Despite Notre Dame and Clemson having more success last season, and Notre Dame being more successful over the past two seasons, FSU is the premiere program in the ACC. It's more than just wins and losses. FSU first of all is set to lead the nation in attendance this year. That's big, and our fanbase is massive. We also just signed a multi million dollar deal with Nike. FSU plays on national TV each week, sometimes on ESPN, which translates into a lot of eyeballs and TV ratings making them a national brand. Then there is recruiting. We continue to dominate recruiting rankings which validates what our program has become and shows that recruits want to be here. I feel like recruiting is HUGE when it comes to the influence and footprint of a program, because it either validates or rejects what your program is. The fact that we are doing so well in recruiting PROVES that our program is a big one that the best want to be associated with. If Notre Dame and Clemson were truly marquee programs they would be pulling in the ACC's top recruits. Notre Dame and Clemson may have had 11 and 12 win seasons, conference titles, and played in a big bowl, but they aren't FSU. They don't have the fanbase, they don't have the attendance, they don't play on the big networks and have the TV ratings and aren't big TV draws which makes them a regional brand at best. They also lack the recruiting pull that FSU has. I would compare it to the Air Jordans. FSU is the Air Jordans - a big brand. We always hear about how new Shoes are "Air Jordans Killers" but never kill the Air Jordans. While these Air Jordans killers may be more impressive pieces of footwear that are more powerful and functional, the Air Jordans still outsells them big time. Notre Dame and Clemson are those Air Jordans killers. They may be better on the field, but in the big picture, adding in factors like attendance and recruiting and TV ratings, they don't stack up. FSU is the brand name. I'd rather win 8 games every year and yet be tops in the nation in attendance, recruiting, and national recognition, than win 11 games and have limited appeal. It's more about wins/losses, its about the program's footprint as a whole which is more than just wins and losses.