How has Mark Richt performed against Atlantic Coast Conference competition?

For the past 15 years, and thanks in large part to Georgia's in-state rival Georgia Tech, Richt has squared off against at least one ACC member each year. While there will be new teams and schemes for Richt to analyze that familiarity will only help his transition into the conference.

When Florida State joined the ACC in 1992, Mark Richt was the quarterbacks coach for the Seminoles (1990-93) and getting his first taste of ACC play. After being promoted to offensive coordinator in 1994, Richt spent his next six years at Florida State developing some of the Seminoles' best offenses. Richt was part of two National Championships and coached two Heisman winning quarterbacks. As a coordinator, his offenses finished five of seven seasons in the nation's top 5 in scoring offense.

In 2001, Georgia came calling and his attention turned to SEC competition. Postseason bowl games, pairings with Clemson, and an annual rivalry game with Georgia Tech, however, kept him in touch with the ACC.

Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate

Before Al Golden was battling wits with Paul Johnson, Mark Richt and the Bulldogs were outperforming the Yellow Jackets for the better part of a decade and a half. In 15 games in the Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate rivalry, Richt went 13-2 against Georgia Tech, including 6-2 against Paul Johnson. Under Mark Richt, the Bulldogs were undefeated in Atlanta, though surrendered two losses at home in Athens.

This year has been unusually bad for Georgia Tech who posted its worst record under Paul Johnson (3-9, 1-7 ACC). The Yellow Jackets always have the potential to be a thorn in the side of the Hurricanes and to play a key role in determining the Coastal Division Champion. In 2016, however, a coach with years of experience against the Yellow Jackets takes the reins at Miami.

Mark Richt vs. the ACC

Games against the Yellow Jackets account for the lion's share of Richt's contests with the ACC, but he's faced Clemson and Louisville in recent years. In 2013 and 2014, the Bulldogs challenged the Tigers in home-and-away season openers. In the 2014 Belk Bowl, Richt won his matchup with Bobby Petrino and Louisville. Listed below is each time Richt has taken on the Atlantic Coast Conference during his fifteen years as head coach at Georgia.

From 2002 to 2014, Richt went 3-1 against the Clemson Tigers. Georgia's first home-and-away series with Clemson came in the 2002 and 2003 seasons with the Bulldogs winning both. In 2013, the Tigers topped the Bulldogs 38-35 in Death Valley. Georgia ended the series on a positive note with a 24-point win over Clemson in Athens.

Georgia and the Louisville Cardinals squared off in the 2014 Belk Bowl and the Bulldogs came away victorious, winning 37-14 in Charlotte.

In the 2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl, Mark Richt led the Bulldogs to a 31-24 victory over the (10-2) Virginia Tech Hokies.

Mark Richt has faced the Florida State Seminoles once in his career. Georgia topped Bobby Bowden and Florida State in the 2003 Sugar Bowl to finish 13-1 on the year.

In his first year with the Bulldogs, Richt fell 20-16 to the *Boston College Eagles in the 2001 Music City Bowl, finishing with an 8-4 record on the season. *In 2001, Boston College had not yet joined the ACC and was a member of the Big East.

During his time in Athens, Mark Richt never played the Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels, N.C. State Wolfpack, Pittsburgh Panthers, Syracuse Orange, Virginia Cavaliers, or Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Richt is 19-3 overall against Atlantic Coast Conference members, and 19-4 if you include Boston College.

Mark Richt brings quite the resume to the Miami Hurricanes https://t.co/9GH05enoJe pic.twitter.com/hf1VQcewtw

— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) December 4, 2015

Mark Richt has fared well against the ACC over the years and more importantly, he's had more experience playing the conference recently than any other candidate. His success at Georgia, 145-51 overall with two SEC Championships and six SEC Eastern Division Titles, proves he's a consistent winner. The Coastal Division is known for its turbulent nature, consistency from all seven programs has been lacking. Can Mark Richt turn the 'Canes into a contender for the division and do so consistently?

While game dates and times are yet to be announced, Miami's 2016 conference slate is already set. Richt will have ample time to study his conference adversaries and prepare the 'Canes.

Miami Hurricanes 2016 Football Schedule

Home vs. ACC: Duke, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Florida State

Away vs. ACC: Georgia Tech, Virginia, Virginia Tech, N.C. State

Out-of-Conference: Florida Atlantic (TBA), Florida A&M (Sep. 10), at Appalachian State (Sep. 17), at Notre Dame (Oct. 29)

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Welcome back to The U, Mark Richt!