Wake Forest wins the ACC?

When Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College bolted the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference, it looked like the ACC would get more competitive. That is, Florida State would have to lose the title sometimes to either Miami or Va Tech. A Big Three, Little Nine situation.

Now look what happens. Two years in, and its Wake Forest and Georgia Tech in the championship game, with Wake Forest winning! Apparently, the additional team created parity throughout the conference.

I'm reminded of when Penn St. joined the Big Ten in 1993. It was assumed that they would battle it out with Michigan and Ohio State every year. But within the next ten seasons, Wisconsin and Northwestern each won or shared the Big 10 Title three times, whereas the "Big Three" each went to the Rose Bowl just once (though they may have shared the title in other years), as did Purdue, Illinois and Iowa. Only Minnesota, Michigan St. and Indiana have missed out on a championship over the past 14 years.

Perhaps conference expansion can be good for the "weaker" teams in the conference.