List of Atlantic Coast conference football champions - wikipedia List of Atlantic Coast conference football champions The list of Atlantic Coast Conference football champions includes 11 distinct teams that have won the college football championship awarded by the Atlantic Coast Conference ( ACC ) since its creation in 1953. Sixteen different teams have competed in the conference since that year. Five teams -- Miami, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Louisville -- have never won an ACC football championship, while two teams that are no longer a member of the league hold championships -- Maryland - holds nine championships and South Carolina -- holds one championship. Between 1953 and 2003, the championship was normally earned in round - robin regular - season play among all conference members, although in earlier years league teams did not typically play every possible ACC opponent. The league did not employ tiebreaking procedures, such as head - to - head results, to determine a single champion, and thus it was not unusual for a season to end with `` co-champions. '' With a 2004 expansion of the league to include Miami and Virginia Tech, round - robin play became impossible due to an NCAA limit on the number of games a team may play during the season and the unwillingness of the league to hold more than eight conference games per season per team. NCAA rules also forbade a championship game due to the league having only 11 members. A 2005 expansion that admitted Boston College gave the ACC the required 12 members needed for divisional play and a championship game. The ACC Championship Game has been held annually since that year, featuring the regular - season winners of the Atlantic and Coastal divisions in a game to determine the conference champion. During the 2005, 2006, and 2007 seasons, the championship game was held at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2008 and 2009, the championship was held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. In 2010 and 2011, the venue switched to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, and on December 2, 2011 the ACC announced that the 2012 and 2013 ACC Championship Games would again be played in Charlotte. Contents 1 Early era 2 Championship game era 3 Champions by year 4 Championships by school 5 See also 6 References Early era See also : Atlantic Coast Conference The charter members of the ACC were Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina, and Wake Forest. The seven ACC charter members had been aligned with the Southern Conference, but left due in part to the conference 's ban on postseason play. The ACC officially came into existence on June 14, 1953. The 1953 college football season, the first under the new conference, saw Duke and Maryland crowned conference co-champions. Maryland later went on to be crowned national champions before losing the 1954 Orange Bowl. On December 4, 1953, conference officials convened in Greensboro, North Carolina, and admitted the University of Virginia as the eighth member of the conference. Virginia was the first non-Southern Conference member to join the new conference, as Virginia had played football with no conference affiliation since 1936. The conference operated with eight members until June 30, 1971, when the University of South Carolina left to become an independent. After South Carolina 's departure, the ACC operated with seven members until April 3, 1978, when the Georgia Institute of Technology was admitted. The Atlanta, school had withdrawn from the Southeastern Conference in January 1964 and had operated as an independent before joining the ACC. Though the school joined the conference beginning with the 1979 season, it did not become eligible to win the ACC football championship until the 1983 season. Seven years after beginning full ACC play, Georgia Tech won its first ACC football championship en route to winning the 1990 NCAA Division I football championship. In the fall of 1982, Clemson University was put on probation by the NCAA for recruiting violations. The probation forbade the team from participating in any bowl games, reduced the scholarships available to the team, and rendered the team ineligible for ACC football championship competition. Though the team still played its full slate of games during the 1983 season and finished 9 -- 1 -- 1, Maryland, which finished with an 8 -- 4 record, was awarded the ACC football championship. The ACC expanded to nine members on September 15, 1990, with the addition of Florida State. Beginning with the 1992 football season -- its first in the ACC -- Florida State won or shared the ACC football championship nine consecutive times. The conference expanded to 11 members on July 1, 2004, with the addition of the University of Miami and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Miami and Virginia Tech began official ACC play with the 2004 college football season, but because the league was forbidden from hosting a championship game, the conference was forced to award a championship based on regular - season play ( round - robin scheduling was no longer used beginning that season ). Virginia Tech, which had the best conference record at the conclusion of the season, was awarded the ACC championship. Championship game era The final scoreboard of the 2007 ACC Championship Game records the 30 -- 16 score and congratulates Virginia Tech on its victory. Main article : ACC Championship Game Following the admittance of Boston College into the conference beginning with the 2005 -- 2006 season, the conference began to play an annual championship game to conclude the season. The new 12 - team conference was divided into two divisions, and the champion of each division ( the team with the best conference record in each division ) was awarded an invitation to the conference championship game. The first championship game was held in Jacksonville, Florida, on December 3, 2005, with Florida State ( champions of the Atlantic Division ) defeating Virginia Tech ( Coastal Division champions ), 27 -- 22. In 2006, Wake Forest faced off against Georgia Tech for the championship. In the lowest - scoring conference championship game in Division I history, Wake defeated Georgia Tech, 9 -- 6. The 2007 game saw Virginia Tech return to the contest, this time facing off against Boston College. In their second ACC Championship Game, Tech defeated Boston College, 30 -- 16. The 2008 ACC Championship Game was held in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on December 6, 2008. Virginia Tech won by a score of 30 -- 12, becoming the first ACC team to win consecutive ACC championship games. Tampa also hosted the 2009 ACC Championship Game which was won by Georgia Tech over Clemson. Poor attendance in both of the Florida locations caused a move to Charlotte, North Carolina 's Bank of America Stadium for the 2010 and 2011 games. Charlotte hosted the game again in 2012 and 2013. In February 2014 it was announced that Charlotte would continue to host the game through at least 2019. Champions by year Year Champion ( s ) Notes 1953 Duke Maryland This was the inaugural ACC football season, and seven teams participated. Maryland also won the 1953 NCAA Division I college football national championship. 1954 Duke Virginia participated as an ACC team for the first time. Eight schools participated in the ACC. 1955 Duke Maryland 1956 Clemson 1957 NC State 1958 Clemson 1959 Clemson 1960 Duke 1961 Duke 1962 Duke 1963 North Carolina NC State 1964 NC State 1965 Clemson NC State South Carolina / Duke originally co-champions. League office made South Carolina forfeit wins against NC State and Clemson which made them co-champions. 1966 Clemson 1967 Clemson 1968 NC State 1969 South Carolina 1970 Wake Forest 1971 North Carolina South Carolina left the ACC following the 1971 season. Seven teams remained in the ACC. 1972 North Carolina 1973 NC State Maryland Maryland 1976 Maryland 1977 North Carolina 1978 Clemson 1979 NC State 1980 North Carolina 1981 Clemson Clemson also won the National Championship beating Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. 1982 Clemson Maryland Clemson finished undefeated against ACC opponents, but was ineligible for the 1983 conference title. Therefore, the championship was awarded to Maryland, whose loss to Clemson did not count against its conference record. Georgia Tech became eligible to win the ACC football championship this season. 1984 Maryland 1985 Maryland 1986 Clemson Clemson 1988 Clemson 1989 Duke Virginia Virginia received the Citrus Bowl bid awarded to the ACC champion in 1989. 1990 Georgia Tech Georgia Tech also won the UPI National Championship ( now the USA Today Coaches ' Poll ), beating Nebraska in the Citrus Bowl. 1991 Clemson Florida State joined the ACC, but did not compete for the football championship until the following season. 1992 Florida State 1993 Florida State Florida State also won the National Championship that season, beating Nebraska in the Orange Bowl 1994 Florida State 1995 Florida State Virginia Florida State received the Bowl Alliance bid awarded to the 1995 ACC football champion. Florida State 1997 Florida State 1998 Florida State Georgia Tech Florida State received the Bowl Championship Series bid awarded to the 1998 ACC football champion. 1999 Florida State Florida State won their second National Championship that season, beating Michael Vick and Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl 2000 Florida State 2001 Maryland Maryland became the first team other than Florida State to win the outright conference championship since FSU joined the ACC. 2002 Florida State 2003 Florida State Virginia Tech Virginia Tech and Miami joined the ACC, which then had 11 teams. 2005 Florida State This was the first year of the ACC Championship Game. Florida State defeated Coastal Division champion Virginia Tech. 2006 Wake Forest Wake Forest defeated Coastal Division champion Georgia Tech. 2007 Virginia Tech Virginia Tech defeated Atlantic Division champion Boston College. 2008 Virginia Tech Virginia Tech defeated Atlantic Division champion Boston College. 2009 Vacated Georgia Tech defeated Atlantic Division champion Clemson in the championship game, but the NCAA later vacated their win. Virginia Tech Virginia Tech defeated Atlantic Division champion Florida State. 2011 Clemson Clemson defeated Coastal Division champion Virginia Tech. 2012 Florida State Florida State defeated Coastal Division champion Georgia Tech. 2013 Florida State Florida State defeated Coastal Division champion Duke, followed by a victory over Auburn in the BCS National Championship Game for the Seminoles ' third title. Pittsburgh and Syracuse joined the ACC, bringing it to its current total of 14 teams. 2014 Florida State Florida State defeated Coastal Division champion Georgia Tech. Florida State lost to Oregon in the 2014 Rose Bowl Game of the inaugural College Football Playoff. 2015 Clemson Clemson defeated Coastal Division champion North Carolina. Clemson defeated Oklahoma in the 2015 Orange Bowl of the College Football Playoff. Clemson moved on to play for the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship against Alabama, losing 45 to 40. 2016 Clemson Clemson defeated Coastal Division champion Virginia Tech and made the College Football Playoff. Clemson defeated Ohio State in the playoff semi-final Fiesta Bowl 31 - 0. The Tigers then went on to win their second national championship by defeating Alabama 35 - 31 in the CFP National Championship Game. The Tigers also finished # 1 in the AP and Coaches Polls, bringing home the CFP gold trophy, the coaches crystal football trophy and the AP national championship trophy. The CFP National Championship won by the Tigers determines the national championship in this era. Championships by school School Championships Years Clemson 16 1956, 1958, 1959, 1965 *, 1966, 1967, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 2011, 2015, 2016 Florida State 15 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 *, 1996, 1997, 1998 *, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014 Maryland 9 1953 *, 1955 *, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2001 Duke 7 1953 *, 1954, 1955 *, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1989 * NC State 7 1957, 1963 *, 1964, 1965 *, 1968, 1973, 1979 North Carolina 5 1963 *, 1971, 1972, 1977, 1980 Virginia Tech 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010 Georgia Tech 1990, 1998 *, 2009 * * Virginia 1989 *, 1995 * Wake Forest 1970, 2006 South Carolina 1969 Boston College 0 Louisville 0 Miami ( FL ) 0 Pittsburgh 0 Syracuse 0 * Co-champions. * * Georgia Tech was forced to vacate the 2009 ACC Championship in response to NCAA violations. See also College football portal References Jump up ^ Eagles ' move just another BCS - windle Brendan Hall, The Massachusetts Daily Collegian, October 24, 2003. Accessed December 6, 2007. Jump up ^ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/12/03/2821296/charlotte-will-keep-acc-title.html ^ Jump up to : About the ACC Archived 2012 - 10 - 14 at the Wayback Machine. The Atlantic Coast Conference, theACC.com. Accessed April 25, 2008. ^ Jump up to : Powell, Adam K. Border Wars : The First Fifty Years of Atlantic Coast Conference Football. Scarecrow Press, 2004. `` Introduction '', Page xvi. Jump up ^ NCAA College Football Division 1A Past Champions Accessed April 25, 2008. ^ Jump up to : Carolina history University of South Carolina Athletics department, gamecocksonline.cstv.com. Accessed April 25, 2008. Jump up ^ Georgia Tech Football History Database Nationalchamps.net. Accessed April 26, 2008. ^ Jump up to : Georgia Tech Football Year - By - Year Georgia Tech Athletics Department, Ramblinwreck.cstv.com. Accessed April 26, 2008. Jump up ^ 2006 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football media guide ( PDF ) Georgia Tech Athletics Department, Ramblinwreck.cstv.com. Accessed April 26, 2008. Page 21. ^ Jump up to : Clemson University placed on NCAA probation The NCAA, NCAA.org. November 22, 1982. Accessed April 26, 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` ACC Year by Year : 1983 ( PDF ) '' ( PDF ), 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Media Guide, Atlantic Coast Conference : Page 112, 2007, retrieved 2008 - 01 - 13 ^ Jump up to : Member Institutions Archived 2008 - 05 - 13 at the Wayback Machine. The Atlantic Coast Conference, theACC.com. Accessed April 26, 2008. ^ Jump up to : Florida State football history Database Nationalchamps.net. Accessed April 26, 2008. Jump up ^ Miami, Virginia Tech quietly join ACC The Associated Press, MSNBC.com. July 2, 2004. Accessed March 13, 2008. Jump up ^ Tech topples ' Canes to win ACC championship Jimmy Robertson, Hokiesports.com The Newspaper. Hokiesports.com. December 4, 2004. Accessed April 25, 2008. Jump up ^ After Ugly Breakup, BC Hopes for Fast Start in ACC Mark Schlabach, The Washington Post. ( August 10, 2005 ; Page E04. Accessed March 13, 2008. Jump up ^ ACC Unveils Future League Seal, Divisional Names Archived 2013 - 05 - 25 at the Wayback Machine. The Atlantic Coast Conference, theacc.com. October 18, 2004. Accessed March 14, 2008. ^ Jump up to : Florida State pulls off VaTech upset, clinches BCS berth The Associated Press, ESPN.com, December 4, 2005. Accessed December 17, 2007. Jump up ^ 4th Qtr Play - by - Play ESPN.com, December 3, 2005. Accessed December 23, 2007. Jump up ^ Elias Says... ESPN.com, December 3, 2006. Accessed March 29, 2008. ^ Jump up to : Hokies ride Glennon 's arm, Taylor 's legs to ACC crown ESPN.com, December 1, 2007. Accessed December 10, 2007. ^ Jump up to : The Associated Press. `` Virginia Tech takes down BC, headed to Orange Bowl again '', ESPN.com. December 6, 2008. Accessed December 6, 2008. ^ Jump up to : ACC Announces Future Sites for Football Championship Game The Atlantic Coast Conference, December 12, 2007. Accessed December 12, 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` ACC Champions '' ( PDF ), 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Media Guide ( PDF ), Atlantic Coast Conference : Page 93, 2007, retrieved 2008 - 01 - 13 Jump up ^ ACC invites Miami, Va. Tech Archived 2009 - 07 - 21 at Archive.is Tim Candon, The Daily Tar Heel, June 26, 2003. Accessed December 6, 2007. Jump up ^ Wake Forest Claims First ACC Title Since 1970 The Associated Press, theACC.com. December 2, 2006. Accessed March 29, 2008. Jump up ^ NCAA places Georgia Tech on probation ESPN.com. July 14, 2011. Accessed July 14, 2011. Atlantic Coast Conference football champions Duke & Maryland ( 1953 ) Duke ( 1954 ) Duke & Maryland ( 1955 ) Clemson ( 1956 ) NC State ( 1957 ) Clemson ( 1958 ) Clemson ( 1959 ) Duke ( 1960 ) Duke ( 1961 ) Duke ( 1962 ) North Carolina & NC State ( 1963 ) NC State ( 1964 ) Clemson & NC State ( 1965 ) Clemson ( 1966 ) Clemson ( 1967 ) NC State ( 1968 ) South Carolina ( 1969 ) Wake Forest ( 1970 ) North Carolina ( 1971 ) North Carolina ( 1972 ) NC State ( 1973 ) Maryland ( 1974 ) Maryland ( 1975 ) Maryland ( 1976 ) North Carolina ( 1977 ) Clemson ( 1978 ) NC State ( 1979 ) North Carolina ( 1980 ) Clemson ( 1981 ) Clemson ( 1982 ) Maryland ( 1983 ) Maryland ( 1984 ) Maryland ( 1985 ) Clemson ( 1986 ) Clemson ( 1987 ) Clemson ( 1988 ) Duke & Virginia ( 1989 ) Georgia Tech ( 1990 ) Clemson ( 1991 ) Florida State ( 1992 ) Florida State ( 1993 ) Florida State ( 1994 ) Florida State & Virginia ( 1995 ) Florida State ( 1996 ) Florida State ( 1997 ) Florida State & Georgia Tech ( 1998 ) Florida State ( 1999 ) Florida State ( 2000 ) Maryland ( 2001 ) Florida State ( 2002 ) Florida State ( 2003 ) Virginia Tech ( 2004 ) Florida State ( 2005 ) Wake Forest ( 2006 ) Virginia Tech ( 2007 ) Virginia Tech ( 2008 ) Georgia Tech ( 2009 ) vacated Virginia Tech ( 2010 ) Clemson ( 2011 ) Florida State ( 2012 ) Florida State ( 2013 ) Florida State ( 2014 ) Clemson ( 2015 ) Clemson ( 2016 ) National championships in bold Atlantic Coast Conference football Atlantic Division Boston College Eagles Clemson Tigers Florida State Seminoles Louisville Cardinals NC State Wolfpack Syracuse Orange Wake Forest Demon Deacons Coastal Division Duke Blue Devils Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Miami Hurricanes North Carolina Tar Heels Pittsburgh Panthers Virginia Cavaliers Virginia Tech Hokies Championships and awards List of Atlantic Coast Conference football champions All - time standings ACC Championship Game Atlantic Coast Conference football honors Seasons 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Atlantic_Coast_Conference_football_champions&oldid=801118432 '' Categories : Lists of college football conference champions Atlantic Coast Conference football Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from September 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Articles with dead external links from April 2017 Webarchive template wayback links Webarchive template archiveis links Featured lists Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 17 September 2017, at 19 : 38. 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Question: who has the most acc championships in football
Answer: Clemson