ACC tops the ranks of smartest FBS conferences

In a recent report released by the ACC, the conference was once again rated as the top FBS organization when it comes to the brains-brawn mix. The ACC has been ranked as the best in the category for 15 consecutive years in the “Best Colleges” rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.

Notables from this year’s rankings:

• The ACC has led the FBS conferences in best average rank in each of the last 15 years.

• The average rank of ACC schools is 55, which leads all FBS Conferences and is five percentage points ahead of the next-closest peer conference.

• The ACC’s three schools among the top 25 of this year’s rankings ties for the most among peer conferences.

• The ACC's seven schools ranked in the top 40 are the most among FBS conferences.

• The ACC’s 11 member schools among the top 60 are also the most among peer conferences, as are its 14 institutions among the top 80.

• On Aug. 24, the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 announced an historic alliance that brings 41 world-class institutions together on a collaborative approach surrounding the future evolution of college athletics and scheduling. Thirty-five Alliance schools rank among the top 100 of this year’s “Best Colleges” report.