Could the toughest division in ACC Football be the Coastal?

Since ACC Football went to two divisions in 2005 the Atlantic has been the better division for most of that time. Could the Coastal be the better division this year?

The Miami Hurricanes won their first ACC Coastal Division Championship last season. They then got waxed 38-3 by three-time defending champion Clemson in the ACC Championship game. The Atlantic Division Champion has won the last seven ACC Football Championship Games. All seven by Clemson and Florida State combined.

The Seminoles and Tigers have combined to win the last nine ACC Atlantic Division titles and ten of 13 overall. They are tied for the lead with four wins each in the conference title game. The Atlantic has won nine of the 13 titles overall. Could the tide be turning this season?

Each division had two teams ranked to begin the season. Clemson began the season ranked second in both polls. Florida State was the other Atlantic Division team ranked in the preseason, they were 19th.

In the Coastal, Miami began the season eighth and Virginia Tech 20th in the AP and 17th in the Coaches Poll. Five weeks later things have changed drastically.

Florida State fell out of the rankings after losing to Virginia Tech 24-3 in the season opener on Labor Day night. The Hokies rose to 12th nationally after defeating the Seminoles on the road, Miami tumbled into the twenties after losing 33-17 to LSU the night before Florida State and Virginia Tech played.

Despite wins against Savannah State and Toledo, Miami remained in the twenties in the national rankings before moving up five spots to 16th this week after a win over FIU and a lot of upsets on Saturday. The biggest one was suffered by Virginia Tech. The Hokies were a 29.5 point favorite and lost 49-35 at Old Dominion.