Photo by Nate Shron/Getty Images)
The number of ACC teams in the last 10 years not named Clemson or Florida State that have cashed in to win 10+ games, a post-season game, and a top 25 season is few and far between.
There was Georgia Tech in 2014, which won 11 games and an Orange Bowl. Syracuse went 10-3 with a bowl win over West Virginia in 2018. In 2016 Virginia Tech won 10 games and had a bowl win over Arkansas. There was the 2021 Wake Forest team that went 11-3 including a Gator Bowl win.
As you can see the list is pretty short, but you can one add to the list. Fran Brown’s first season at Syracuse was nothing short of remarkable, as he guided the Orange to a 10-3 season after a 52-35 Holiday Bowl win over Washington State.
So far the ACC was off to an embarrassing 0-5 bowl start until Syracuse finally showed how to get things done.
They played an offensively loose, wide-open, sharp game behind QB Kyle McCord who’s been the catalyst of one of the ACC’s most dynamic offenses.
Brown in one season changed the identity of Syracuse from a program stuck in neutral following that special 2018 to one that plays with attitude and aggressiveness.
I think you could argue that to end the season Syracuse was playing as well as anyone in the ACC.
How far can Brown take Syracuse next year? If QB Kyle McCord’s waiver goes through this could be an extremely dangerous team next season, and might be anyway even without McCord.
Certainly, if he returns though, Syracuse is going to be on the early short list of ACC teams that can reach Charlotte.
This season didn’t feel like a one-hit wonder, this feels like Fran Brown is building something that the ACC better pay attention to.
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