I'm not a rah-rah ACC guy in football, but this is pretty interesting take from an FSU guy.

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David Teel
‏@DavidTeelatDP
#ACC football w/3 among final AP top 15 in back-to-back years for first time. Clemson, FSU, UNC this season, FSU, GaTech, Clemson last yr.

Yep, let that sink in. This is the best this conference has ever been. Which is both encouraging and sad. But it's a process. Having a non-FSU team contend for a national title is a huge step.

2012 - Two in the top 11
2013 - Two in the top 8 (national champ)
2014 - Two in the top 8, three in the top 15
2015 - Three in the top 15 (runner up)

The ACC has never been more relevant in football over a multi-year stretch. That's 10 top-15 teams in the past four seasons. Before that, it had taken the ACC from 2001 to 2011 to have 10 top 15 teams. ELEVEN years to have as many top 15 teams as the ACC has had in the last FOUR. In those 11 years, we'd only had one team finish in the top 8 (VT at #7). In the past four years we've had FIVE teams finish in the top 8. Now, there are some stretches a little better than those 11 years, mainly due to FSU's crazy run, but no stretch that compares to the past four years. I feel like it's important to make this point continuously for both positive and negative reasons...

a. It is very important to recognize that this conference, while not having experienced a major PR inflation nationally, has absolutely upgraded it's football significantly. That's important just to ward off some of the football frustration some of us have, but also as an important proof that yes, upgrading football is possible in this conference. It will never be the SEC, but the ACC does not have to be consigned to the dustbin of college football. There is potential there, and the efforts that have been made have indeed produced results in many places.

b. It is very important to point out just how bad the ACC has been, to keep focused on just how tenuous our position of "average" is right now. We are literally at the high water mark of ACC football, and you'd be hard pressed to find many that rate the ACC higher than fourth or fifth. We've got the worst TV contract to show for that reputation (among other things). This is not cyclical, which is my most hated expression when it comes to the ACC...historically the ACC cycles between below average and horrible in football. There is no waiting for it to cycle up from here...this is a historically anomalous up period RIGHT NOW.

In other words, is anyone totally satisfied with ACC football as it stands today? If it never got any better? Because if we don't keep focused and keep pressing, there is no reason to think this would be any more than a freak 5-year blip in a 50 year period. History shows the ACC will be WORSE than it is today if we just let the cycle run it's course.

We need to keep on it. We'll likely have two preseason top five teams next year, which has the potential to put unprecedented attention on the ACC from day one. Coaching hires were extremely impressive. Facilities continue to be improved. This conference cannot afford to take one step back.