clinged to their "academic" snobbery. If the ACC had realized that rivalries is the ONLY way the ACC could improve the value of its football product, then it would see that WVU has more "value" than BC. Especially if the ACC's end game was to eventually add Pitt and Syracuse who both have a rivalry with WVU. Plus, it would be 1 less private school at the negotiation table with ESPN. Also, it would have impacted not only how the divisions would look in football, but likely impact whether the ACC would keep the divisions for sports like basketball. Remember the only reason VT and UVA were placed in the same division for football is because the ACC wanted to maintain the same divisions for other sports too (i.e. basketball). Since VT and UVA wanted to be able to play each other twice per season as a conference game in basketball, the only way that could be achieved is the 2 schools had to be in the same division for football. Here's how the divisions would have most likely looked if WVU was added instead of BC. Atlantic/Coastal (protected pairings) WVU - UMD VT - UVA Wake - Duke NC State - UNC Clemson - GT FSU - Miami or Miami - FSU (take your pick here) When it came time for the ACC to add Pitt and Syracuse, then it is obvious who would end up in which division. Atlantic/Coastal (protected pairings) Pitt - Syracuse WVU - UMD VT - UVA Wake - Duke NC State - UNC Clemson - GT FSU - Miami or Miami - FSU (take your pick here)