| Photo credit: Matt Gentry (The Roanoke Times) |
| vs. BCS | vs. non-BCS | vs. I-AA | Bowls | |
| Big Ten | 9-4 | 20-3 | 6-2 | 3-4 |
| Pac-10 | 6-5 | 13-5 | 2-0 | 4-2 |
| ACC | 11-11 | 15-4 | 7-0 | 2-5 |
| SEC | 7-7 | 24-1 | 9-0 | 6-2 |
| Big East | 7-8 | 16-3 | 6-0 | 2-2 |
| Big 12 | 5-6 | 24-5 | 7-1 | 4-3 |
• ACC results
• SEC results
• Big Ten results
• Pac-10 results
• Big 12 results
• 2006 standings
• Nonconference travel charts (The Wizard of Odds)
With a 2-5 record this bowl season, the ACC could use an image makeover. Virginia Tech (11-2) is the conference’s last hope with tonight’s meeting against once-beaten Kansas (11-1).
The Hokies are seeking its own redemption on the national stage. Its 48-7 loss at LSU on Sept. 8 effectively kept them out of the BCS National Championship Game.
Seven-hundreths of a percentage point separated the Hokies from No. 2 LSU in the final BCS rankings. The gap between the ACC’s football reputation and SEC’s is more significant.
The ACC first expanded in 2004 to improve its football image. The expanded conference has produced a bigger television contract and more talent — at least in terms of NFL draft picks — but not greater prestige.
Virginia Tech, making its second BCS appearance in four years, has upheld its end of the expansion bargain. Miami, which made the BCS four times in the Big East, has not.
Miami’s last BCS win was against Florida State in the 2004 Orange Bowl. Even when the ACC wins, it loses.
The bowl games represent one of the few opportunities for the ACC to improve its stock. The ACC has won two of six bowl games against BCS opponents — SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10, Big East, Notre Dame.
During the regular season, the ACC went 11-11 against BCS opponents. Take away the Big Ten’s 4-0 record against Notre Dame, which finished the season 3-9, and every BCS conference was within one game of .500.
A few of the highlights, and lowlights, from the ACC’s nonconference schedule:
• Best Win
Sept. 29 was a good day for the ACC. Maryland beat then 10th-ranked Rutgers, 34-24 in New Jersey and Florida State beat then 22nd-ranked Alabama, 21-14 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Louisiana-Monroe subsequently rolled the Tide, which took the shine off the Seminoles’ and ACC’s win.
With better timing, Clemson’s 23-21 over South Carolina would have been something for the ACC to crow about, but after a 6-1 start — and reaching No. 6 in the Top 25 — the Gamecocks finished 6-6.
So, 6-7 Maryland’s win over a Big East team that finished 7-5 takes the consolation cake.
Honorable mention: Duke 20, Northwestern 14 (Sept. 15)
• Worst loss
Virginia Tech’s 48-7 loss to LSU hurt the ACC but losing to a SEC team, then ranked No. 1, on its home field wasn’t unexpected.
It’s not fair, but perception is reality. Nebraska’s season turned into a national laughingstock but not before beating Wake Forest’s 20-17 on Sept. 8. As the defending ACC champion, Wake, even without its starting quarterback, should have beaten the Cornhuskers on Sept. 8 at home.
Honorable mention: Oklahoma 51, Miami 13 (Sept. 8)
• Better than 2006
The ACC went 4-12 against BCS opponents in 2006, including a 1-5 mark against the SEC. The conference improved to 11-11 overall and 3-4 vs. the SEC.
On the plus side, the ACC didn’t lose to a Division I-AA team — Richmond beat Duke in 2006 — or one from the Mid-American Conference — Akron beat N.C. State and Western Michigan beat Virginia in 2006.
Outside the BCS, Virginia’s 23-3 loss at Wyoming on Sept. 1 stands as the ACC’s nadir. Wyoming won only four more games the rest of the season and finished 2-6 against the Mountain West. Virginia would go on to win six ACC games.
ACC nonconference results
SEC (3-4)
Florida State 21, Alabama 14
Clemson 23, South Carolina 21
Wake 31, Vandy 17
Florida 45, Florida State 12
UGa 31, Ga. Tech 17
South Carolina 21, UNC 15
LSU 48, Va. Tech 7
Big East (3-4)
Maryland 34, Rutgers 24
UVa 44, Pitt 14
UVa 17, UConn 16
UConn 45, Duke 14
West Virginia 31, Maryland 14
USF 37, UNC 10
Louisville 29, N.C. State 10
Big 12 (2-2)
Florida State 16, Colorado 6
Miami 34, Texas A&M 17
Oklahoma 51, Miami 13
Nebraska 20, Wake 17
Big Ten (1-0)
Duke 20, Northwestern 14
Notre Dame (2-1)
Ga. Tech 33, Notre Dame 3
Notre Dame 28, Duke 7
Boston College 27, Notre Dame 14
Independents (5-1)
Wake 44, Navy 24
Wake 21, Army 10
Ga. Tech 34, Army 10
Boston College 37, Army 17
Navy 46, Duke 43
Conference-USA (4-2)
Florida State 34, UAB 24
Miami 31, Marshall 3
N.C. State 34, ECU 20
Va. Tech 17, ECU 7
ECU 34, UNC 31
UCF 25, N.C. State 23
Sun Belt (4-0)
Clemson 49, Louisiana-Monroe 26
Maryland 26, FIU 10
Miami 23, FIU 9
UVa 23, Middle Tennessee 21
MAC (3-0)
BC 55, Bowling Green 24
Clemson 70, Central Michigan 14
Va. Tech 28, Ohio 7
Mountain West (0-1)
Wyoming 23, UVa 3
I-AA (7-0)
BC 24, UMass 14
Clemson 38, Furman 10
Ga. Tech 69, Samford 14
Maryland 31, Villanova 14
UNC 37, James Madison 14
N.C. State 38, Wofford 17
Va. Tech 44, William & Mary 3
