Hello, welcome.
I think you choose great card, both EVGA SC versions are great, reference and ACX 2.0.
Reference give little wider possibility because you can use Hybrid cooler and push air out of case.
From other side ACX 2.0 give about 10C better temps and you don't need to think to replace cooler instantly.
GTX980Ti Classified is even better card and with 100MHz higher clock but it's more expensive and if you use only for games you will not see much difference, few fps. You can try to OC your model even more, sometimes SC version overclocked better than Classified.
K|NGP|N is best and most expensive model for real EVGA fans and enthusiasts who will pay and few hundred dollars more only for so good model.
For me that's only real elite GeForce on market. 
You didn't wrong, now you choose EVGA 980Ti SC ACX 2.0, you can use that model for now and to follow results and what people think about GTX980Ti Classified, to take look on some video clip and maybe later if you find buyer for your card to cross on GTX980Ti Classified, or when time come for upgrade to go on Classified version some other generation. Classified models are really special, in special package, huge cards with amazing and big PCB and backplate, no doubt in that, if you buy once Classified you will very hard to chose something else.
 
But if you want best performance for money than EVGA 980Ti SC is maybe best model for you because it's not expensive and
with little luck she will work on Classified speed or little less. And it's very important to say that SC version give same result as TITAN X.
From that side your model and reference SC are exactly what you ask.
EVGA is good choice because if some problem happen manufacturer will not try to get rid of you or to leave you to resolve your problems with sellers except if that's fastest and best option for you but you can always to call support and everything will be clear for few hours, not few days or weeks.
Other brands follow different politic, they will advertised own cards as best choice but they will never give you explain how someone who not allow you to change cooler, who will not support you with warranty to replace thermal paste after few months, to install waterblock or aftermarket cooler, how such hardware could be better than other where customers have more freedom.

Scarlet-Tech
Short and sweet, the 980ti is overkill for 1080p, so you will be fine. Turn DSR up to 2k or 4k, and let the card shine.

You don't need to overclock for 1080p. Period. Especially not on a 60hz monitor. No 1080p monitor will honestly need overclocking.. Ignore the other models, and they will only take your money and not do anything else for you.

It is not overkill for 1080p if you plan on playing very demanding games even at 60 fps at 1080p. One example is Dragon Age Inquisition. The 980ti SC+ is one of the few cards that can run that can at 1080p with everything cranked up at 60fps without issue. It barley pushes 75 fps in most cases on a 144hz monitor or with vsync off and sometimes drops into about 65 fps. Also op said 1080p gaming and not 1080p60. The card is great if you plan on doing 1080p gaming on a 144hz monitor.

Vlada011
 
EVGA is good choice because if some problem happen manufacturer will not try to get rid of you or to leave you to resolve your problems with sellers except if that's fastest and best option for you but you can always to call support and everything will be clear for few hours, not few days or weeks.
Other brands follow different politic, they will advertised own cards as best choice but they will never give you explain how someone who not allow you to change cooler, who will not support you with warranty to replace thermal paste after few months, to install waterblock or aftermarket cooler, how such hardware could be better than other where customers have more freedom.

Not to mention it looks like other than one reference ASUS 970, that MSI and Asus are using sleeve bearing fans. I have had pretty much every sleeve bearing fan on a vga card or case start making bad noises in the office place or at home after 6 months to a year. All my ACX cooler have been good for 2+ years now on my oldest card. Also Asus has some of the worst customer support in the industry at least with monitors and motherboards. Many people have had them give defective refurbs on both monitors and mobos. I have at least read that about the mobos, on the monitor side I have experienced that. So once I was told that the 3 year warranty on a monitor was 3 years from date of manufacture and not when it was made. Another time I got one back with a slash on the front panel. They really are not great. Aslo when I called them the support was overseas and I just do not want to deal with that with a $700 vga card. I dealt with evga 2 times so far and both times were great with support in the us even late at night on a Friday. I feel that anyone should steer clear of Asus as they have a we have your money now and don't car attitude.

Scarlet-Tech
Ok, so a terrible ports and an unoptimized (Ark) game run like crap on a 1080p monitor.. Weird. Most games except for a few can be maxed out with a 980, much less a TI.

If you are surprised that some games run like crap with any gpu, then you are destined for disappointment and failure. Ark is not a good example for anything. They aren't optimizing it to be better, they are only adding more stuff to it. Turning settings down doesn't change much if you haven't noticed.

And GW2. And Batman: Arkan Knight. And, and, and.
 
There will always be exceptions to sweeping generalizations like 

Scarlet-Tech...the 980ti is overkill for 1080p... 

- don't make them if you don't want blowback from people who have first hand experience.

Thank you all for your replies. I decided to keep my card after your feedback. Thanks!