The performance of ACC teams during the college football postseason has raised concerns about the conference's strength this season. The postseason results did little to change the notion among fans and analysts alike.
The Louisville Cardinals narrowly defeated the Washington Huskies 35-34 on Tuesday at the Sun Bowl, showcasing the resilience of their team. Quarterback Harrison Bailey played efficiently through the contest, completing 16 of 25 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns. The Cardinals, who finished their season with 9 wins and 4 losses, established balance with their ground game, rushing for 207 yards, particularly with impressive contributions from freshmen Isaac Brown and Duke Watson, who recorded 99 and 83 yards respectively.
Despite the loss, the Huskies made strides under quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who exhibited poise and skill as he threw for 374 yards and four touchdowns, matching Bailey’s output nearly. After being held to one touchdown early, Williams rebounded to connect with Giles Jackson, who racked up 161 yards and all four of the Huskies’ touchdowns. Williams led Washington back to within one point of the Cardinals with just nine seconds remaining, but the two-point conversion to take the lead fell short thanks to Louisville linebacker Antonio Watts, who batted down the pass attempt.
Louisville coach Jeff Brohm emphasized the need to stay focused until the last whistle. "You've got to keep playing to the very end. Our guys have played hard all year," Brohm said, reflecting on his team's determination to secure the victory.
The Sun Bowl victory, albeit impressive, offered little solace for the overall ACC performance this postseason, where the conference appeared lackluster. The ACC had 13 teams partake in postseason games, tying with the SEC for the most of any conference. Yet, as of January 3, the ACC’s record stood dismally at 2-11, marking the worst performance among all conferences.
Critics argue the results mirror the broader weaknesses of the conference this season. The narrative around the ACC being one of the weaker conferences was only reinforced as they failed to compete effectively against teams from Group of Five conferences, going winless at 0-3. ACC representatives Clemson and SMU both exited the College Football Playoff prematurely, securing the negative outlook of the conference. This now marks the fourth consecutive year the ACC has been without representation in the semifinal round of the playoffs.
Only two teams, Louisville and Syracuse, managed postseason victories, raising eyebrows among fans. Syracuse's victory over Washington State came against a severely depleted squad, missing not only their head coach but other significant players who had transferred or opted out prior to the clash.
The ACC's festering issues extend beyond just bowl outcomes. Their losses to teams like Penn State (38-10) and Texas (38-24) during the College Football Playoff first round highlighted the struggles of the once-dominant program of Clemson and its national title contention.
There’s still much dissension about how conclusions can be drawn from postseason performances, as teams often enter bowls with modified rosters ripe with transfers and opt-outs. But for the ACC, the postseason results are glaring and might serve as stark warnings heading toward next season.
Among the ACC games, highlights included the Sun Bowl's competitive nature and showcased talent among players such as Louisville’s Bailey and Washington's Williams, even amid disappointment for the conference overall. Moving forward, the ACC must reassess its strategies, recruitment, and retention of talent to attempt to reclaim its stature within the college football hierarchy.
The question remains whether the ACC can rectify its course and reestablish itself as one of the premier conferences, especially against the backdrop of the increasingly competitive college football scene where postseason results are beginning to weigh heavily on reputations and recruitments.