ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

	AP Photo/Steve Helber
	Quarterback Tyrod Taylor and the Virginia Tech offense finally contributed in a big way on Saturday against Miami.

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- When asked after Virginia Tech’s convincing 31-7 win over No. 9 ranked Miami when was the last time he got such a complete performance from his team -- especially considering the steady downpour -- Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer let out a sigh and conceded he wasn’t sure.

It certainly wasn’t this season.

For the first time in four games, Virginia Tech looked worthy of all of the preseason hype leading into its season opener against Alabama. Offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring caught Miami’s defense off guard with misdirection, and a good mix of running and passing plays. Defensive coordinator Bud Foster demanded more from his defense all week and they answered his challenge.

And to top it all off, Virginia Tech scored on a blocked punt in the second quarter and effectively beat No. 9 ranked Miami in all four phases of the game, coaching included.

“I am really proud of our football team, and I say ‘team’,” Beamer said. “The way we won together as a football team with all areas contributing, I like that a lot.”

What coach wouldn’t?

Virginia Tech was able to run the ball and stop the run. Ryan Williams washed away any doubt that he could be an every down back. Linebacker Cody Grimm might have played the game of his life. The Hokies were the first team to really pressure quarterback Jacory Harris and beat the Canes at the line of scrimmage. They used a lot more man pressure and took away his check-downs.

Where did it all come from? To start, the Hokies’ effort against Miami reflected what the coaches had seen in practice all week. Just because everyone was talking about Miami and not Virginia Tech didn’t mean the Hokies weren’t preparing like they were the Top 10 team.

“I know a lot of guys, it bothered them that we weren’t getting any respect,” said Williams, who rushed for a game-high 150 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. "But today we earned it, and nobody can really say anything about what we did today. We went out and played a strong defensive game and offensive game. We put points on the board, people said we weren’t going to be able to put points on the board. We stopped their offense. People said we weren’t going to be able to stop their offense. We defeated every odd today and came out with the win. Can’t say anything (now).”

Earlier this week, Foster took it upon himself to post the Hokies’ national defensive rankings over the past few seasons on each of his players’ lockers. He wanted to show them where they stood this year -- 107th in the nation in rushing defense and 77th in total defense -- compared to their recent top 10 rankings. He picked the tempo up at practice and got after his players.

“I cut that out and handed it to them and said it’s your responsibility to uphold the tradition of this program and this unit,” Foster said. "This is a week that I’ve been on them hard and challenged them a lot because we had a great football team coming in here.”

The offense also showed up.

“The offense has been hiding for a little bit,” Williams said with a smirk. “We’ve been hiding. We wanted to pull it out when a lot of people weren’t expecting it, and that’s what we did today.”

In every phase of the game.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

	Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE
	Miami failed to protect quarterback Jacory Harris and could not get anything going on offense.

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Miami lost 31-7 to the Hokies in what was the Canes’ worst performance in three games this season, and offensive tackle Jason Fox still doesn’t believe Virginia Tech is the better team.

In fact, he said the Hokies made plays early in the game that got their confidence up and “let them feel like they could play with us.”

“In all reality I don’t think they’re a better team than us,” Fox said. “I think they played better than us.”

And the scoreboard reflected it. So will the Coastal Division standings.

Miami had the hype and the No. 9 ranking in the country, but Virginia Tech had the more complete effort, leaving the Canes looking up at the Hokies in the ACC’s pecking order and with much room for improvement heading into next weekend’s game against Oklahoma.

With or without Sam Bradford, the Sooners are still the runners-up for the national title, and that's a postseason destination that -- at least for the time being -- popped out of the picture for Miami as quickly as it appeared.

Miami couldn’t stop the run, it couldn’t run the ball, and it couldn’t protect quarterback Jacory Harris for the first time this season. That doesn’t mean, though, that the Hurricanes doubt their abilities. Miami tight end Jimmy Graham said the Hurricanes are “10 times better” than how they played on Saturday, and that they never even practiced that poorly before.

“We’re going to go watch film, get graded on this, then turn right back around and we’ve got another great opportunity against another ranked team at home,” Graham said. “I just see it all as opportunities for us. We’ve been given three great opportunities in a row and next week is just another opportunity we can really do something and get back to winning and the way the U is supposed to be.”

After a 2-0 start, many outside the program thought Miami was exactly where it needed to be to regain national respect -- ranked in the top 10. But there was more talk this week than there were plays from Miami.

“We’re not worried about hype,” Fox said. “It’s the fourth week of the season and this is our third game. Hype doesn’t matter. We still have to win games before any of that matters. Rankings mean stuff at the end of the season, and we just weren’t executing on offense, couldn’t stop them on defense and they had better special teams play than us. They beat us in all three phases of the game.”

And that makes Virginia Tech the better team -- at least it did on Saturday.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- This is nothing new in the ACC. Virginia Tech is leading the Coastal Division. What's different is how Virginia Tech beat Miami -- with a complete game for a 31-7 victory. Last week in this same stadium, Virginia Tech had just two rushing first downs against Nebraska. They waited until the final minute to show their offense. Against Miami, they came out strong in all three phases of the game in the first quarter and got their running game going with Ryan Williams. The Hokies' win was one they can build off of, and one Miami can learn from. Heading down to the interviews now. More to come on this game and the rest of today's ACC action.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- This reminds me of 2008. The Canes were on a five-game winning streak heading into their game at Georgia Tech, they were the talk of the ACC, and then, well, you all know what happend in Atlanta. They were embarrassed.

This is a similar situation, but it's only the Canes' third game of the season. Miami reminded us today that it's still a very young team. Virginia Tech has outplayed the Canes and looked like the better team, but it's hard not to wonder if the hype didn't start to go their heads a little bit. Are they mature enough to handle national title talk, and a top 10 ranking? Are they good enough for the national title talk and top 10 ranking? Not today they aren't.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Consider the question officially answered: Yes, Ryan Williams is good enough to keep the Hokies' offense going without Darren Evans.

It's such a simple formula -- give the ball to Williams and let Tyrod Taylor run -- that it's hard not to wonder where this offense has been. The only answer seems to be hibernating until the conference season began. Miami has only 41 yards rushing in this game, and the duo of Javarris James and Graig Cooper couldn't combine for the kind of day that Williams has had. He's got 136 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, and his latest touchdown just put this game out of reach at 31-7.

Yes, this is the same Williams who had about six carries in the entire second half last week against Nebraska. He also caught two passes for 40 yards. Bryan Stinespring is using what he's got this week, and Miami's defense can't seem to do a thing about it.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Hokies are doing it again. I'm sitting here watching them beat the No. 9 ranked team in the nation, impressed with them on both sides of the ball, and thinking this is the most complete game I've seen them play in, well, a long time. They've already won three of the last five ACC titles, and just when it seemed like there was somebody else in the ACC to challenge them - poof - Miami has a meltdown.

Look at the rest of the ACC scoreboard, and it's as dreary as the weather here - NC State, Maryland, Clemson, FSU, UNC all losing or have already lost.

At this rate, we're looking at a repeat of last year - Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech deciding the division, this time when they meet in October.

osted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Miami safety Randy Phillips has an undisclosed injury and will not return. This is not good for the Canes' defense to be down three starters, and Phillips is a leader of that defense.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Here's a quick breakdown of what we've seen so far in Lane Stadium (which has been all Virginia Tech):

Stat of the half: Miami has just 54 yards of total offense. That's an incredible job by Virginia Tech's defense. Miami came into this game No. 1 in the ACC, averaging 465 yards per game. It's an entirely different defense than what we've seen the first few weeks, and that's a credit to Bud Foster for getting these guys prepared. It's not the chess match with offensive coordinator Mark Whipple that I thought it would be. It's been check mate the whole first half, as the Hokies have had Miami cornered.

Best player in the half: Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor. This is what happens when Taylor is given the green light to run -- it ignites the entire offense. Not only has Taylor rushed for 56 yards on seven carries, but he's also made big plays in the passing game. He's completed 3 of 5 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. This is how it should be -- build around his strength, and then on the few times he does throw the ball, be efficient at it. He passed Michael Vick in career rushing yards. Who's knocking Bryan Stinespring now?

What Miami needs to do: Run the ball and keep the pressure off of Jacory Harris. The Canes are losing the battle up front. They've also got to get the defense off the field.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Here's a quick note from ESPN's research department after the Hokies' blocked punt for a touchdown put Virginia Tech ahead 21-0 in the second quarter:

The top 3 teams over the last decade in nonoffensive touchdowns have at least one on Saturday.

Most Non-Offensive touchdowns in the FBS since 1999

Virginia Tech: 74 (1 on Saturday)

Kansas State: 72 (2 on Saturday)

Texas: 65 (1 on Saturday)

Miami: 63

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Miami got a key turnover and it didn't matter. The Hokies fumbled and Miami recovered it on their 23-yard line but couldn't do anything with it.

That's because Virginia Tech's defense is smothering Miami and getting into the backfield. This is the first defense that has really disrupted Jacory Harris, who has been sacked twice already.

He's not playing as smart as he could, and if Miami's passing game isn't working, the offense apparently isn't either. Virginia Tech, which was ranked 107th in the nation in rush defense heading into this game, has held Miami to minus-24 yards on the ground so far. The Hokies are controlling the clock, the line of scrimmage, and in turn the game so far.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- This is not the same Virginia Tech team I saw last week. It's running the ball. It's passing the ball. It's beating Miami's defense. It's defending. And it's already up 14-0.

In weather like this, whoever can run the ball and make fewer mistakes will win, and already Miami has a turnover, and Virginia Tech is doing what it does best -- set Ryan Williams free. But Williams also caught a 23-yard pass that sustained another scoring drive. Virginia Tech is not waiting until the fourth quarter to play today.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Virginia Tech took a 7-0 lead on Miami with 9:46 remaining in the first quarter, and the Hokies can thank their defense for setting it up. Virginia Tech's defense, which has struggled this season and not played up to defensive coordinator Bud Foster's standards, came out looking like they had something to prove.

Dorian Porch sacked Jacory Harris and he fumbled, setting the Hokies up on Miami's 11-yard line. Virginia Tech is running the ball well, and Ryan Williams hasn't looked like he has any sign of the nagging ankle injury he said was bothering him last week.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- There seem to be more towels on the field right now as the players warm up as there are footballs. It's pouring here. There aren't many people in the stands at all right now, and those who are are blobs of ponchos. Everyone is soaked.

Demetrius Taylor is getting his first career start today for the Hokies at defensive tackle, and Stephan Virgil is back, but we won't know until they line up if he'll be at boundary or field corner.

For Miami, Aldarius Johnson, Andrew Smith and Marcus Forston didn't make the trip, and they were all on the injury report. Here's how the Canes' starting defensive line will look: LE Steven Wesley, LT Allen Bailey, RT Joe Joseph, RE Olivier Vernon.

Obviously it doesn't help to have two injured starters missing on the defensive line, but I still think the Canes will hold their own. The only other lineup change is DeMarcus Van Dyke will start at corner over Sam Shields.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- There is a steady drizzle here, and Hokies fans are walking around in their ponchos and carrying umbrellas. It doesn't look like it's going to clear up anytime soon, and that will favor the team that can run the ball the most effectively today without turning it over. You would think it would help the Hokies, as rain can slow down the game and disrupt the timing and pattern of routes.

Virginia Tech is second in the ACC in rushing offense with 198 yards per game, and Ryan Williams is the kind of player who can make a difference in this game, especially with Miami down two starters on its defensive line. Of course, let's not forget Virginia Tech's rushing defense is 107th in the nation right now. Miami is averaging 137 rushing yards per game, but leads the conference in pass offense with 328 yards per game.

So yes, weather could be a factor here today, and should even the playing field a bit. If it really starts to rain, it's going to be anybody's game.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Just got settled into my seat here in the press box, and I'm ready to get started on all things ACC football today. In addition to the blog updates, join me all afternoon on College Football Live Nation for live chats and updates on today's ACC games. It's sort of like Twitter, in that's it's real-time. See you there. And here.