I understand the history behind the current ACC "zipper" divisional alignment. Back in the early '00s, there was simply no way to have all the NC schools together and still have competitive balance between the divisions. Plus there was a need to keep the two strongest teams at the time (FSU and Miami) in separate divisions. TBH, the current alignment is actually still quite balanced in football strength. However, at this point, the strength of the individual members has changed such that the divisions could be realigned with the NC schools together while still retaining that balance. And critically, the most important rivalries among all the members can be maintained as well, either through in-division play or protected crossovers. Since the current ACC lineup is likely locked in until 2036 by their GoR, now is as good a time as any for the schools to put themselves in a more suitable alignment.

Here's what I propose:

Atlantic: Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, NC State, North Carolina, Wake Forest
Coastal: Louisville, Pittsburgh, Miami-FL, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Virginia, Syracuse

The protected annual crossovers:

Clemson/Louisville
Duke/Pittsburgh
Florida State/Miami-FL
Georgia Tech/Virginia Tech
NC State/Boston College
North Carolina/Virginia
Wake Forest/Syracuse

This way, Duke/NC State and UNC/Wake don't have to be played 5-7 years apart or OOC. Miami can play BC and Syracuse every year, as they had desired to when coming into the ACC. FSU/GT is once again annual. And both divisions still have access to Florida.

So what do you all think? Any downsides to this? Is inertia the only thing preventing such a realignment at this point?