Closer Look at the ACC: Best & Worst Teams of This Decade

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mark Pszonak | Last updated May 27, 2025 9:10 AM ET

Now that we are halfway through the 2020’s, it is a good time to see how each ACC team has done to this point. Here is a closer look at all 16 schools that are currently members of the conference

Top Tier

1. Clemson: 50-16 (75.8%)

2. SMU: 44-19 (69.8%)

3. North Carolina State: 40-23 (63.5%)

4. Miami: 37-24 (60.7%)

Review: You can easily make the case that the only program that fully deserves to be in the top tier is Clemson, especially since SMU spent four of the five seasons in the AAC. Also, it was somewhat surprising to see the Wolfpack ahead of several programs that get more attention, like Miami, Louisville and Florida State.

Middle Tier

5. Louisville: 37-27 (57.8%)

6. Pittsburgh: 36-27 (57.14%)

7. North Carolina: 37-28 (56.9)

8. Florida State: 33-27 (55.0%)

9. Wake Forest: 31-29 (51.7%)

10. Duke: 31-31 (50.0%)

Review: Overall, there is a great deal of parity with this middle group, but it is difficult not to take a closer look at Florida State. The Seminoles were a combined 23-4 during two seasons and then 10-23 during the other three. That is the definition of inconsistency.

Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks (1) celebrates his touchdown during their game against the Austin Peay Governors on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024 at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Ky.© Clare Grant/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bottom Tier

11. Boston College: 29-32 (47.5%)

12. Syracuse: 29-33 (46.8%)

13. Virginia Tech: 27-32 (45.8%)

14. Georgia Tech: 25-35 (41.7%)

15. Cal: 22-32 (40.7%)

16. Virginia: 22-34 (39.3%)

Review: There are several programs in this group that seem to be stuck in neutral, while Syracuse hopes to be on the move up after going 10-3 in 2024. And while SMU was in the top tier as one of the two newest ACC members, Cal struggled before the move and did the same in 2024.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: