It is about where you will be in the future. There is no guarantee that the sustained and long term ceiling for Clemson is any higher than that of VT. Sure, their recent success does bode well for them, and props for their performance, as it is an important data point that they can elevate their brand... but staying on top of the mountain is very hard... and Clemson doesn't have the "it factor" that ensures they can rebound quickly once their head man leaves. There are already signs things are cracking. That doesn't mean VT is better than Clemson, as we have the same challenges... but a wise man once said "Let's see how VT does once Beamer gets past his glory years"... and the same will be said of Clemson with Dabo. Of course, there are certain schools VT will almost certainly never catch with brand appeal (Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, etc), as those are brand synonymous with the definition of College football... but once you get to Tier 2/3 (Clemson, VT, NCSU, Michigan State, etc)... there isn't much difference and it comes down to other factors.