ESPN College Football

WEEK 4

Welcome back to the ACC’s ultimate road trip. In case you’re just joining us, this series is your ticket to each of the best games in the ACC every week. These are the games that – if you had the money and the time – you would want to be at this fall. The season is still a long ways off, but here in the blogosphere, we’re already into Week 4:

Saturday, September 22

• Memphis at Duke
• Clemson at Florida State
• Miami at Georgia Tech
• Maryland at West Virginia
• East Carolina at North Carolina
• The Citadel at NC State
• Virginia at TCU
• Bowling Green at Virginia Tech
• Army at Wake Forest

My choice: Clemson at Florida State

Why: Without question this will be the game of the week and one of the most important matchups in the Atlantic Division race. It will feature two programs with top 10 recruiting classes and two experienced quarterbacks in Tajh Boyd and EJ Manuel. Both programs have questions to answer on the offensive line. Miami at Georgia Tech will be an important game for the Coastal Division race, but expectations aren’t nearly as high for those two programs as they are for Clemson and Florida State right now. This will be the first ACC game of the season for Clemson, but a win over Auburn in the season opener and the Tigers could be rolling into Tally with a 3-0 record. With a win over Wake Forest, Florida State should also be 3-0 after beating up on creampuffs Murray State and Savannah State. Both Clemson and Florida State are bringing in the kind of talent that could contend for a national title, but they’re also in each other’s way. Who will get stepped on first?

More in this series:

• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 3

Now that spring practices are over, it’s time to re-evaluate the ACC pecking order for 2012. There wasn’t much change at the top from the pre-spring power rankings, but Georgia Tech did get a slight bump, along with two teams on Tobacco Road. Here’s a look at the latest ACC power rankings:

1. Florida State: The Noles’ defensive line should be one of the deepest and best in the conference, if not the country, and they’ve got an outstanding quarterback in EJ Manuel. If the young offensive line can mature quickly and the running game improves from 2011, there’s no reason the Seminoles shouldn’t be contending for the ACC title.

2. Clemson: The Tigers could open the season without star receiver Sammy Watkins, who is awaiting his punishment after he was arrested on misdemeanor drug charges, but as long as he’s in the lineup and the offensive line is playing well, Clemson has enough talent to defend its 2011 ACC title.

3. Virginia Tech: It’s hard to forget how the Hokies fared against Clemson in two meetings last season, but they enter this season with the better defense. The question is how quickly the revamped offensive line can come together, and who will emerge as the next star running back.

4. NC State: This team is quietly preparing a championship-caliber roster. Quarterback Mike Glennon is still under the radar, and he’s got an experienced offensive line to work with. This is a team that could surprise some people.

5. Georgia Tech: The Jackets had a promising spring, but the defensive line has to replace two of three starters, and last season’s atrocious special teams still have a lot to prove. One thing is for sure: These guys will be able to run the ball on just about anyone.

6. Wake Forest: Much like the rest of its division, Wake Forest’s success will hinge in part on how quickly the new starters on the offensive line come together. The Demon Deacons have an experienced and much-improved quarterback in Tanner Price, and last year they made a statement that they’re not to be overlooked in the ACC race.

7. North Carolina: The two biggest questions for the Tar Heels are how quickly they can adapt to and execute a new system under first-year coach Larry Fedora, and where they will find their motivation now that the NCAA has banned them from the postseason. This spring revealed a positive outlook for the new offense, which should give quarterback Bryn Renner a chance to shine.

8. Virginia: The ACC’s 2011 Coach of the Year has quickly raised expectations, but they should be tempered because seven starters have to be replaced on defense. Michael Rocco is the undisputed starting quarterback -- unless Alabama transfer Phillip Sims has something to say about it.

9. Miami: With Stephen Morris out this spring with a back injury, quarterback transfer Ryan Williams had a chance to impress the coaches. The position is one of many questions still looming for the Canes, a young team still waiting for closure from an NCAA investigation.

10. Maryland: The Terps had a good spring and were able to move forward with players who wanted to be there. It was a positive vibe, but coach Randy Edsall is still tangled in the shadow of last year’s two-win season. He’ll have to improve upon it without the services of former quarterback Danny O’Brien.

11. Boston College: Several offseason staff changes were embraced this spring, and quarterback Chase Rettig made strides under yet another offensive coordinator, Doug Martin. The Eagles have to find a way to win without two of their most valuable players in running back Montel Harris, who was dismissed from the team, and linebacker Luke Kuechly, who left early for the NFL.

12. Duke: The Blue Devils had a good spring and are still buying into the philosophies of coach David Cutcliffe. They’ve been on the verge of making the postseason before, but fans are looking for them to finally break through in Year 5 under Cutcliffe. Quarterback Sean Renfree can get them there if they minimize the turnovers and play better defense.

Our series taking a look at the most important game on the schedules this year for each ACC school continues today with Clemson. For those of you just tuning in, this is a look at which games will reveal the most or have the biggest impact on the 2012 race.

Clemson

Most important game: Sept. 22 at Florida State

Why it’s important: Both teams have legitimate chances to win the Atlantic Division title, and this game should produce the frontrunner. It’s the first league game of the season for Clemson, and the first of back-to-back road trips against division opponents. It will feature two of the ACC’s top quarterbacks in EJ Manuel and Tajh Boyd, but the key will be how Clemson’s offensive line handles Florida State’s defensive line.

On paper it’s a matchup the Noles should win up front, as Clemson has to replace three starters. In the bigger picture, both Clemson and Florida State have set the standard in ACC recruiting, and this game will help determine which program is making better use of that talent. If Clemson is going to defend its 2011 title, this is a game the Tigers can’t afford to lose.

More in this series:

• Boston College

Here are the five things we learned in the ACC this spring.

1. We've been saying this for the last couple of seasons, but it might finally ring true in 2012: Florida State has enough talent to return to the upper echelon of college football. The Seminoles are going to be as talented as any defense in the country. Quarterback EJ Manuel returns for his senior season, and the Seminoles did a good job rebuilding their offensive line this spring. FSU is going to have to stay healthy and run the ball more effectively to play in a BCS bowl game.

2. Don't sleep on Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets return what many believe might be the best offensive line in coach Paul Johnson's tenure at Tech. Quarterback Tevin Washington doesn't do anything spectacularly, but he avoids mistakes and operates Johnson's triple-option spread offense well. If Tech can find a nose guard to run defensive coordinator Al Groh's 3-4 defense, it will be a tough out in the ACC.

3. Clemson might have the best receiver tandem in the country. We knew sophomore Sammy Watkins was a superstar and one of the best playmakers in the country. But DeAndre Hopkins would be the No. 1 receiver on any other team in the conference -- and maybe the country. Quarterback Tajh Boyd has two receivers who will give ACC defensive coordinators some sleepless nights.

4. North Carolina is going to play really, really fast under new coach Larry Fedora. The Tar Heels won't be eligible to play in a bowl game this coming season because of NCAA probation, but it might end up being a blessing for Fedora. The Tar Heels will learn Fedora's no-huddle spread offense without much pressure or expectations.

5. Virginia Tech has won at least 10 games in eight consecutive seasons, the longest such streak in the country. We're used to the Hokies simply reloading every season under coach Frank Beamer. It might not be as easy this season, though. Virginia Tech must replace four offensive linemen, tailback David Wilson and top receivers Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin. The Hokies will probably be slow out of the gates.

2011 overall record: 9-4
2011 conference record: 5-3 (t-3rd)
Returning starters: Offense: 6; defense: 8; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners:
QB EJ Manuel, CB Greg Reid, LB Telvin Smith, DE Brandon Jenkins, DE Bjoern Werner, WR Rashad Greene

Key losses:
T Zebrie Sanders, WR Bert Reed, LB Nigel Bradham

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Devonta Freeman* (579 yards)
Passing: EJ Manuel* (2,666 yards)
Receiving: Rashad Greene* (596 yards)
Tackles: Nigel Bradham (86)
Sacks: Brandon Jenkins* (8)
Interceptions: Lamarcus Joyner* (4)

Spring answers

1. Erving steps in: The Seminoles have to replace both starting offensive tackles, but coach Jimbo Fisher believes he has found a future NFL starter in converted defensive tackle Cameron Erving. The 6-foot-5, 304-pound sophomore from Colquitt, Ga., has good feet and long arms. He stepped in at left tackle, and sophomore Bobby Hart and junior Bryan Stork are battling to start at right tackle entering preseason camp.

2. Deep receiving corps: With big-play wideouts such as Rashad Greene, Kenny Shaw and Christian Green coming back, the Seminoles were already loaded on the perimeter. Throw Willie Haulstead and redshirt freshman Kelvin Benjamin into the mix, and it might be the deepest receiving corps in the country. Haulstead missed all of last season with a concussion, and Benjamin was redshirted. Fisher said the pair might be his team’s best wideouts, which is saying a lot.

3. Defensive line is stocked: Defensive end Bjoern Woerner and tackles Timmy Jernigan and Jacobbi McDaniel missed the spring because of injuries, but their replacements showed FSU will be pretty deep in its defensive front. End Cornellius “Tank” Carradine and nose tackle Anthony McCloud had nice springs.

Fall questions

1. The running game: Florida State struggled to run the ball last season, finishing next-to-last in the ACC at 112.2 yards per game. Injuries were a big part of the problem. The Seminoles didn’t find many answers in the spring. Top returning rushers Devonta Freeman and Chris Thompson missed spring practice because of injuries, and promising sophomore James Wilder Jr. miss a big chunk after he was arrested for resisting arrest in February.

2. Punter: The Seminoles are really going to miss departed punter Shawn Powell, who averaged 47.1 yards per punt and helped FSU’s defense by putting opponents in bad field position. Freshman Cason Beatty, a former high school quarterback, enrolled in classes at FSU in January and participated in spring practice. He struggled with consistency, but FSU coaches like his strong leg and hang time.

3. Backup quarterback: Senior EJ Manuel needs to stay healthy for the Seminoles to reach their potential, but there are a couple good backups behind him. Clint Trickett has added weight and threw the ball well in the spring. He’s still battling redshirt freshman Jacob Coker for the No. 2 job. FSU will also hold its breath to see if highly regarded quarterback recruit Jameis Winston of Hueytown, Ala., enrolls in school or signs a professional baseball contract this summer.

Our series continues today with the Seminoles, who face the same storyline that they seem to face heading into every season: Are they back?

For a complete recap of the series, click here.

Florida State: LT Cameron Erving

2011 stats: The 6-foot-5, 304-pound Erving played in every game last season as a redshirt freshman … and recorded 20 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack as a defensive tackle.

What he means to the Seminoles: So how is a player who is stepping into a new position the most important on a squad with the talent to contend for a conference crown? Simple: To compete, FSU needs to protect EJ Manuel, and it needs a consistent ground game. The Seminoles were the nation's No. 104 rushing offense last season. Manuel, for one, carried the ball just 10 fewer times than leading running back Devonta Freeman, who was banged up this spring. FSU should be deeper in the backfield, with Chris Thompson, James Wilder and Mario Pender seeing more action this spring. And with FSU's returning talent among its receivers, Manuel will need the opportunity to make more plays with his arm. Which brings us to Erving, who is replacing left tackle Zebrie Sanders, a likely draft pick this weekend. Sanders was the only non-freshman starter on the line at the end of last season, and growing pains still have to be expected among the young unit in 2012. Erving is the newest of the bunch, and he is playing the most important position. And a smooth transition there could go a long way in helping FSU protect Manuel, improve its ground game and compete for an ACC crown this coming season.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — If Florida State is going to return to the upper echelon of college football in 2012, which it has been trying to do for more than a decade, the Seminoles are going to have to be more explosive on offense.

Last season, FSU ranked No. 4 nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 15 points per game, and ranked among the top 10 in net punting and kickoff returns.

The Seminoles were explosive on defense and special teams during a 9-4 season in 2011, but their offense, because of inexperience and injuries, was far from potent. FSU ranked 39th in scoring (30.6 points per game), 77th in total offense (369.1 yards), 33rd in passing (257 yards) and 104th in rushing (112.1 yards).

“When you’re a great football team, you’ve got to be great in all three phases,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. “There are days on offense when you’re not going to score 35 points. You’ve got to be good in all three phases in case that happens.”

Fisher believes the pieces are in place for FSU to be better on offense this coming season. Quarterback EJ Manuel, who was plagued by shoulder and leg injuries in 2011, is back for his senior season. FSU’s offensive line will be stronger and more experienced after four freshmen started in its 18-14 victory over Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl. Tailback Chris Thompson is back after missing most of last season with a back injury, and the Seminoles will bring back one of the country’s deepest and most talented receiver corps.

As long as the Seminoles stay healthy, Fisher expects his offense to be better in 2012.

“Everything that could have gone wrong on offense last year went wrong,” Fisher said.

FSU’s problems started in spring practice, when it lost starting offensive tackle Andrew Datko to shoulder injuries. Manuel injured his left shoulder in FSU’s 23-13 loss to Oklahoma on Sept. 17 and missed the next game, a 35-30 loss at Clemson. Thompson broke two vertebrae in his back in a 35-30 loss at Wake Forest the next week and missed the rest of the season. Without Thompson, FSU’s running game was never able to get going.

Fisher believes Manuel is the kind of quarterback that can lead FSU to an ACC championship and BCS bowl game. Manuel completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 2,666 yards with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions and ranked No. 18 nationally in pass efficiency (151.2 rating) last season.

“I don’t know if he played great, but he played pretty well,” Fisher said. “He was banged up. Staying healthy is going to be critical for him this year.”

Manuel, from Virginia Beach, Va., played most of the Champs Sports Bowl after breaking the fibula in his left leg. The injury hasn’t completely healed, but Manuel is expected to participate in most of spring practice.

“It will be fine,” Manuel said. “It really doesn’t hurt much because it’s not a weight-bearing bone. It was really painful when I was hurt, but I didn’t know it was broken. I thought it was like a deep thigh bruise.”

Fisher said Manuel earned the respect of his teammates by playing with a broken leg in the bowl game.

“He’s very tough and very competitive,” Fisher said. “He plays with pain really well. The team always comes before ‘me’ with him, which is a great quality.”

Manuel will have plenty of weapons at his disposal. The Seminoles’ top four receivers – Rashad Greene, Rodney Smith, Christian Green and Kenny Shaw each caught more than 25 passes last season – are coming back. Fisher said junior Willie Haulstead, who missed last season with a concussion, and redshirt freshman Kelvin Benjamin might be as good as any of FSU’s returning receivers. Benjamin, from Belle Glade, Fla., is 6 feet 6 and 242 pounds.

“I’m extremely excited about these freshmen we have coming in,” Manuel said. “Guys that were young last year like Rashad Greene and Kenny Shaw are going to be better. Our offensive line is going to be more experienced and it needs to get stronger, which they’re doing.”

Finding depth at tailback and solidifying the offensive line are FSU’s priorities this spring. Thompson is expected to participate in spring practice, and sophomore Devonta Freeman is working his way back from a lower back injury. Freshman tailback Mario Pender, of Cape Coral, Fla., enrolled at FSU in January and will also compete in spring practice.

Keeping Manuel healthy will be FSU’s priority when the season begins.

“Last year was frustrating, but I think it’s something you build character from,” Manuel said. “Injuries are a part of the game. You’re never going to be healthy. You’ve got to play whether you’re 80 or 90 percent or 20 percent. If you’re going to play, you have to go out there with the mindset to win.”

Mark Schlabach talks to Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel about his progress returning from an injury, the team’s maturation, and his goals for spring practice.

A few more notes for you out of Tallahassee today:

Only five players are expected to miss spring practices, the school announced this afternoon:

• Offensive guards Jacob Fahrenkrug (left shoulder), Garrett Faircloth (hip), offensive lineman Daniel Foose (lower back), defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel (ankle) and defensive end Bjoern Werner (right shoulder) will all miss spring practice while rehabbing from those procedures.
• Quarterback EJ Manuel sustained a fractured fibula in his left leg in the Champs Sports Bowl win over Notre Dame, but has been cleared for spring practice.
• Other Seminoles who had some arthroscopic procedures but will take part in spring practice are defensive tackle Darious Cummings (knee), Dustin Hopkins (left knee), Anthony McCloud (knee) and Xavier Rhodes (left knee). Safety Karlos Williams, who sustained a wrist fracture in the regular season finale at Florida, had successful surgery and is expected to practice this spring.
• Chris Thompson, who had a season-ending back injury at Wake Forest in the fifth game of 2011, is expected back for spring practice. Running back Devonta Freeman has been rehabbing a lower back injury, but also is expected to participate in spring practice.

Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas and Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd, two friends and competitors from the state of Virginia, have already begun texting and talking to each other about the upcoming season.

“It’s been a nice break, but at the same time, you’re definitely anxious to get back on the field,” Thomas said.

ACC fans should be just as eager to see them this spring.

What was a position of question in the conference at this time a year ago has evolved into one of the league’s biggest reasons for hope this fall. In 2011, at least half of the quarterbacks in the ACC were entering their rookie seasons, and Miami’s Jacory Harris was the only senior starter. Now, they’re seasoned, smarter and looking to improve upon successful debuts. For the first time in league history, the ACC had five quarterbacks top 3,000 passing yards, and all five of them -- Boyd, Thomas, UNC’s Bryn Renner, NC State’s Mike Glennon and Wake Forest’s Tanner Price -- return. That doesn’t include Duke’s Sean Renfree, who threw for 3,131 yards as a sophomore in 2010 and also returns this season.

“I think it’s going to be great for the conference as a whole,” Thomas said. “All of the guys are exceptionally poised and getting ready to be a national title contender in the ACC. That’s what all of us want and have been striving for since we’ve been here. All of us have a great chance because we’ve gone through our first year and we all had pretty good years. It’s been very good for us to play as much as we did and as well as we did.”

Boyd set a single-season league mark with 38 touchdowns responsible last season. Glennon (32) tied for the fourth-highest total with 32, while Thomas accounted for 30. All of them, plus Renner and Florida State's EJ Manuel, finished among the top 50 in the nation in passing efficiency in their first seasons as full-time starters. Georgia Tech's Tevin Washington, also a first-year starter last season, would have ranked 13th nationally if he had enough pass attempts to qualify for the pass efficiency ratings.

In the ACC’s history, the league has had 24 quarterbacks record 30 3,000-yard seasons. Only three have had back-to-back 3,000-yard efforts in Florida State’s Chris Weinke (1999, 2000), NC State’s Philip Rivers (2002, 2003) and the Wolfpack’s Russell Wilson (2009, 2010). That number could increase, though, if the ACC’s current group of quarterbacks continues to mature at the rate it did from the first half of last season to the second half.

Manuel, who was hindered by a shoulder injury for part of last season, went the final eight games of the season without throwing an interception. Glennon threw 11 of his 31 touchdowns in the last three games and only four of his 12 picks in the last five games. Boyd completed eight of 24 passes in last year’s spring game and after an 8-0 start to 2011-12 was a legitimate Heisman contender. Renner was one of the ACC’s most efficient passers and he did it with bone spurs in his ankle. Both Renner and Glennon will have four returning starters on their respective offensive lines to work behind.

“The biggest difference for me the first year was getting used to going out there every series,” Glennon said. “In the past, if I got in the game, I would go in for about two series and the game was over. It was different for me to get used to staying mentally focused each and every series knowing that when we go off the field in five minutes I’ll be right back out there.

“I think I improved every game. Even if we lost and I didn’t have my best game, I still improved as a player. I think I learned from my experiences and I definitely feel in the bowl game I was playing my best football of the year, and that was just building on each game, learning from mistakes and building on the good things.”

As the quarterbacks continue to build on the good things, so will the ACC -- starting this spring.

They were superstars, a heralded recruiting class carrying high expectations before they even set foot on campus. Miami's Class of 2008 was ranked No. 1 in the country by ESPN.com, but after a final review, it shaped up more like the No. 20 class. There were a few standout individuals like Sean Spence, but overall, the Canes fell out of the top 10 of RecruitingNation's re-rank. Clemson didn't receive quite as harsh of a demotion, falling from No. 2 to No. 4.

Here's a look back at how the ESPNU 150 Class of 2008 fared:

Nos. 1-25 (Da'Quan Bowers, Arthur Brown, Jamie Harper, Sean Spence)

Nos. 26-50: (Ryan Williams, Marcus Forston, Brandon Harris, Mike Glennon, Kyle Parker, Terrance Parks, Brandon Thompson, Spencer Adams, Andre Ellington, Jermaine Thomas)

Nos. 51-75: (EJ Manuel, Ramon Buchanan, Nigel Bradham, Aldarius Johnson, Xavier Brewer, Davon Johnson, Nigel Carr)

Nos. 76-100: (Jordan Futch, Antoine McClain, Dwayne Allen, Brandon Barnes, Marcus Robinson)

Nos. 101-125: (C.J. Holton, Taylor Cook, Christian Wilson, Kyle Long)

Nos. 126-150: (Kenny Tate, Kerry Boykins, Travis Benjamin)

Two wins. Five straight losing postseasons. Zero BCS wins. More points than you’ve ever seen scored in any bowl game ever in the history of bowl games.

It all added up to countless embarrassment for the ACC this bowl season.

Spring practices, summer camp, the opening kickoff for 2012 -- none of it could possibly come fast enough after the ACC’s downright dismal finish to the 2011 bowl season. Only Florida State and NC State were able to come away with bowl wins, but it wasn’t just the overall 2-6 bowl record that was devastating to the ACC’s image, it was the final loss -- Clemson’s 70-33 beatdown by West Virginia -- that made the league the joke of the postseason. It was a new low for the ACC, which saw its respect dip a notch below the Big East this year.

It all began on a sour note with North Carolina’s flat performance in a 41-24 loss to Missouri. UNC gave up 31 points in the first half of the final game under interim coach Everett Withers, and the Tar Heels set the tone for the league. NC State and Florida State gave the ACC hope, though, with wins over Louisville and Notre Dame, respectively. It was an impressive three-touchdown performance by Wolfpack quarterback Mike Glennon, and once again the Seminoles’ defense made the difference in an 18-14 win over the Irish. FSU had to climb out of a 14-point second-half deficit, but two touchdown passes by EJ Manuel, two field goals from Dustin Hopkins and a rapid maturation of a young offensive line led the comeback.

The highlights end there.

Wake Forest couldn’t stop Mississippi State, despite winning the turnover battle 4-0, and Georgia Tech squandered a 14-point lead before losing to Utah in overtime. Virginia made Auburn look like All-American track stars in a 43-24 loss in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, the Hoos’ performance was a reminder that they were promoted to that bowl thanks to Virginia Tech’s unexpected selection in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Is it too late to give those BCS bids back? The ACC went 0-for-2 in its first season with two teams in BCS bowls, and while Virginia Tech’s narrow 23-20 overtime loss to Michigan was respectable, it was yet another yawn in the Hokies’ tired postseason storyline. There was no comparison, though, to what happened in New Orleans (a strong defensive performance in a loss) to what happened in Miami (absolutely no defense in what had to be one of the league’s most embarrassing losses ever).

The ACC dropped to an indefensible 2-13 in BCS bowls. Its respect dropped even further.

It’s way too early for this. But that’s the fun of it. Heck, the ACC is impossible to predict from week to week, let alone in January. Consider this a starting point. A base for your offseason arguments. Don’t like it? I’ve got a mailbag. Learn how to use it. Let the debate begin …

1. Florida State: I know, I know, you’ve heard this one before. But it’s impossible to ignore the fact that nine starters return to one of the nation’s best defenses. Quarterback EJ Manuel will be back, and the Noles again have some of the nation’s best recruits.

2. Clemson: Quarterback Tajh Boyd and receiver Sammy Watkins were record-setters in their first seasons as starters. There’s plenty of incoming talent, and the Tigers should contend for the Atlantic Division again if the defense improves.

3. Virginia Tech: This staff knows how to develop players, and that quality will again be critical as the Hokies have to rebuild their offensive line and will lose their top playmaker in David Wilson. Quarterback Logan Thomas could be the best in the ACC, though, if the supporting cast emerges.

4. NC State: Consider the Pack the darkhorse candidate for the 2012 race. If NC State can stay healthy, it should have two of the league’s top players in quarterback Mike Glennon and cornerback David Amerson.

5. Georgia Tech: The majority of the Jackets’ roster returns, and it should be better after growing pains in 2011. With an experienced offensive line, and the bulk of playmakers returning, Georgia Tech should again be a contender in the Coastal Division.

6. Virginia: If the Cavaliers were playing for the division title in just the second season under coach Mike London, there’s no reason to doubt them in his third. There were some important lessons learned down the stretch, and it was a strong season for UVa to build on.

7. Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons were a field goal away from winning the Atlantic Division title in 2011, and quarterback Tanner Price is good enough to put them in position to do it again.

8. North Carolina: The Tar Heels have another transition to go through with first-year coach Larry Fedora, and the defense will have to fill some big shoes. Offensively, though, there is enough in place that UNC can surprise some people in the Coastal Division race.

9. Boston College: The Eagles’ strong finish to 2011 left a lot of optimism within the program, and despite the loss of linebacker Luke Kuechly, the defense should still be strong. The return of running back Montel Harris will certainly help, but again the team must adjust to another offensive coordinator.

10. Miami: The biggest thing Miami has in its favor right now is a strong recruiting class. With eight starters leaving early for the NFL draft and the departures of the Class of 2008 -- plus possible NCAA sanctions looming -- there’s a lot of uncertainty in the program now.

11. Maryland: Look at it this way: It can’t get much worse. The hire of Mike Locksley as offensive coordinator will help, especially in recruiting, but how much, how fast? And has the dust finally settled, or will there be more changes?

12. Duke: Somebody has to be last, and until Duke proves otherwise, it’s status quo in Durham. Duke suffered from many of the same problems last year that it did in 2010.

There has been talk of Florida State using the Champs Sports Bowl as a springboard into 2012, a way for the Seminoles to brush off the disappointment of unachieved goals this year and reset the bar for next season.

None of that will happen, though, unless coach Jimbo Fisher can find a way to squeeze more offense out of what appears to be a nearly empty tube.

Just one season after winning the Atlantic Division title, Fisher’s play calling has been called out by fans. The offensive line has taken its fair share of criticism, too, and it’s easy to see why: FSU enters Thursday’s game against Notre Dame with the nation’s No. 99 rushing offense, ranked No. 111 in sacks allowed and No. 73 in total offense. The Seminoles beat Florida in the regular-season finale with only 95 yards of total offense. They had four offensive touchdowns in the final three games, including just one against Miami and one against Virginia.

While defense is the hallmark of a championship team -- and there’s no doubting the Noles’ defense -- it’s only part of the equation. And if Florida State fans are going to expect more, the Noles will have to produce more against the Irish.

It’s been a perplexing end to what was supposed to be a productive season for first-year starting quarterback EJ Manuel and his supporting cast. FSU entered the season with depth at running back, experience on the offensive line, and Manuel had big-game experience as a backup. Part of the problem can be attributed to injuries.

The extended losses of senior linemen Andrew Datko and David Spurlock have led FSU to start six different offensive line combinations. No single group has been together in the same position for more than three consecutive games. It’s now possible that as many as four freshmen will play against Notre Dame. Manuel was also injured earlier this season, and a total of 13 starters or key reserves have missed a combined 64 games. Six FSU offensive linemen have missed games this season, and running Chris Thompson, the team’s leading rusher in 2010, suffered a season-ending back injury in the middle of the season.

“I’ve never been through injuries like we’ve been through this year,” Fisher said. “In the end it gave a lot of young guys time to develop and play. Hopefully we’ll play well in the game and I think going into the spring and hopefully next year, it makes it look very promising.”

It will only look that way, though, if Florida State wins -- and manages more than 95 yards in the process.

In the latest ESPNU College Football podcast, Ivan Maisel and Todd McShay discuss the matchup between Florida State and Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl. They preview several games leading up to New Year's weekend, so feel free to listen to all of them, but the Florida State-related talk starts around the 30-minute mark.

McShay says that FSU and the Irish are two of the toughest teams in the country to figure out this year. He also said that FSU could be more efficient on offense, and while quarterback EJ Manuel has to improve his accuracy and consistency, he also needs more help from his receivers. McShay said that FSU's receivers lack speed and big-play ability of FSU teams of the past, and that should be a priority on the recruiting trail -- finding dynamic playmakers at receiver to help open the offense up.