The ACC made history on the football field in 2024, marking a significant milestone for the conference. This year, for the first time ever, four ACC football programs — Clemson, Miami, SMU, and Syracuse — achieved at least 10 wins in a season, according to veteran Virginia sports writer and columnist David Teel. This remarkable achievement could extend to five teams if Duke (currently 9-3) manages to defeat No. 14 Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl on January 2.
Clemson, crowned the 2024 ACC Champions, wrapped up their season with a 10-4 overall record. SMU, in its inaugural season in the ACC, posted an impressive 11-3 record, including an undefeated 8-0 mark in regular-season conference play before falling to Clemson in the conference championship game. Syracuse secured its 10th win with a dominant 52-35 victory over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl, finishing the season at 10-3.
Miami, despite a solid 10-2 regular-season performance, suffered a narrow 42-41 defeat to No. 18 Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
However, despite the notable regular-season achievements, the ACC struggled in bowl games, posting a disappointing 1-9 record in postseason play as of Sunday.
2024 also marked the first year of the expanded ACC, with the addition of Stanford, California, and SMU, bringing the total number of football programs in the conference to 17. For other sports, the league now consists of 18 teams. This expansion signals a new era for the conference, with hopes of increasing its competitiveness and influence in both football and other athletic programs moving forward.
