The Atlantic Coast Conference has fallen behind the other Power Four conferences in the current college football landscape.

Clemson football was the last team from the ACC to win a national championship, which came during the 2018 season. This season, if Duke beats Virginia in the ACC championship game, the conference could be left on the outside looking in for a College Football Playoff spot.

Through the first day of the early signing period ― which opened on Wednesday, Dec. 3 ― just one ACC team was in the top 10 for the 2026 recruiting team rankings, per 247Sports . Miami led the way, coming in at No. 10, while Florida State snuck just inside the top 15, despite finishing with a losing record for the second straight year.

For the third straight year, Clemson is outside t

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