ACC Football: Where Does the Conference Stand by the End of the Decade?

Of the six power conferences in the BCS, the ACC stands out as one of its best. Dedicated academic institutions merged with athletic prowess both on the gridiron and the hardwood has allowed this conference to succeed on and off the field.

With conference realignment still well on the rise, John Swofford and the Atlantic Coast Conference are set up to remain in control of their destinies in both the college football and basketball worlds.

Holding onto their most potent programs in Virginia Tech, Clemson, and Florida State while snagging two of the Big East's top universities for future competition, the ACC is in prime position to make another power play sometime soon.

As the decade has really just begun, we look forward to where the conference will be in just a few short years. College football is morphing the nation into something new, exciting, and different. As a part of that, the ACC needs to continue to stay one step ahead of their rival conferences, preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.

We take a look at five changes that should come about by the year 2020 on the eastern seaboard.

Syracuse and PIttsburgh

We all know the story of how Syracuse, a founding Big East member, and Pitt, a long-time Big East power player, jumped ship just this past season for the safety of the ACC. Possibly stuck for a few more years in Big East play, the Panthers and the Orange will be joining up at least by 2014.

This addition will be huge for the conference. Snagging two of the nation's top basketball programs morphs the ACC into arguably the best basketball conference in the country. Furthermore, adding Syracuse helps the ACC move further into the New York market while Pitt helps grab a lot of the Pennsylvania TV business.

Both have been less than impressive on the field as of late, but with some solid recruiting classes and top-notch coaching, both could be competing for a ACC title soon. Their northern locations also assists in giving Boston College some company to create rivalries with and so forth.

A preemptive strike on the Big East turned out to be the most decisive of the realignment war, taking the ACC to new levels in football, basketball, and many other sports. 

New Addition of UConn

Another founding Big East member, UConn is in dire straits after watching two of their conference rivals leave for the ACC. The Big East is slowly crumbling and the Huskies want out before it's too late.

With Pitt and Syracuse both already in, UConn is the next logical option for ACC expansion. Their position around the other two Big East defectors gives the conference another presence north of Maryland while also allowing the Huskies to recreate a solid geographical rival in Boston College.

On the basketball side of things, the Huskies are, for now, the defending NCAA champs and would further the ACC's new claims of hardwood dominance. UConn has been a decent football program over the years and over time would be able to compete against the big boys in the conference.  

When you break it down, UConn and the ACC are destined to join up soon. The Syracuse—Pitt move was huge in pushing them away from the Big East, and a change of scenery for the Huskies is more than likely coming sometime in the next five years.

New Addition of Rutgers

This realignment move is a little tougher to see in the overall scheme of things. To put it in perspective, the ACC pre—Syracuse/Pitt covered every eastern seaboard state south of Maryland with the random inclusion of Boston College up in Massachusetts.   

That means that the conference was missing a major university from Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. With Pitt and Syracuse joining up, the ACC took over the Empire and Keystone states which left only Connecticut and New Jersey with major universities still in play.

As mentioned in the previous slide, UConn is basically begging for a move to the ACC which covers Connecticut quite nicely. New Jersey would be the last stronghold, and with Rutgers owning the Garden state, the conference would be smart to make a play for them.

Furthermore, an addition of UConn would put the league at an uneven 15 programs. The Huskies, like Syracuse or Pitt, would need a moving buddy. Rutgers is the perfect fit for that slot due to their position, power in football over basketball, and strong academics. 

Taking full control of their position on the eastern seaboard and most likely becoming the first conference to reach 16 universities, the ACC would now show itself to be unstoppable. 

Virginia Tech Leaves for SEC

The SEC has been just as busy in the whole realignment business. Texas A&M and Missouri jumped ship from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference, moving the conference total up to 14 teams. 

The real difference between the two, however, is that while the ACC played it out for basketball powers, the SEC is looking for football prowess. With the Aggies joining up in the West division and Mizzou filling in the East, the SEC is continually searching for their 15th and 16th members to help form two eight-team divisions.

Due to certain TV markets already being owned and other universities blocking entrance of in-state rivals, ACC football powers Clemson, Florida State, and Georgia Tech should all be more than safe.

Virginia Tech, on the other hand, holds a valuable market in Washington DC and is one of the strongest programs in the conference. Their consistency on the gridiron and lack of competition on the hardwood makes V-Tech not only the reasonable choice for the SEC, but also the perfect option for the top football conference in America.

The Hokies will be drawn away by lots of money, the conference prestige, and the irresistible SEC football culture. This deal may be just in its infancy now, but in a few seasons Virginia Tech will be searching for a way into the southeast, and Mike Slive will open all the right doors so that they fall right into place.

Louisville or Cincinnati to Replace the Hokies

After losing one of their top football programs to the SEC, the ACC will have to go program shopping for a replacement. With both Cincinnati and Louisville establishing themselves as football powers in the Big East this past season, taking a solid look at each would be wise of Swofford and company.

Louisville is basically in all-out panic mode. After watching Syracuse and Pitt take a hike and then being overlooked by the Big 12 for the football powerhouse of West Virginia, they feel like if they don't get out soon, there will be nowhere left to go.

Cincinnati has been unusually quiet in this whole realignment mess, possibly just waiting out the rest of the Big East for a chance to grab a spot in the Big Ten. If the ACC came calling, however, don't expect the Bearcats to overlook the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  

Both programs are strong in football and basketball, and would make a solid replacement for the V-Tech. Due to their relative locations, neither has the edge on the other travel-wise, making this possibly one of the hardest decisions for the ACC in the whole realignment war.

If the Cardinals are already taken by the Big 12 by this point, however, it makes it an easy job for Swofford and his staff. Watch for talks to ensue between these three parties soon as the ACC might be looking for insurance should any one of their programs leave sooner rather than later.