Top 5 ACC programs with the most wins in the College Football Playoff era ft. Clemson
As the 2024 college football season approaches, all ACC teams are gearing up for what should be another tight race within the conference. The ACC remains one of the most competitive conferences in college football. It has had two teams make appearances in the College Football Playoff since its introduction in 2014.
Many of these programs have had historical success, but fans may be wondering which teams stand out above the rest during the College Football Playoff era.
Here is a look at the entire list of wins by ACC teams since 2014 as we dive deeper into the top five.
Top 5 ACC programs with the most wins in the College Football Playoff era
#5. Louisville and Pittsburgh
Louisville and Pittsburgh are currently tied with 71 wins since 2014. Louisville have been through three coaches during the time, starting with Bobby Petrino, followed by Scott Satterfield, with Jeff Brohm taking over in 2023.
Louisville has been on a rollercoaster since joining the ACC in 2014. Their worst season came in 2018 when the team went 2-10 and failed to win a conference game. They quickly bounced back and have steadily improved to as good as a 10-4 overall record in 2023 with a 7-2 conference record.
Pittsburgh's best season since 2014 came in 2021, when the team finished 11-3, including a 7-1 conference record. Paul Chryst was the head coach of the Panthers in 2014, but he would be replaced by Pat Narduzzi in 2015.
Narduzzi remains the current head coach at Pitt and is responsible for 65 of the team's 71 wins since 2014.
#4. Miami
The Miami Hurricanes have totaled 73 wins since the introduction of the College Football Playoff in 2014. With the fourth most wins in the ACC during that time, they have qualified for a bowl game in every season but two, in 2021 and 2022.
The Hurricanes are just 1-7 in bowl games since 2014 but were ranked as high as the No. 2 team in the CFP rankings in 2017. That season would be their best since 2014, going 10-3 overall with a 7-1 ACC record under Mark Richt.
They have struggled to find a long-term coach, with Al Golden, Mark Richt, Manny Diaz, and current head coach Mario Cristobal all having stints at head coach since 2014.
#3. NC State
NC State head coach Dave Doeren has been in charge of the Wolfpack for 11 seasons and is responsible for all 78 of the team's wins since 2014. They have landed inside the CFP top 25 in six of the last 10 seasons, with their best record during that time being a 9-3 season in 2021 with a 6-2 record in the ACC.
The Wolfpack have participated in eight bowl games since 2014, but have a 3-5 record, including four consecutive bowl game losses.
#2. Florida State
The Florida State Seminoles rank second in the ACC with 81 wins since the introduction of the College Football Playoff in 2014.
The 2013 national champions followed their title run with a 13-1 record in 2014 and an appearance in the first-ever College Football Playoff. But they would ultimately fall to Oregon in the Rose Bowl semifinal blowout, losing 59-20.
Jimbo Fisher coached the Seminoles from 2010 to 2017 and is responsible for 38 of the team's 81 wins since 2014. Willie Taggart would take over from Fisher in 2018 and would contribute 11 wins over those two seasons with a 7-9 record against conference opponents.
Mike Norvell would succeed Taggart in 2020 and has 31 wins over the last four seasons, including a 13-1 overall record in 2023.
#1. Clemson
Clemson have been the most successful team in the ACC since 2014 by far, with 119 total wins. Head coach Dabo Swinney has led the charge since taking over midway through the 2008 season. The Tigers had six consecutive College Football Playoff appearances from 2015 to 2021 before missing the cut in 2022.
They have a 6-4 record in the playoffs and have made the national title game four times with two victories. They have been one of the most dominant programs in the country over the last decade and completed a historic 15-0 undefeated national championship run in 2018.
Do you think an ACC team will make the expanded College Football Playoff in 2024? Let us know in the comment section.