I realize that is probably a bit early in the season to be starting a pissing-match between conferences which is not my goal here, but as with most things I do, I am sure it will be taken in precisely the opposite manner than I intended.

Anyway, I think Ohio State has made a strong statement for the Big Ten -- "Fail!"  That statement is based upon the criticisms and interpretations of those outside the "Big Ten Circle of Love."

The ACC, however, is more than happy to eat its own...

Digital Headbutt has posted a wonderfully understated assessment of football in the ACC.  The sum total of the description:

Hiding in the wilds of college football, hunted down one by one.

That paired with the strikingly appropriate (and funny) video -- featuring one of my favorites, the gents of Monty Python -- drives the point home even more poignantly.  The boys in blue at DH have also asked whether anyone really wants to win the ACC?

Others, however, have joined in the conversation, pointing out that the ACC is rapidly sinking toward irrelevance when it comes to football -- at least for this season.  Here are a few of the voices, both from within and without:

• Is the ACC reduced to beating Miss. State for "some respect"? -- Dr. Saturday
• "ESPN Radio" -- Sporting Gnomes
• ACC Auditing: No Offense -- SMQ
• ECU to join ACC? -- ACC Headlines
• Tech looks to get ‘some respect for ACC’ vs. SEC -- AJC

The thing I find peculiar is how quickly the ACC-faithful have already started questioning the quality of thier own conference.  After all, looking at this past weekend, the ACC did reasonably well against other conferences.  I suppose it is an SEC thing to be haughty and arrogant, even when outmatched.

While I agree that the ACC has yet to show why it should be a BCS conference this season (and, in the interest of full disclosure -- for the record -- I despise the ACC, since I live amidst its "regal" legions as a "simple-minded SEC fan"), it has won a few key games.  Either way, the self-doubt is running rampant, even now.

-- Go Figure …