Friday, November 25, 2022

History of the ACC Wheel of Destiny

During the season, it always looks like the ACC divisional races get complicated and we spend a bunch of time parsing through the tiebreaker scenarios.  Now that we have completed the era of ACC divisions, we can take a full look back at 17 seasons of conference play, and see how often the conference actually need to use tiebreakers, and how far they have gone.

This post is another updated version of a post created a couple of years ago.

2005:  Virginia Tech (7-1) vs. Florida State (5-3)
VT had the best record in the Coastal.
Florida State had to use their head-to-head tiebreaker over Boston College.

2006:  Georgia Tech (7-1) vs. Wake Forest (6-2)
Both teams had the best records in their division.

2007:  Virginia Tech (7-1) vs. Boston College (6-2)
Both teams had the best record in their division.

2008:  Virginia Tech (5-3) vs. Boston College (5-3)
VT had to use their head-to-head tiebreaker over GT.
Boston College used a head-to-head tiebreaker over Florida State.

2009:  Georgia Tech (7-1) vs. Clemson (6-2)
Both teams had the best records in their division.

2010:  Virginia Tech (8-0) vs. Florida State (6-2)
Both teams had the best records in their division.

2011:  Virginia Tech (7-1) vs. Clemson (6-2)
Both teams had the best records in their division.

2012:  Georgia Tech (5-3) vs. Florida State (7-1)
This was probably the most #goacc season in the Coastal ever.  GT, UNC, and Miami were all part of a three way tie.  They had all gone 1-1 against each other, and they all had a 3-2 divisional record.  However, UNC and Miami were not eligible for postseason play, making the tiebreakers unnecessary.
Florida State had to use their head-to-head tiebreaker over Clemson.

2013:  Duke (6-2) vs. Florida State (8-0)
Both teams had the best records in their division.

2014:  Georgia Tech (6-2) vs. Florida State (8-0)
Both teams had the best records in their division.

2015:  North Carolina (8-0) vs. Clemson (8-0)
Both teams had the best records in their division.

2016:  Virginia Tech (6-2) vs. Clemson (7-1)
VT had the best record in the Coastal.
Clemson used the head-to-head tiebreaker over Louisville.

2017:  Miami (7-1) vs. Clemson (7-1)
Both teams had the best records in their division.

2018:  Pitt (6-2) vs. Clemson (8-0)
Both teams had the best records in their division.

2019:  uva (6-2) vs. Clemson (8-0)
Both teams had the best records in their division.

2020:  No divisions due to COVID

2021:  Pitt (7-1) vs. Wake Forest (7-1)
Both teams had the best records in their division.

2022:  UNC (6-2) vs. Clemson (8-0)
Both teams had the best records in their division.

In 17 seasons of divisional play, there has only been one instance where the tiebreakers needed to go further than head-to-head, but that was negated by sanctions.  (2012 Coastal)

28 divisional champs had the best record in their division.
5 used head-to-head tiebreakers.

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