That SP+ projection is preseason guesswork, and we all know how that goes. The ACC's middle tier is a massive drop-off after Clemson and Florida State. Having five teams in a theoretical top 30 doesn't mean much when the physicality week-to-week isn't there. Their league depth can't touch the week-in, week-out grind of the SEC, where even the lower-ranked teams are built in the trenches. Calling that a tougher slate is just spin.