By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Five reasons why the ACC, with chaos around it, has a good foundation for the future.

With rumors swirling around Clemson, Florida State, even other members of the ACC, let’s take a look at what the league offers to those both considering leaving in the future and those considering joining (assuming the pieces in place stay as are).

Right Place, Right Time – In the race for the big media markets, the ACC already has quite the resume: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Miami, Raleigh and Washington, D.C.; the conference can claim eight of the top 45 U.S. cities by population. Per Forbes.com, Raleigh is the nation’s second-fastest growing city behind only Austin, Texas. D.C. comes in ranked tenth on that list. The highest population-density in the country is on the eastern seaboard, the tip-to-tip home of the ACC.

School Growth – Three ACC institutions are ranked in the top 20 on the U.S. News list of the “top up-and-coming schools” in the nation. Clemson and Wake Forest are both ranked in the top ten, tied for ninth, while Maryland comes in ranked 20th. Enrollment, popularity and opportunity expansions will have an obvious impact on athletics.

Stability at the Top – The ACC has a benchmark that even the SEC can’t match: Virginia Tech has won at least ten games each of the last seven seasons. The consistency of the Hokies, under Frank Beamer, has reached a remarkable level. That stability provides a a strong foundation for a conference still settling in to its’ new alignment.

Fluid Competition – One criticism of other leagues has been the presence of a constant bottom-tier. While Duke fits that mold for the ACC, there is great competition top-to-bottom from week-to-week amongst most everyone else. That depth provides a very good core for the league to expound upon. Four different teams, including Wake Forest, have already won the ACC Atlantic Division and taken part in the ACC Championship Game. Parity is one of the conference’s best attributes. Years of unpredictability, which have paralleled growing pains, now make the league diverse and deep. Once Miami retools, and it appears they are, there will be more balance in the ACC Coastal Division. 

The Rise of Florida State – The main knock on the ACC in recent years has been the lack of a national championship contender. It appears Jimbo Fisher’s Seminoles are on the verge of reclaiming that distinction. FSU is slotted fifth in the pre-season USA Today/Coaches’ Poll and will have the national spotlight on them with they host top-ranked Oklahoma with ESPN Gameday on hand in a primetime showdown in week three. The way Fisher and his staff is currently recruiting, future success has long-term potential.

Those variables will likely give the league more leverage when it comes to contract renegotiation. Add in a West Virginia, Pittsburgh and company and the ACC would have the framework for something really special in place.