5 worst conference realignment moves in modern college football history

In many ways, Miami’s appearance at the head of this list is both surprising and completely unsurprising. The Hurricanes came to the ACC with the biggest ceiling of any program that sought out realignment in the 21st century. While their run of dominance began as an independent in the 1980s, Miami was a Big East juggernaut after helping the conference launch football sponsorship in 1991.

The Hurricanes won seven out of every eight Big East games during their 13-year run in the league. Only once did they finish outside one of the top two spots in the conference table, a 5-6 aberration in 1997 that was quickly rectified the following season. With nine conference crowns and two national titles in that span, Miami looked like they had found an ideal partnership.

But the ACC wanted to push down into south Florida and snatch away one of the nation’s premier programs to bolster their membership, start a conference championship game, and set themselves up with a better negotiating position for future television deals. Miami went through with realignment in 2004, and the divisions were set up to make a Miami-Florida State title game possible every year.

That matchup in the title game has yet to be played, as Miami struggled to adjust to their new surroundings. It wasn’t until Year 14 as an ACC member that the Hurricanes finally earned a spot in the ACC championship game, and they were quickly dispatched by defending national champion Clemson in the showdown.

The Hurricanes had nowhere to go but downward after entering the ACC starting from the highest of highs. Miami, remember, was just three years removed from the 2001-2002 BCS national championship and a repeat appearance in the national title game the following season. So their .554 ACC winning percentage undoubtedly puts them as the team that made the worst decision in heeding the realignment call.