Rece Davis Identifies What The ACC Needs To Improve National Perception

Following the extinction of the Pac-12 as we know it, the ACC added two West Coast programs to expand its reach far beyond the Atlantic Coast.

On the latest episode of the College GameDay Podcast , host Rece Davis identified what the conference must do to improve its reputation around the nation.

"What the ACC needs is more elite teams! Florida State was an elite team last year. You can argue the merits all day long whether they should've been in the playoff," Davis explained. "In my judgment, the one thing that kept Florida State out was not the lack of a Finebaum , not the lack of representation on the desk on selection day, which is absurd by the way!

"If you just have to have someone who represents a particular position or school, don't you undermine the credibility of the entire enterprise? That's not what we're about. The whole thing that the ACC needs is more elite teams."

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After the addition of the California Golden Bears, Stanford Cardinal and SMU Mustangs, the ACC now contains 17 teams, plus the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in every sport but football.

Despite the conference's newfound depth, the Florida State Seminoles are the only program many experts expect to reach the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.

"The best news is whether you agree with the expansion to 12 or don't agree with it, we won't have to have this argument anymore except as it pertains to whether the ACC should get however many bids they end up with," Davis said. "A new day is here and I'm sure that won't soothe any of the Florida State fans' feelings but we look forward to seeing the Noles in Dublin because it's a new day."

Head coach Mike Norvell's team was left on the outside looking in at the CFP last year as the No. 5 seed at 13-1 overall and 8-0 against league foes en route to an ACC championship.

Following a season-ending left leg injury to starting quarterback Jordan Travis, the Seminoles lost 63-3 in the Orange Bowl versus the No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs.

Florida State kicks off the 2024 season in Ireland against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Aug. 24 at noon ET on ESPN.

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