Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

The only thing left for Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams to do was sit on the Hokies' bench and bury his face in his hands. Unlike a week ago, when North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates threw a costly interception, this time it was Virginia Tech with the untimely turnover, as Williams' fourth-quarter fumble led to UNC's game-winning field goal for the 20-17 upset in Lane Stadium.

While it was a devastating loss for the Hokies, it was the kind of win that could help salvage the season for North Carolina. The Tar Heels (5-3) now need just two more wins to become bowl eligible and have four more chances to get them. It's not unreasonable to think this could turn into second straight eight-win season for coach Butch Davis, despite the fact the Tar Heels brought one of the worst offenses of the country to Blacksburg on Thursday night. It would be a remarkable turnaround for a team that just won its first conference game.

UNC didn't look like the 114th best offense in the nation, though, against Virginia Tech's defense. Once again the Hokies gave up too many big plays, but for them to do it on a Thursday night in Lane Stadium was shocking, considering Virginia Tech entered the game with a 9-2 record at home in Thursday night games. North Carolina benefited from the return of healthy offensive linemen and tight end Zack Pianalto, as the Tar Heels were finally able to run the ball with conviction and open some things up in the passing game.

And this time, UNC's defense showed up for four quarters, instead of just the first half like it did in last week's loss to Florida State.

While it was a great win for the Tar Heels -- and not to take anything away from UNC's accomplishment -- it wasn't a good outcome for the ACC as a whole. This loss could drop the Hokies out of the top 25 rankings entirely, and at the very least should knock them out of the top 15 of the BCS standings. With that disappears the ACC's chances at two BCS bowl teams, and it leaves Georgia Tech as the conference's lone representative among the top 15. For one of the conference's strongest teams to now have three losses -- and to have the latest be to a struggling, unranked team at home on national TV -- doesn't look good.

While the loss brought the official end of the national spotlight on Virginia Tech for this season, it opened the door for North Carolina to end the season in respectable fashion and with some pride.