The ACC has always had an exposure problem. When you are fighting for space in the news and television viewing cycle, it’s tough to break through the Big 10 and SEC wall. The obvious thing is to win. Clemson warranted coverage during their dynastic run of from 2015-2020, but we know sports media covers the Big 10 and SEC when a coach or player sneezes.
How do you break in when you aren’t in the national title chase and in the ACC?
UNC and Georgia Tech may have unlocked the key.
We’ve already written that UNC’s hiring of legendary coach Bill Belichick was instant publicity for UNC and the ACC. I may have still underestimated the impact of Belicheck in the ACC.
For the past two seasons, Fox executives cashed in by betting on Deion Sanders’ ratings potential. Now ESPN, which has rights to the ACC, will run the same play with Belichick’s Tar Heels.https://t.co/gnQp4rqYvh
— John Ourand (@Ourand_Puck) December 13, 2024
Will UNC’s move payoff in top 10 seasons and playoff appearances? We’ll see, but there will be a certain level of exposure coming that will be rare for the Tar Heel program. The hire itself was in heavy rotation on ESPN all last week. Does that mean other ACC schools should hire the biggest name they can find? That remains to be seen. For one thing there are few needle movers out there in the category of Bill Belichick, but that does open the door for Hall of Fame players and former NFL Head Coaches looking to coach. Anybody called Tom Brady or Peyton Manning and gauge their interest in coaching?
What did Georgia Tech do? Well, take a look below.
I added ACCCG viewership to the spreadsheet on #ACC viewership. #SMU fans will be pleased to see the jump in their avg.
Also, I can’t find viewership for some games that appeared on @TheCW_Sports. If y’all could help find that data I’d appreciate it.https://t.co/1YXc1GGgTd pic.twitter.com/affgFjCcWT
— Did The ACC Die Today? (@DidTheACCDie) December 12, 2024
How does a rebuilding 7-5 team draw the biggest viewership numbers in the ACC for 2024?
It’s not that hard. Georgia Tech was willing to be flexible. The Yellow Jackets played two games that drew viewership over 4 million.
Georgia Tech and Florida State played in Week 0 in Ireland, and it was the biggest game of the weekend in an exclusive window that featured both teams on ESPN Gameday. Only 1 other ACC vs ACC matchup was on Gameday for the rest of the year. The game drew nearly 5 Million viewers, and the Jackets winning in an upset had them the talk of college football the entire week.
Move ahead to the end of the year. Clemson refused to play South Carolina on a Friday night opening the door for Georgia Tech and UGA. The game ended up an 8 OT instant classic and drew a whopping 8.5 Million viewers, the highest of any game with an ACC team. By comparison, Clemson South Caroling drew 2.4 Million on Saturday.
The ACC and its teams should take note. Sure playing at odd times may not always make fans happy, but it is about exposure. ESPN will always give favored slots to their SEC teams, but if it means playing games in windows that are largely exclusive on another night, then do it.
Georgia Tech did and became the ACC’s top television draw. It doesn’t hurt Georgia Tech played a highly entertaining brand of football, but they weren’t in the national title hunt either.
UNC and Georgia Tech proved there are creative ways to increase your football program’s national exposure that the ACC and other schools may want to consider.
