9cUx9d was still the x9cUx9d. Bobby Bowden was at the helm of the powerhouse Seminoles and x9cBeamer Ballx9d was still a thing. The good times were rolling. The future is not as bright.

Im well aware that FSU won the national championship in 2013. Beyond that, though, with the exception of some limited success by Clemson, and, I suppose, to some extent, Georgia Tech and Louisville, the conference is a relative disaster. Theyre lucky x9cPower 5x9d sounds a little better than x9cPower 4x9d.

As long as Dabo and Jimbo are in charge, their respective teams should be contenders, if not dominant, within the conference. Georgia Tech was good last year, but thats probably not sustainable. Well see how the Yellow Jackets manage when Justin Thomas leaves.

Miami and Virginia Tech used to be two of the ACCs marquee teams. Now they fight tooth and nail to break .500. Virginia Tech will have a stellar defense this year, but wont score on anyone, and its famed special teams seem like more of a thing of the past with each passing moment. As for Miami, what was once one of the premier programs in the nation, that produced some of the greatest teams of all time, is now mired in mediocrity. The x9cUx9d used to be the bad boys of college football; these days, theyre just bad at college football.

Do we even need to discuss Boston College, Syracuse, Wake Forest, and Virginia? I didnt think so.

North Carolina and Duke have shown glimpses of promise over the past few years. The Tar Heels return the most starters in the conference this season, and Duke has been a program on the rise, culminating in a huge 2013 campaign. However, it appears the Blue Devils may have plateaued under Cutcliffe, and UNC still has a lot of work to do in order to be taken seriously. At least they have basketball.

The other North Carolina team, NC State, has been a fun underdog to watch recently, but that loses its luster and can grow tiresome. Eventually you have to go from scrappy underdog to contender, but I dont see that happening for the Wolfpack anytime soon. Pittsburgh is in the same boat. The Panthers have a really fun offensive unit now, but when Tyler Boyd and James Conner hit the road, I expect a definitive fall from grace.

Lastly, Louisville is at a crossroads. Since Teddy Bridgewater was running the show, the Cardinals have been consistently good, but not great. Coach Petrino has to make the jump soon. Louisville has as good a chance as any to join Clemson and Florida State at the top of the conference.

As far as I can tell, the ACCs best days are behind them. Its not a bad conference, but its arguably the weakest Power 5 conference. I may be wrong, and we might see a quick turnaround, an ACC football renaissance, if you will, but if you ask me, the future looks awfully bleak in the ACC.