Clemson Football: The ACC is set to take major steps forward in 2020

The ACC is steadily chasing behind Clemson football

The Clemson football program has dominated the ACC for the last half-decade, but the conference members are slowly beginning to take steps forward.

While the Tigers remain atop the conference- and seemingly will be there for a while- there are other programs who are at least trending in the right direction as we progress towards the 2020 season.

Clemson football is the overwhelming favorite to win the conference this year and that really isn’t a question, but it certainly doesn’t hurt the Tigers to have some legitimate competition during the year and for the perception of the conference to improve.

Several ACC programs are starting to take steps forward, and that’s good for Clemson football

As we head into the 2020 season, there are two legitimate teams in the ACC that could be ranked inside the top-25 not named Clemson.

First, there’s the North Carolina Tar Heels who are the heavy favorite to win the ACC Coastal Division. Under Coach Mack Brown, UNC seemingly has new life and they’re recruiting at a level not seen there before. Brown has a prolific QB in Sam Howell returning and that Tar Heel offense could be one of the best in the country.

In addition to North Carolina, the Louisville Cardinals– under the direction of Scott Satterfield- are also on the rise. Louisville enters this season with three of the top play-makers in the country and the Cardinals very well could have one of the best offenses in the country, as well.

Though many are still sleeping on Louisville, it’s my belief that the Cardinals could easily be a ranked team by season’s end.

Outside of UNC and Louisville, other programs are also starting to make runs as well and recruiting is continuing to get better. Miami, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Wake Forest, Pittsburgh and NC State are all programs that seem like they’re on the way up, although it’s tough to tell with the Hokies and Wolfpack, to be honest.

In the end, the ACC being better bodes well for Clemson football. The Tigers have been hurt by the conference’s perception in the past and having some legitimate teams who can compete in the ACC would absolutely help Dabo Swinney’s program moving forward.