College Football: 10 biggest storylines heading into 2017

1. Has the ACC passed the SEC?

Since the end of the BCS era, the SEC has remained at the top of the college football mountain but they are now getting some company in the form of the ACC. A conference that many had though would be left for dead four seasons ago is now slugging it out with the SEC and Big Ten and they’re actually landing shots.

After going 17-9 against the other power conferences in 2016, the ACC looks to continue that trend in 2017. They will get ample opportunities to do so as ACC teams will go up against Alabama, Oklahoma State and LSU. Coaching depth in the conference has helped aid the ACC on it’s ascent up the college football mountain.

Mark Richt going from Georgia to Miami and the conference adding up and coming coaching stars like Virginia Tech’s Justin Fuente and Syracuse’s Dino Babers, the conference will only continue to grow.

Next: College Football: Top 50 breakout candidates for 2017

In the the 2017 recruiting cycle, nine ACC schools finished in the top 50 while the SEC finished with their usual 13. However, the ACC is making ground and you see the results like the ACC’s 2016-17 bowl record of 9-3. When you include Clemson’s national championship and Lamar Jackson’s Heisman, the ACC may have not passed the SEC but going into 2017 they are standing side by side atop the college football mountain.