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Sadly, spring football season is over, leaving us almost five months until we all get to see live football again. Unfortunately for Virginia Tech fans, it will feel like even longer than that after the way this weekend went in Blacksburg.

Here are the recaps of the last round of ACC spring games.

GEORGIA TECH
The Yellow Jackets' defense dominated the line of scrimmage Friday, recording sacks on three straight plays at one point in the White team's 31-7 win over the Gold. This, of course, was due in large part to four offensive linemen missing the contest because of injuries.

"Tonight was a little hard to tell because we wanted to stay fairly vanilla, and we couldn't do much with our injury situation on the offensive line," coach Paul Johnson said. "We were down to 10 guys. We had guys playing guard who have been playing guard two days."

Better than 18,000 showed up for Georgia Tech's first Friday night spring game, which Synjyn Days managed to play in despite hurting his left wrist two days earlier. He ran 15 times for 79 yards and a score but was ineffective passing the ball, going 5-for-15 for 71 yards. He fumbled twice, with one being returned for a touchdown.

Vad Lee completed 9 of 17 throws for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Returning starter Tevin Washington went 4-of-6 for 46 yards and carried it 14 times for 67 yards and a score.

"I think all three bring something to the table," Johnson said. "It's really a matter of who can improve most [by the opener]. The guys behind Tevin both bring different things."

MARYLAND
The Terrapins' defense dominated in a 67-53 win over the offense Saturday, recording 13 sacks and allowing only two touchdowns. (To be fair, it was a one-hand touch rule on the quarterbacks.)

Still, the defense had to like what it was able to do without players such as Joe Vellano and Kenny Tate, especially in its first public test in coordinator Brian Stewart's 3-4 scheme. Ranked last in the ACC a year ago, the defense sacked C.J. Brown nine times. Brown, the only quarterback with any experience, was 17-for-33 for 199 yards and a pick, and his line likely didn't benefit from the eased defensive rules.

"The guys had a lot of fun out there today, and they had the chance to go out there and play the game again with their teammates," coach Randy Edsall said. "Overall I thought we’ve had a really good spring. I thought the guys have done a really good job since January, getting started doing all the things we need to do to be better come August."

Maryland also announced that its 2012 captains will be Brown and Kevin Dorsey on offense and Vellano and Demetrius Hartsfield on defense. Hartsfield had 12 tackles, two for loss and a sack Saturday. Vellano was a captain last season as well.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE
David Amerson picked up right where he left off in the fall, intercepting Mike Glennon in the second quarter Saturday of the Black team's 32-7 win over the White team. More importantly, the crowd of 24,797 at Carter-Finley Stadium helped raise more than $26,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

The Black team consisted of the first-team defense and second-team offense, with the White team fielding the opposite.

"These guys are coming out here and getting after it," Amerson said. "Defense, we're all about winning. We're competitive and we're out here to compete. We don't like to lose."

Glennon went 12-of-20 for 154 yards and a pick, and the offense struggled throughout much of the day. The Wolfpack defense recorded three interceptions, one coming from safety Earl Wolff, who returned a pick off Brian Taylor 46 yards for a score. Safety Isaac Swindell added a sack for the Black team.

"I thought we were competitive," coach Tom O'Brien said. "We didn't do as good of a job protecting the quarterback today as we did a week ago."

VIRGINIA TECH
Inclement weather forced the Hokies to cancel their annual Maroon-White game.

"There was more bad weather behind this one, and we looked at every situation -- whether we could get in a couple of quarters and it didn't look good for that, or reschedule for [Sunday], and it didn't look good for that, or reschedule for Monday, and it didn't look good for that," coach Frank Beamer said. "So in the end, we had to cancel it."

Roughly 4,000 fans had to be cleared from the stadium as thunderstorms and lightning hit the area. Players were warming up for the 4 p.m. kick before the field emptied, and the game was canceled more than an hour later. Beamer said he was most disappointed for his end-of-roster guys who didn't get one last opportunity to showcase themselves before preseason practice.

Logan Thomas and Luther Maddy were named the Hokies' spring offensive and defensive MVPs, respectively. The program's website lists all of its spring award winners.

What will we do without live, open football to look forward to between now and September?

I don't want to think about it just yet, so let's take a look at the remaining ACC spring games, which will be completed Saturday. (We looked at Georgia Tech on Thursday, since the Yellow Jackets play Friday night.)

As a reminder, two of these games can be seen live on ESPN3.

Maryland (1 p.m. ET)
Quarterback depth is an issue for the Terrapins, as the transfer of Danny O'Brien to Wisconsin leaves C.J. Brown as the only signal-caller with any experience. Transfer Ricky Shultz looks like the No. 2 quarterback at the moment, with two more coming to Maryland in the fall. Head coach Randy Edsall was pleased with Brown and the offense during a recent intrasquad scrimmage, but the defense was less than stellar. Still, with plenty of young talent, it will be interesting to see how the unit progresses under new defensive coordinator Brian Stewart's 3-4 scheme.

North Carolina State (3:30 p.m. ET)
There is no more shadow of Russell Wilson lurking every day in practice. The Wolfpack are Mike Glennon's team now, alleviating concern at the biggest position and allowing for the talent behind him to be a bigger priority in the spring game. Protecting the signal-callers should not be a problem, as NC State brings back a veteran-laden offensive line. Keep an eye on Manny Stocker, an early-enrollee signal-caller capable of making plays with his legs.

Virginia Tech (4 p.m. ET)
The Maroon side is already down 21-0 to the White squad, as coach Frank Beamer has spotted the second-team a three-touchdown lead before a snap is taken Saturday. Michael Holmes appears to be the leader in the clubhouse to fill David Wilson's spot as the No. 1 running back, but keep in mind several freshmen are on the way as well. The defensive line has played exceptional at times this spring, returning every significant contributor from 2011.

Our series continues today with Maryland, which opened spring practice Saturday with one scholarship quarterback. You can probably guess where we're going with this one ...

OUT: QB Danny O’Brien. The third-year sophomore will graduate this spring and have two years of eligibility remaining at a school to be determined. O'Brien completed better than 56 percent of his passes last season for 1,648 yards, tossing seven touchdowns and 10 picks. For his career, the North Carolina native has thrown for 4,086 yards, with 29 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. O'Brien's 22-touchdown campaign in 2010 earned him ACC rookie of the year honors as a redshirt freshman. His 2011 season -- and Terrapins career, at least on the playing field -- came to a close in a Nov. 12 loss to Notre Dame, when the signal caller broke a bone in his left arm.

IN: C.J. Brown. Colleague Heather Dinch has called Brown the ACC's most indispensable quarterback, and with good reason. Brown, a redshirt junior, has five starts under his belt and is the Terrapins' only scholarship quarterback this spring. Maryland has two quarterback recruits on the way for the fall, but until then, Brown has the car keys to the offense, with little insurance behind him. Brown completed just under 50 percent of his throws last season, totaling 842 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. But he proved most dangerous on the ground, rushing for 574 yards, a school record for a quarterback.

• More in this series

This is not about who the best quarterback will be this year in the ACC.

This is about which one is the most indispensable, the most in need of protection -- the guy who absolutely, positively, under no circumstances is allowed to be hit this spring.

It’s about Maryland quarterback C.J. Brown.

He’s all the Terps have left as Maryland prepares to start spring practices on Saturday. There is no other scholarship quarterback on the roster this spring. Brown's don’t-touch-me jersey should be permanently sewn to his clothes as he walks around campus. A crossing guard should follow him and stop traffic wherever he goes. Better yet, the offensive line should just carry him across the street.

Ricky Schultz, who is listed as Brown’s backup on the spring depth chart, is a transfer from Shepherd University. There is no sign of him ever throwing a pass there. Ever.

Danny O’Brien’s decision to transfer resonated in so many ways, but on Saturday, the Terps will truly realize the impact of that decision on the field. Brown started five games last year and his 574 rushing yards were a single-season record for a Maryland quarterback. Based on the sneak preview we’ve seen, though, he’s probably not the answer for Maryland’s offense -- especially with only two starters returning on the offensive line and a pedestrian group of wide receivers to work with. While highly touted recruit Stefon Diggs has the potential to be great, he’ll only be as good as those around him.

Sure, when this year’s recruiting class arrives on campus, the Terps will find their backup quarterback, but as of right now, no quarterback in the ACC is in more need of a bubble around him than Brown.

For some, it might feel like the season just ended, but for others -- like Duke, Maryland and Boston College, which didn't get to play in a bowl game -- spring ball can't get here fast enough. The Eagles kick off spring practices in the ACC on Saturday, so today we'll take a quick look at the main storylines for each team in the conference heading into the spring:

BOSTON COLLEGE

Spring practice start date: Feb. 18
Spring game: March 31 (1 p.m. ET)

What to watch:

• Yet another offensive transition. Doug Martin will be the Eagles’ fifth offensive coordinator in five seasons, including Kevin Rogers, who took a medical leave of absence early last year and never returned, and Dave Brock, who replaced Rogers. Martin said he is looking for a physical downhill running game, wants to increase the tempo and add some no-huddle elements.
• The return of running back Montel Harris. The ACC’s leading rusher in 2010 missed most of last season with a knee injury, but he is expected to return for spring ball. How healthy and durable he is remains a question, but he’s still aiming to break a 33-year-old ACC rushing record.
• Who will replace All-American linebacker Luke Kuechly? It’s an open competition as Kuechly is the only linebacker departing. Sean Duggan was his backup last year, but Steele Divitto put in a lot of work this offseason on his own time.

CLEMSON

Spring practice start date: March 7
Spring game: April 14 (4 p.m. ET)

What to watch:

• The rebuilding efforts up front. Clemson has to replace three starters on both the offensive and defensive lines. On defense, Malliciah Goodman is the only starter returning on the line, and he’ll be one of the candidates to replace the production of end Andre Branch, but Corey Crawford will be the next in line at the position.
• The defensive transition under first-year defensive coordinator Brent Venables. After giving up 70 points to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl, Dabo Swinney fired Kevin Steele and hired Venables. How quickly will he be able to make a difference and will everyone buy in?
• The linebackers. This is the year that the outstanding linebackers in the 2011 recruiting class will finally have their chance to shine. Venables is also the linebackers coach, and he’ll have a young, talented group to work with. The lineup of the future should include Stephone Anthony, Lateek Townsend and Tony Steward, all top 100 players coming out of high school.

FLORIDA STATE

Spring practice start date: March 19
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Maturation of the offensive line. FSU started four freshmen in the Champs Sports Bowl against Notre Dame, and those players will be expected to continue their improvement this spring. The most important question is who will replace the top two tackles from a year ago in Zebrie Sanders and Andrew Datko.
• The kicking game. Punters aren’t usually in the spotlight, but that wasn’t the case at FSU, where All-American Shawn Powell had an impact on every game. Finding a replacement for him this offseason will be a priority.
• The running backs. Chris Thompson, who broke his back last year, is expected to return this spring, and has been cleared for the most part, but the coaching staff isn’t likely to push him. Devonta Freeman will be the main man, but there are plenty of other candidates to emerge -- if, of course, the offensive line figures things out.

MARYLAND

Spring practice start date: March 10
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• The quarterback drama. Maryland’s two-quarterback storyline will continue this spring -- if, of course, Danny O’Brien decides to remain at Maryland instead of transferring. There has been much speculation about his future, but for now, the staff expects him to be limited this spring as he continues to recover from a broken arm. C.J. Brown should get the most reps.
• An overhaul of schemes. Maryland hired a new offensive coordinator in Mike Locksley and a new defensive coordinator in Brian Stewart. How quickly the Terps buy into their systems and philosophies will be critical in turning around last year’s 2-10 record.
• The running backs. This is a position where a true freshman could earn some playing time this year, but standout recruit Stefon Diggs won’t be on campus in time to compete this spring. Meanwhile, Justus Pickett returns, along with Brandon Ross, who redshirted last year. Wes Brown (who played at Good Counsel with Diggs) could also compete for major playing time when he arrives for summer camp.

NC STATE

Spring practice start date: March 23
Spring game: April 21 (1 p.m. ET)

What to watch:

• Who will emerge as dependable linebackers. With Audie Cole and Terrell Manning gone, this position is a big question mark for the Wolfpack. Cole was the team’s leading tackler each of the past two seasons, and Manning was one of the defense’s most disruptive players last year.
• The new go-to for Glennon. With T.J. Graham gone, NC State turns to a young group of receivers. Tobias Palmer and Bryan Underwood return, but there are several unheralded players who have a chance to make names for themselves by emerging as a go-to player for quarterback Mike Glennon.
• The running game. NC State returns four of five starters on the offensive line, but will Mustafa Greene return in time for the spring? When he does, the Pack will have another new running backs coach, who has yet to be announced. NC State had the No. 109 rushing offense in the country last year. Greene would be a big boost.

WAKE FOREST

Spring practice start date: March 1
Spring game: April 14 (1 p.m. ET)

What to watch:

• The revamped offensive line. The Deacs have to replace four starters up front. Coach Jim Grobe has played only one true freshman there in 11 years. He has several redshirt freshmen and sophomores who are expected to fill in.
• The next playmakers. Wake Forest is thin at running back (Josh Harris returns, but has a history of hamstring injuries), the Deacs lose two starting wideouts -- including record-setter Chris Givens -- their top two tight ends and 2011 leading rusher Brandon Pendergrass.
• Solidifying the secondary. The Deacs have to replace starting free safety Josh Bush and starting strong safety Cyhl Quarles. There is still plenty of talent at cornerback, but the safety position is thin.

Since Randy Edsall was hired at Maryland last January, 24 players with eligibility remaining have left the program.

Since the 2011 season ended, a total of a dozen players with eligibility remaining have bolted, including a combined 48 starts and both starting offensive tackles.

This one tops ‘em all.

Quarterback Danny O'Brien's decision to leave the program, which was announced by the school on Monday morning, doesn’t just leave the Terps in a bind at the position (C.J. Brown is now the only quarterback on the roster with any experience), it is a reflection on how poorly the situation was handled by Edsall from start to finish. O’Brien’s decision should come as no surprise to Maryland fans who have followed this saga since last season.

It began with last season’s quarterback controversy, when O’Brien was benched at Georgia Tech in favor of Brown. The move showed a lack of confidence and faith in O’Brien and it carried on throughout the rest of the season, leaving Maryland’s offense without an identity and its 2010 starting quarterback without any direction.

It continued with Edsall’s infamous quote about not “minimizing expectations” enough for O’Brien. According to Patrick Stevens of the Washington Times, Edsall said in November, "Again, I think sometimes that expectations on young people can make it tough as well. Maybe I didn't do a good enough job of minimizing expectations for him.” O’Brien responded by saying that nobody holds higher expectations for him than he does.

And now, as the two of them finally parted ways, Edsall let it be known he wasn't happy with O'Brien's decision.

“I’m disappointed by Danny’s decision,” Edsall said. “Danny told me that he’s not committed to our program, that he’s not ‘all in.’ I want what’s best for all of our players.”

There's a reason, though, that not all of them are there anymore.

Our offseason spotlight series continues today with Maryland. A reminder: This series features individual players, position groups and coaches who really need to have big offseasons -- starting this spring.

MARYLAND

Spotlight: Wide receivers.

2011 summary: This was a group that had too many drops to count, and two suspended players in Ronnie Tyler and Quintin McCree. While switching between quarterbacks Danny O'Brien and C.J. Brown, Maryland had one of the worst passing offenses in the ACC. Kevin Dorsey was excellent through the first quarter of the season, but struggled, was injured, and his production dropped off after missing two games. He led the team with 573 yards and three touchdowns on 45 catches. Kerry Boykins had 37 catches for 430 yards.

The skinny: Hello, Stefon Diggs. This is the anticipated position for Maryland’s top recruit, who will join the team this summer. Tony Logan has graduated and Adrian Coxson, a redshirt freshman, has transferred to Stony Brook. Outside of Dorsey and Boykins, the rest of the receiving corps owns a combined 13 receptions for 102 yards. The Terps still have Marcus Leak, who caught eight passes for 61 yards and a score against Florida State, but he was then held without a catch against BC and didn’t play in the final four games. Devin Burns, a sophomore, is a former quarterback who has one catch for 17 yards. Tyrek Cheeseboro, who suffered a torn ACL on special teams last season, also returns. Regardless of who Maryland's quarterback is for 2012, the Terps will need their receivers to help him out more.

• More in this series

Maryland has its new offensive coordinator. It has its new defensive coordinator. The recruiting class has been inked.

The Terps are ready to move forward and put their abysmal 2-10 season behind them, but there’s only one piece missing -- the starting quarterback.

Danny O'Brien and C.J. Brown, who were both used last year and sometimes in the same game, will continue to play out their competition this offseason, but O'Brien, who is still recovering from a broken left arm, will be limited this spring.

First-year offensive coordinator Mike Locksley said on Wednesday he is giving both quarterbacks a chance to start over.

“My thing is, and I told both of these guys -- I haven’t watched a lot of tape on either of them from last season or previous seasons because I wanted to have a blank slate when I go in and evaluate,” Locksley said. “Obviously Danny is a very talented quarterback, and I think he’s had some success here in both systems, whether it was two years ago in the West Coast, pro-style stuff, and last year he had some success in the spread system they’re running.

“I’m a guy who really believes in doing what your personnel allows you to do,” Locksley said. “We’ve got some tight ends and fullbacks. If you study our offense, we play under center, we play in the gun. We run power plays, we run lead plays, we spread them out and run zone read, we run zone read option, so a lot of that stuff will be predicated on our quarterback and what they’re capable of executing, as well as who the playmakers are with that personnel.”

There was some speculation this offseason as to whether or not O’Brien would return for the 2012 season or transfer. Locksley said he hasn’t talked to O’Brien about that.

“You hear those rumors,” Locksley said. “To me, I didn’t address it because unless I heard it from him, I wouldn’t address it. Everything I’ve talked to Danny about and C.J. about are things we want to do on offense and how I plan on shaping the offense to fit what they’re capable of executing.”

Locksley said he’d prefer, though, if only one of them were executing it this fall.

The early NFL draft hopefuls have gone, the early enrollees have arrived, and recruiting classes have been added that could have an impact on the 2012 ACC race. Considering all the offseason shuffling, it’s time for an updated yet still way-too-early look at how the ACC could stack up this season:

1. Florida State:The Noles brought in the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation, including the No. 1 defensive end, the No. 1 defensive tackle and the No. 1 quarterback. Not to mention the abundance of talent they return from last season’s nine-win team. Not only will FSU be better in 2012, but it will also be deeper and more talented.

2. Clemson: The Tigers have the No. 9-ranked class in the country, and they used it to fill some major needs up front. Clemson’s biggest obstacle this fall will be replacing three starters on both the offensive and defensive lines. Quarterback Tajh Boyd has enough skill players around him, though, that the Tigers can repeat as ACC champs.

3. Virginia Tech: The Hokies also have some big shoes to fill on the offensive line and running back thanks to the early departure of David Wilson to the NFL, but the staff lured in a top-25 recruiting class complete with some impressive running backs to rebuild the depth at the position. Virginia Tech’s best asset heading into 2012 will be one of the nation’s best defenses.

4. NC State: The Wolfpack can be a dark horse for the ACC title, especially if they stay healthy. Quarterback Mike Glennon should be one of the best in the league, four starters return on the offensive line, and this recruiting class gave the defensive line some old-school speed off the edge.

5. Virginia: Mike London quietly brought in one of the better recruiting classes in the ACC again, albeit with less fanfare than a year ago. If the Cavaliers can overcome the loss of seven starters on defense, they can again challenge for the Coastal Division title.

6. Miami: The outlook for the Canes has improved significantly with the nation’s No. 8 recruiting class, as many of those true freshmen will be given an opportunity for starting jobs or to at least work their way into the rotation and get meaningful reps. Still, there will be a learning curve, and quarterback Stephen Morris still has something to prove.

7. Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets seem like an average team right now. There are no superstars, the recruiting class was ho-hum, and the program’s place in the eyes of the NCAA right now is in limbo. While they return a bulk of their starters from a year ago, other programs seem to be making more progress quicker.

8. Wake Forest: The Deacs brought in a typical, Jim Grobe-type recruiting class: not flashy but will help the program to bowl games with the staff’s ability to develop talent. They return starting quarterback Tanner Price, who was one of the most improved players in the ACC a year ago, but must replace four starters on the offensive line.

9. North Carolina: First-year coach Larry Fedora has the energy, but does he have enough time? Fedora said he wants to change everything at UNC from the personnel to the philosophy and the culture. He’ll switch schemes on offense and defense, but is the offseason enough time to do that and make Carolina a contender in the Coastal race?

10. Maryland: The Terps will be better, and they should go to a bowl game, but without knowing what’s going on at quarterback, they’re a little tricky to predict. Is C.J. Brown the guy, or will Danny O’Brien be the man under first-year coordinator Mike Locksley? This team could move up the rankings quickly this season.

11. Boston College: The Eagles had another blue-collar class that could have been a disaster with defections but was salvaged in the end. Replacing linebacker Luke Kuechly isn’t realistic, but BC welcomes back more than it loses, and that could add up to a surprise season in Chestnut Hill.

12. Duke: The Blue Devils brought in a better class than it was probably given credit, but until that starts translating into wins, Duke will maintain the dubious distinction of last in the ACC.

With national signing day quickly approaching, we’re going to take a look at the recruiting needs of each school in the ACC, starting with the Atlantic Division. These needs are based on current rosters and anticipated departures in the near future. Here’s a look at who has what holes to fill in the 2012 class:

BOSTON COLLEGE

Linemen: The depth here continues to be a priority on both sides. The decision of defensive end Max Holloway to declare early for the NFL draft was an unexpected loss, and tackle Dillon Quinn will be a senior. Offensively, the Eagles will have to replace two veterans and leaders in center Mark Spinney and guard Nate Richman.

Linebackers: All-American Luke Kuechly’s decision to leave early for the NFL draft was expected, but the staff is looking for about two or three more linebackers in this class.

Receivers: This was a young group to begin with, as Alex Amidon and Bobby Swigert were both true sophomores, but the staff could use one or two more in this class.

CLEMSON

Linemen: The Tigers will lose three starters on the defensive line and three more on the offensive line from the 2011 ACC championship team. Center Dalton Freeman is a returning starter, but he will be a senior. Six players on the final two-deep depth chart on the offensive line were either seniors or graduate students in 2011, and four on the defensive line two-deep must be replaced.

Running back: Andre Ellington is entering his senior year, and while Mike Bellamy is back in school and in the good graces of coach Dabo Swinney, the future of the position is uncertain. Rod McDowell played well in the bowl game, and D.J. Howard has been a backup.

Defensive backs: The Tigers could start three seniors in the secondary in 2012: Xavier Brewer, Rashard Hall and Jonathan Meeks.

Kickers: The Tigers will lose punter Dawson Zimmerman, opening up an opportunity for a true freshman to play immediately.

FLORIDA STATE

Pick and choose: The Noles have built up enough depth that they can now be selective. Instead of building a class heavy on offensive linemen, Florida State can now pick and choose the best at each position. The Noles need at least one running back, one or two quarterbacks, a few offensive tackles, a linebacker to help replace Nigel Bradham and a safety or two.

Kickers: The Noles have big shoes to fill with the graduation of punter Shawn Powell, and kicker Dustin Hopkins is entering his final season.

MARYLAND

Running back: This is a position where a true freshman could see some playing time this year. Justus Pickett returns, along with Brandon Ross, who redshirted last year.

Quarterback: The Terps ended the 2011 season with only two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster in Danny O’Brien and C.J. Brown. Both will be juniors and nobody is behind them.

Cornerback. Maryland has to replace Trenton Hughes and Cameron Chism at cornerback, leaving Dexter McDougle the only one with any significant playing time.

NC STATE

Defensive line: The staff already has about six linemen committed and ends were a particular focus. Half of the linemen in the two-deep depth chart for the Belk Bowl were either juniors or seniors.

Secondary: This should be a strength for NC State in 2012, but the staff needs to prepare for the future here. Cornerback C.J. Wilson will be a senior, along with safeties Earl Wolff and Brandan Bishop.

Quarterback: Mike Glennon is already listed as a graduate student, and his backup, Tyler Brosius, redshirted this past season. The position is thin and the future uncertain behind Glennon.

WAKE FOREST

Offensive line: The Deacs will lose four starters up front, but coach Jim Grobe has only played one true freshman there in 11 years. He has several redshirt freshmen and sophomores who are expected to fill in, but the staff wants to continue to build the depth at the position.

Tight end: Wake Forest will graduate its top two tight ends and will turn to two redshirt sophomores in Neil Basford and Johnny Garcia who have yet to catch a pass. It’s possible this could be a spot where an exceptional freshman could see playing time.

Defensive backs: The Deacs have to replace starting free safety Josh Bush and starting strong safety Cyhl Quarles. Cornerback Kenny Okoro will be a redshirt senior.

MARYLAND TERRAPINS

Record: 2-10, 1-7 ACC

Overview: The highlight of the season for Maryland might have been the attention it received from its new uniforms in the season opener against Miami. It’s been all downhill since then.

The ACC’s Coach of the Year was fired in favor of the Big East’s Coach of the Year, and Maryland fans are still trying to figure it all out. First-year coach Randy Edsall inherited a nine-win program led by the 2010 ACC Rookie of the Year in quarterback Danny O’Brien. The Terps had finished 2010 as a top 25 team in the Associated Press poll, and on an upswing following their bowl win. Now the program is trying to recover from its second 2-10 season in three years, and some fans have already called for Edsall’s job. Three players have already asked for and been granted their release, and more could be on the way.

The loss to West Virginia in Week 2 was acceptable, but the loss to Temple a week later raised some eyebrows. Temple had a 31-point halftime lead and cruised to a 38-7 win in College Park. If only that were the anomaly. Maryland beat Towson the following week, but ended the season on an eight-game losing streak. The season was punctuated by the ultimate collapse, as Maryland squandered a 27-point lead to NC State and wound up losing to the Pack by double digits in what was the second-biggest comeback in ACC history. Part of the decline can be attributed to a rash of injuries that left the defense in the hands of freshmen, but there was discontent among the players with Edsall’s style, and a quarterback controversy between O’Brien and backup C.J. Brown also became a story line this year. In further bad news, O’Brien broke a bone in his arm against Notre Dame and was sidelined for the rest of the season. Brown was the only other scholarship quarterback on the roster. Anderson has said he will conduct a full review of the program, but that Edsall’s job is safe.

Offensive MVP: RB Davin Meggett. He led the team with 896 rushing yards, had four touchdowns, and 74.7 rushing yards per game. He finished his career with 2,411 yards, good for seventh all-time on the Maryland career rushing yards list. He also had 17 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.

Defensive MVP: DT Joe Vellano. He finished with 94 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries this season. He leads the FBS in tackles by a defensive lineman (7.8 per game).

Turning point: The minute O’Brien was benched at Georgia Tech in favor of Brown. O’Brien had completed only 1 of 6 passes for 17 yards and an interception, and it opened the door for a quarterback controversy to ensue. O’Brien lost some confidence, the team lost its identity, and Maryland lost eight straight games.

What’s next: Edsall needs to decide if he’ll make any staff changes, or if Anderson will make them for him. He also needs to continue to weed out who wants to be in his program and who else wants to transfer. After cleaning house and solidifying his current roster, Edsall then needs to reevaluate his recruiting needs.

It’s not easy being perfect. That’s why I’m not. One itsy bitsy teeny flaw in last week’s picks left me at 4-1, the lone erroneous pick against NC State. C’mon, five straight? Who outside Raleigh saw that one coming? Then again, it wouldn’t be a week in the ACC if there wasn’t at least one upset, right? Get ready for another one …

Georgia Tech 21, Virginia Tech 17: The Hokies are so well-coached that they won’t make the same turnover mistakes Clemson made against the Yellow Jackets, but the difference in this game will be the injuries to Virginia Tech’s defense. The veterans like Bruce Taylor who are sidelined are the ones who have seen this offense before, but too many rookies will be learning the ropes on the fly. The Jackets will sustain drives and keep Virginia Tech off the field just long enough to win.

NC State 24, Boston College 21 (OT): NC State hasn’t run the ball very well to begin with this season, and the Eagles will make it even more difficult and force quarterback Mike Glennon to win the game, which he will. As long as the Pack gives him time to throw, Glennon will get NC State one step closer to a bowl game.

Clemson 42, Wake Forest 21: The atmosphere at Death Valley combined with Clemson’s sheer talent will be too much for the Deacs to overcome. Clemson will be playing its final home game of the season, the crowd will be relentless, and the Tigers can clinch the Atlantic Division with a win. Wake Forest will play better than it did against North Carolina, but it will still be overmatched.

Florida State 31, Miami 28: That’s right, FSU by a field goal. The fact that it’s in Tallahassee was only a small factor in the decision. The main reason was because Florida State has played better more consistently in recent weeks, and the defense has been unstoppable. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris has played exceptionally well lately, but FSU quarterback EJ Manuel will have the edge against Miami’s secondary.

Notre Dame 38, Maryland 10: Turnovers will make this game ugly. Regardless of how coach Randy Edsall plans to use quarterbacks C.J. Brown and Danny O'Brien, the Terps won’t be able to get past a scoring defense that has held opponents to just 20.89 points per game. Nor will Maryland’s defense be able to stop one of the nation’s top receivers in Michael Floyd.

Virginia 28, Duke 24: This is going to be another heartbreaker for the Blue Devils. The Hoos’ three-game losing streak to Duke will end, thanks to Virginia’s improved defense. The pass efficiency defense is No. 20 in the country, and running backs Perry Jones and Kevin Parks will continue to get their yards and set up the pass for Michael Rocco.

Maryland and Virginia drew several very different conclusions for themselves this afternoon in College Park:

• With its 31-13 win over Maryland, Virginia is now bowl-eligible, and the Terps are mathematically ineligible for postseason play.
• Virginia officially looks ahead of schedule in the second season under coach Mike London, while Maryland looks like it has regressed under first-year coach Randy Edsall.
• Recruits in the state of Maryland should be more impressed with the Terps' border rival, which has already carved a niche in the Terps' backyard.

Virginia had three turnovers in this game and still won -- because Maryland had five. The Terps' defense again failed to stop the run, and the offense couldn't run the ball. A bad combination for Football 101. Maryland was held to just 3-of-14 third-down conversions, and allowed 527 total yards. The Terps lost this one in every phase of the game, regardless of whether Danny O'Brien or C.J. Brown was in at quarterback.

Virginia's Perry Jones ran for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, and Michael Rocco threw for another 307 yards and two touchdowns. It was all Virginia in the second half, and while many will be hung up on Virginia's accomplishment of reaching the six-win mark, don't forget that the Hoos still control their own destiny in the Coastal Division. With a win against Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech still on the schedule, this race isn't over yet.

Bowl eligibility is an extremely impressive accomplishment for Virginia, and this team has already exceeded expectations. But with three games remaining, there is an even bigger goal still within reach.

We've got two interesting games going on this afternoon, but the bigger surprise is in Chapel Hill, where NC State leads 10-0 at the half. Here's a look back at the first half of the ACC's first two games:

NC State 10, UNC 0


At least so far in this half, NC State gets this week's Jekyll and Hyde award in the ACC. Up against Virginia. Down at Florida State. Now up again in the first half against the rival Tar Heels. NC State's defense has been the difference so far, as UNC has started out 0-of-5 on third-down conversions, and is just 1-of-8 at the half. The Tar Heels have minus-11 rushing yards, and Giovani Bernard, with just 21 yards, is going nowhere. NC State quarterback Mike Glennon and his receivers got off to a slow start, but eventually found their groove, and Dana Bible has been mixing it up just enough to keep UNC's defense leery of the running game.

I know it's a rivalry game, and records go out the window and all of those great cliches, but c'mon -- NC State lost to Florida State 34-zip a week ago and was beaten soundly in every phase of the game. Meanwhile, UNC receiver Erik Highsmith told me last week that the Tar Heels had just played their most complete game of the season in the win against Wake Forest, which beat NC State. Now it's UNC looking for answers. If they don't make some adjustments and find them soon, the Wolfpack will get its fifth straight win in the rivalry, and interim coach Everett Withers should probably start adjusting his resume.

Virginia 14, Maryland 13

This one has been pretty evenly matched and fun to watch. One big difference in the first half was a forced fumble by Maryland's Joe Vellano -- one of the most underrated defensive linemen in the league this season. The Terps were able to score off of that Virginia mistake and take their first lead in the game. Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien started the game, but C.J. Brown came off the bench following the turnover and was 2-for-2 with a 13-yard touchdown pass and also had a 25-yard run to UVa's 13-yard line to set up the score. Holding Maryland to a field goal in the first quarter was a victory for Virginia's defense.

UVa quarterback Michael Rocco, who seemed to hit his stride in the win against Miami last weekend with true freshman David Watford's role limited to one snap, is building on that success. He has been the better quarterback so far, and Maryland's defense is again failing to stop the run, as they have allowed another 100-yard rusher, this time in Perry Jones, who has 10 carries for 100 yards in the half. As long as the Hoos don't turn the ball over anymore or hurt themselves with penalties, they should be able to continue to take advantage of a young Maryland defense, especially in the running game. Maryland clearly hasn't quit on this season yet, and it's far from over on senior day in College Park.

With only five games this week, the math is easy: Two things to watch in each game. Here’s your top 10 in Week 10, in no particular order:

1. BC’s offensive line against Florida State’s defensive line. This could be the game-defining matchup, as the Eagles have been playing better up front in recent weeks and their running game has flourished as a byproduct, but Florida State’s defensive line has been flat-out dominant. The Noles are No. 3 in the country in sacks, and No. 8 in tackles for loss. Bjoern Werner (7.5) and Brandon Jenkins (6.5) lead the Seminoles in tackles for loss.

2. Young running backs in Chestnut Hill. For Florida State, Devonta Freeman has totaled 226 rushing yards in the past three games. He became the first freshman to rush for 100 yards in back-to-back games since Chris Parker in 1988. For Boston College, sophomore Rolandan Finch ran for 243 yards and two touchdowns in last weekend’s 28-17 victory over Maryland; prior to that, Finch had never surpassed the 100-yard mark. He has run for 81 or more yards in each of the past three games.

3. Quarterbacks in College Park. The saga continues, as Maryland coach Randy Edsall said on Wednesday’s ACC teleconference that both Danny O'Brien and C.J. Brown continue to compete and the Terps could “get in a situation where we play both of them, play one.” Virginia quarterback Michael Rocco, meanwhile, said this week he has benefited from the diminished role of true freshman David Watford, who was sharing the reps. Rocco took all but one snap in last weekend’s win at Miami.

4. Maryland’s run defense. The Terps enter this game with the nation’s No. 118 rushing defense, and Virginia’s ability to run the ball has been crucial to its success in this series. Virginia is 22-8 against Maryland since 1937 when gaining at least 150 rushing yards. UVa has rushed for at least 150 yards in seven of eight games in 2011. In last year’s loss, the Hoos ran for just 92.

5. NC State’s pass defense against UNC quarterback Bryn Renner. Renner is the ACC’s most efficient passer, but he will face a secondary that boasts the nation’s leader in interceptions in David Amerson, who has eight. Brandan Bishop has four. Renner has thrown nine interceptions this year to 19 touchdowns.

6. UNC tailback Giovani Bernard. He needs just 35 more yards to become the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Jonathan Linton in 1997. Bernard has 965 yards this year and leads all freshman runners in the country with 107.2 yards per game. He leads the ACC with 12 touchdowns. NC State’s rushing defense has been holding opponents to 160.1 yards per game.

7. Duke’s defense in the second half. The Blue Devils have allowed one second-half touchdown — a fourth-quarter score by Wake Forest — in their past two games, and held Virginia Tech scoreless last weekend for the entire second half. Safety Matt Daniels has defended 16 passes, second in both the ACC and the FBS.

8. Turnovers at Miami. The Hurricanes forced seven turnovers in last year’s victory over Duke, and the Blue Devils are coming off a loss to Virginia Tech in which they had four turnovers. Quarterback Sean Renfree has thrown four interceptions in the past two games, including three against the Hokies. Since the loss to Kansas State, Miami quarterback Jacory Harris has thrown 11 touchdowns to just one interception.

9. Wake Forest’s defensive line against Notre Dame’s offensive line. The Demon Deacons will have a definite size disadvantage, and the Irish went the whole month of October without allowing a sack. Notre Dame’s offense line averages 305.6 pounds; Wake Forest’s defensive front averages 247.5 pounds. Wake will have to put some pressure on Irish quarterback Tommy Rees to help disrupt a passing game targeted at one of the nation’s top receivers in Michael Floyd.

10. Wake Forest defensive back Merrill Noel. He leads the FBS in passes defended with 16, an average of 2.0 per game. The freshman only has one interception, but he’s been a major contributor to Wake’s defense and could play a crucial role in helping slow down Floyd, who is ninth nationally with 7.9 receptions per game.