Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 18
Pat Narduzzi Says ACC Has Better Players Than Big Ten Despite 68-38 Draft Gap
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 18

Pat Narduzzi Says ACC Has Better Players Than Big Ten Despite 68-38 Draft Gap

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 18

Summary

  • Pat Narduzzi used ACC Media Days to argue the conference has better players than the Big Ten, citing what he called a winning record against the Big Ten and SEC in bowls and regular-season games.
  • 68 Big Ten players were drafted in 2026 versus 38 from the ACC, including 10 first-round picks to six, undercutting his case on recent talent output.
  • 247Sports' 2026 recruiting rankings also favored the Big Ten, which placed six teams in the top 25 and held three of the top four spots; Miami was the ACC's only top-10 team at No. 9.
  • Three straight national titles by the Big Ten — after a four-year SEC run — leave Clemson's 2018 championship as the ACC's last, framing Narduzzi's claim as the latest flashpoint from a headline-heavy ACC Media Days.

Insights

Is the ACC destined for third-place status, or does it have a secret weapon to challenge the new super-conferences?
With two leagues poised to break from the NCAA, is college football on the brink of a civil war?