That have ever come close to running things were the 4 North Carolina schools acting like a cartel in a 8, then 9 team conference. As membership swole and football gained prominence individual schools and cartels lost power. Fsu and Clemson might have some sort of power now because of titles/playoff runs and tv ratings, and they were the football block that Fought with the Tabacco road cartel from 92 to 2003 in the 9 team league.