[SkiBum80]

Not counting football (and, yes, I know - lots of people think that's all that counts) the ACC is the strongest conference in the country.  It won more Olympic medals by far, for example.

Academically it is the best conference (again, I recognize that many view this as irrelevant.)

To be fair, any conference that has Stanford and Cal is likely to lead all other universities in Olympic medal count, given that Stanford and Cal were #1 and #2 in that endeavor in the 2024 Olympics (per Forbes).

I like the fact that the ACC is the best conference academically (though the Ivy League might protest a bit...). Seriously, though...here's the 2024 USNWR ratings of the ACC members. Yes, I know it's flawed, like all rankings, but...commonly accepted. Sue me.

Stanford, #3
Duke, #7
Cal, #15
Notre Dame, #20
North Carolina, #22
Virginia, #24,
Georgia Tech, #33
Boston College, #39
Wake Forest, #47
Virginia Tech, #47
Florida State, #53
NC State, #60
Syracuse, #67
Miami, #67
Pittsburgh, #67
Clemson, #86
Southern Methodist, #89
Louisville, #195

Interesting that the conference has six universities in the Top 25, ten in the top 50, 15 of the 18 in the Top 75, and all but one in the top 100. That's a packed conference, academically speaking. Pretty cool.

When the conference alignment chessboard was flipped up in the air, and amidst the chaos we landed in the ACC (after lots of dedicated back room efforts on our behalf), I felt we fit well in many ways if you overlooked the geographical. In that the ACC has a number of private schools that strive for excellence in both academics and in D1 athletics. Broad athletics not just football. Some with more success than others, considering the sport, us included.

---

...I wasn't including the Ivy League in my analysis.

Nor would I.

...There are some who argue that we should give up our athletic ambitions and follow the Ivy League approach.

I'd view this as a total surrender. It would lose the essential uniqueness of Stanford to change course to aspire to become the MIT of the west coast. Yes they still field athletic teams but really how much does anyone fear Tim the Beaver? Although perhaps as a Tree we should...

[SkiBum80]

Not counting football (and, yes, I know - lots of people think that's all that counts) the ACC is the strongest conference in the country.  It won more Olympic medals by far, for example.

Academically it is the best conference (again, I recognize that many view this as irrelevant.)

To be fair, any conference that has Stanford and Cal is likely to lead all other universities in Olympic medal count, given that Stanford and Cal were #1 and #2 in that endeavor in the 2024 Olympics (per Forbes).

I like the fact that the ACC is the best conference academically (though the Ivy League might protest a bit...). Seriously, though...here's the 2024 USNWR ratings of the ACC members. Yes, I know it's flawed, like all rankings, but...commonly accepted. Sue me.

Stanford, #3
Duke, #7
Cal, #15
Notre Dame, #20
North Carolina, #22
Virginia, #24,
Georgia Tech, #33
Boston College, #39
Wake Forest, #47
Virginia Tech, #47
Florida State, #53
NC State, #60
Syracuse, #67
Miami, #67
Pittsburgh, #67
Clemson, #86
Southern Methodist, #89
Louisville, #195

Interesting that the conference has six universities in the Top 25, ten in the top 50, 15 of the 18 in the Top 75, and all but one in the top 100. That's a packed conference, academically speaking. Pretty cool.

When the conference alignment chessboard was flipped up in the air, and amidst the chaos we landed in the ACC (after lots of dedicated back room efforts on our behalf), I felt we fit well in many ways if you overlooked the geographical. In that the ACC has a number of private schools that strive for excellence in both academics and in D1 athletics. Broad athletics not just football. Some with more success than others, considering the sport, us included.

---

...I wasn't including the Ivy League in my analysis.

Nor would I.

...There are some who argue that we should give up our athletic ambitions and follow the Ivy League approach.

I'd view this as a total surrender. It would lose the essential uniqueness of Stanford to change course to aspire to become the MIT of the west coast. Yes they still field athletic teams but really how much does anyone fear Tim the Beaver? Although perhaps as a Tree we should...