ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

So much for the Chippewas keeping it close. BC won, 31-10, and is now bowl eligible in Frank Spaziani's first season as head coach. They did it against one of the nation's most productive quarterbacks, and on the heels of news that two key reserves -- quarterback Justin Tuggle and running back Josh Haden -- decided to transfer this week. For the umpteenth time this year, BC has overcome adversity to win.

Suddenly, the Eagles' toughest remaining opponent looks like UNC, after the Heels' Thursday night upset of Virginia Tech, but it's not unreasonable to think BC could win its final three games. The Eagles need some help, though, in order to win the Atlantic Division for a third straight year, and it could start next weekend if FSU beats Clemson.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

Boston College running back Montel Harris is a walking advertisement for BC football. He was recruited by Ball State and Duke until BC swept in a week before signing day and lured him away from his commitment to the Blue Devils. Now, Harris is the No. 2 leading rusher in the ACC with 99.2 yards per game, he had a record-setting day against NC State, and his role has just become even more important now that backup Josh Haden has decided to transfer. Haden, though, was also one of Harris’ best friends and roommates, along with backup quarterback Justin Tuggle, who also decided to transfer, so the decision hit him hard while it also left the Eagles thin at running back.

	Getty Images
	Montel Harris is the No. 2 leading rusher in the ACC with 99.2 yards per game.

Haden was the team's second-leading rusher. Now, freshman Rolandan Finch is listed as the No. 2 running back heading into Saturday's game against Central Michigan, but the Boston Globe reported Finch has been out all week with a virus. That leaves Jeff Smith, who has minus-1 yard rushing on six carries this year, and fullback James McCluskey, who has 15 yards on four carries.

In light of the recent news this week in Chestnut Hill, here’s a bonus edition Q&A for you, with the regular one coming tomorrow.

What do you think needs to happen in order for you to become more consistent?

Montel Harris: For us to execute as an offense. If all of us do our jobs one-on-one, we should be able to be successful in the pass and run game.

Where do you think you’ve made the most progress this year?

MH: I would say just being more comfortable than last year. If you’ve been there one time, you look at smaller things and smaller details. I think that’s helped me.

Do you feel more pressure now because there’s nobody behind you with much experience?

MH: A little bit. Every time you go out there, you don’t want to think about getting hurt, but now if you get hurt, who’s going to fill your shoes? You have to be more cognizant. I feel like it’s going to make me work harder since I’m the only running back that really has any experience.

Is it difficult to not play scared, though?

MH: Not for me. The more you think about something, the more it might happen. I’m just going to play like I always play on Saturdays, and if I get hurt, then I guess it was meant to happen. I’m really not worried about it.

How tough was it for you to hear the news, and how soon did you find out about it?

MH: It was real tough, even when Josh used to mention it sometimes. I used to always try and talk him out of it and tell him to think about it. When I found out it was official, it was pretty bad. I really didn’t know it was going to be official until my uncle saw it on ESPN. I was pretty down that whole day, even at practice. I can only be happy for Josh and Tuggs and wish them the best wherever they go.

Did they give you any indication as to why? I’m assuming with Josh it was playing time, but you’d think it has to be more than that.

MH: Actually it was more off the field things that were going on with Josh. He made the best decision for himself.

Second part coming up shortly ...

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

In order to be BCS bowl eligible, a team needs at least nine wins AND a top-14 final ranking in the BCS Standings. Notre Dame is automatically in with a top-eight final ranking. Now, onto your links ...

• Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson and Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer talked on Tuesday and cleared things up regarding blocking tactics.
• The sudden transfers of BC quarterback Justin Tuggle and running back Josh Haden aren't easy to explain, but the timing of their decisions doesn't make things any easier for Frank Spaziani.
• Duke's backs might not have had the most success running the football this year, but they're making up for it in several other important ways. Quarterback Thaddeus Lewis has been the primary catalyst, though, on offense.
• Miami coach Randy Shannon doesn't know when linebacker Sean Spence will return from a knee injury, but it won't be this weekend.
• Which tight end leads the ACC in receptions? The answer might surprise you.
• UNC will get some help on Thursday night if tight end Zack Pianalto returns to the lineup after suffering a mild concussion against Florida State.
• The odds are against them, but it's not impossible for Florida State to win the Atlantic Division.
• Virginia Tech coach Bud Foster is not happy. He said the defense is going to have to play better down the stretch.
• Wake Forest could have some key contributors healthy just in time to host Miami.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Tuggle and sophomore running back Josh Haden -- the team's second-leading rusher -- have decided to transfer and have left the football program, the school announced today.

“Both young men expressed a desire to pursue their educations and football careers elsewhere,” coach Frank Spaziani said in a prepared statement. “Each has contributed to our football program, and we wish them well.”

Tuggle started the first three games for the Eagles this season. He completed 13-of-37 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns. Behind starter Dave Shinskie, Tuggle has the most experience, though Michael Marscovetra has seen increased playing time lately. Haden has 58 carries for 213 yards and one touchdown this season.

This has to be frustrating for Spaziani and for Eagles' fans. Both of these players provided depth and experience at their positions that will be noticeably missed. BC has worked a football miracle to this point in the season, overcoming numerous obstacles since last season ended. That now makes two quarterbacks who have transferred since last year, including former starter Dominique Davis.

It's been a hell of a first year for Spaziani, and yet with a little help from Clemson, the Eagles could still win the Atlantic Division. In addition to winning, the health of Shinskie and Montel Harris now becomes even more important if BC is going to stay in the race. They've shocked many outside the program just by getting this far -- one win away from bowl eligibility. There's no reason the Eagles shouldn't be able to pull together and overcome yet another setback. After all, they've had plenty of practice at it.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

Boston College quarterback Dave Shinskie is still the starter, and according to Eagles coach Frank Spaziani, the quarterback situation hasn’t changed.

	Michael Tureski/Icon SMI
	After playing sparingly at the beginning of the season, Mike Marscovetra saw significant action against the Hokies.

The difference to those outside the program, though, is that Mike Marscovetra seems to be a more viable option as a backup now. After watching Shinskie and backup Justin Tuggle compete for the starting job in the opening weeks of the season, it was somewhat surprising to see Marscovetra get significant playing time last week against the No. 4 team in the country, Virginia Tech.

Not to Spaziani, though, who intended to play Marscovetra on the third series with the second group.

“Our situation is the same as it’s been all year,” Spaziani said. “Other people have anointed Uncle Dave. Dave played well. He’s still a true freshman. Mike has practiced and we’ve tried to get Mike ready to play. Circumstances dictated that he played last week. In the previous weeks, Dave was doing well. We haven’t changed anything other than we’ve got some more experience under our belt.”

Shinskie struggled mightily in Blacksburg, completing just 1 of 12 passes for two interceptions and four yards in the 48-14 loss. Marscovetra finished with 114 yards and two touchdowns on 10-of-16 passing, but the bulk of that was in the second half when the game was already out of reach.

Despite the lopsided loss, Marscovetra couldn’t seem to contain his excitement after the game.

“It felt good to get my feet wet against the No. 5 team in the country and get a little more experience,” Marscovetra said. “… It was a different experience. It was really fun. Everybody was flying around and something I’ve never seen before. You just can’t beat it.”

And with Spaziani continuing to leave the door open at quarterback, it might just happen again.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

It’s a good thing for the ACC that backup quarterbacks weren’t needed in September the way they were needed throughout the rest of the country (SEE: Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, Robert Griffin, just to name a few). Had Miami’s Jacory Harris or Virginia Tech’s Tyrod Taylor gone down early against the ranked opponents each of those teams faced -- including each other -- the ACC would be in big trouble right now. (Remember the panic, Miami fans, when FSU’s Greg Reid whacked Harris’ funny bone in the opener?)

Here’s to a healthy season in the ACC, and here’s a look at which backup quarterbacks are ready to roll after one month of football:

READY TO ROLL

Sean Renfree, Duke: He’s Duke's quarterback of the future and has already been groomed as such. Renfree has appeared in 13 series, completing 29-of-43 pass attempts for 286 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.

Mike Glennon, NC State: He played in every game except last weekend against Pittsburgh, and has completed 10 of 13 passes for 85 yards. He’s a much more dependable option than the Pack had in the past.

Vic Hall, Virginia: He was actually the starting quarterback in the season opener, and is arguably the most athletic player the Cavaliers have, but injured his hip and hasn’t played since the William & Mary game. He’s a veteran leader who has already proven himself in a multitude of roles. Hall, Jameel Sewell and Marc Verica could all be backups any given Saturday, and they're all experienced and ready to roll. If Sewell is the starter, Hall can play just about anywhere else.

Jaybo Shaw, Georgia Tech: Shaw was finally cleared to play and could make his first appearance of the season this weekend at Mississippi State after breaking his collarbone this summer. He began throwing again on Sept. 7, and proved last year he’s a tough player who can run and pass well.

HAS THE HYPE

E.J. Manuel, Florida State: He’s definitely gotten more hype than he has playing time this fall, as Manuel played in two games and has completed just 1-of-2 passes for four yards. Manuel, recruited by Jimbo Fisher, was an ESPNU 150 prospect and the No. 6 ranked quarterback in the class of 2008.

Willy Korn, Clemson: Well, it’s more like he HAD the hype. It’s hard to believe Korn was the No. 12 quarterback in the class of 2007. Korn was relegated to the bench this summer in favor of Kyle Parker and has only played in two games. He’s also expressed his displeasure in the fact he’s only thrown two passes this year.

A.J. Highsmith, Miami: He earned a quick promotion after Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith both transferred, but all Highsmith has so far is hype and pedigree. He’s the son of former Miami and NFL running back Alonzo Highsmith, and was the No. 24-ranked quarterback in the class of 2009.

WHO KNOWS?

Ju-Ju Clayton, Virginia Tech – The former scout team quarterback was in on 23 snaps against Marshall, but threw three incompletions. Clayton won the job over Marcus Davis this past spring, who was moved to wide receiver. If Taylor is injured, uncertainty is the only thing behind him.

Jamarr Robinson, Maryland – The fact that Chris Turner has been sacked 14 times and hasn’t missed a snap makes you wonder about the confidence Ralph Friedgen has in his backup. Robinson, who was promoted after Josh Portis transferred, hasn’t seen the field yet.

Ryan McManus, Wake Forest – The redshirt senior is also a holder and backup longsnapper. He played against Elon and completed 1-of-4 passes, the only four plays he was in on as quarterback.

Justin Tuggle, Boston College – There wasn’t much separation between Tuggle and Dave Shinskie until the Wake Forest game, as both of them started with zero experience. Both have been used in every game, but it’s unclear where Tuggle’s future is headed. He has 229 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions so far.

Braden Hanson, North Carolina – He was given a shot ahead of Mike Paulus this year, and was 0-for-2 with one interception in his only chance against The Citadel, but they’re both listed as the backups this week. Neither has proven anything yet.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Yes, there are other games this week besides Georgia Tech and Miami. Here's what's being said about them:

• Will Yeatman is an interesting two-sport athlete who has gone from a former Notre Dame tight end and attackman to a Maryland lacrosse player and possibly back to the football field for the Terps.
• For the second time in three weeks, Virginia Tech's offensive line will have to deal with one of the nation's top defensive linemen.
• It's status quo for BC's quarterbacks -- Justin Tuggle will start but Dave Shinskie will also play.
• Clemson offensive lineman Landon Walker thought he was going to be kicked off the team, but instead, he got his starting job back.
• BYU quarterback Max Hall has impressed FSU's defense on film. Odds are they'll appreciate him even more on Saturday.
• Wake Forest's Gelo Orange is making the transition from linebacker to defensive end, and they need him now more than ever.
• Quarterbacks have been struggling in the state of North Carolina.
• NC State's longtime equipment manager is stepping down.
• Coaches throughout the ACC faced questions this week about whether or not the FCS schools are closing the gap. Well, they've certainly allowed them to keep it interesting.
• The ACC hasn't exactly gotten off to a strong start, that's for sure, and Barry Jacobs writes that knocking ACC football early in the season is "so easy its not very sporting."
• Larry Williams caught up with Dabo Swinney for an extended interview, and it's in a three-part series for the ACC Sports Journal.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

Here are a few things worth keeping an eye on in the ACC this week (by the way, these are never ranked in order of interest, just generally 10 things to watch):

1. Clemson running back C.J. Spiller. He’s on the verge of becoming the first player in ACC history with 2,500 rushing yards, 1,000 receiving yards and 1,500 kickoff return yards. And, he just might accomplish all three on Saturday against Boston College. Spiller enters the game with 2,434 rushing yards, 986 receiving yards and 1,471 kickoff return yards. Last year, he gained a career high 242 all-purpose running yards in Clemson’s 27-21 win over BC.

2. BC’s quarterback surprise. Boston College coach Frank Spaziani has been quiet about which quarterback he’s leaning toward for Saturday’s game against Clemson, as both Justin Tuggle and Dave Shinskie have had success against lesser opponents. It’s go-time now, though, and one will have to emerge against better competition.

3. Duke’s non-quarterback controversy. So Thaddeus Lewis is the starter, coach David Cutcliffe has made that clear. But Sean Renfree has also proven he’s worth talking about, and can come off the bench to direct a come-from-behind win. Definitely worth watching.

4. Miami’s run defense against Georgia Tech’s spread-option offense. It’s the key to this game, and it was the cause of the Canes’ demise last year. If Clemson could figure out a way to limit Jonathan Dwyer to 66 yards and seven three-and-outs, then Miami should figure out a way to slow it down, too, especially considering it had a bye week to prepare for it. This will be an interesting test for first-year coordinator John Lovett.

5. The trenches in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech’s offensive line will face a talented defensive front in Nebraska, and how it blocks will determine whether Ryan Williams and David Wilson can continue the fancy footwork they had against Marshall last week.

6. Florida State’s improvement level. It’s not just the secondary that will be tested by BYU quarterback Max Hall. The Cougars will challenge the Noles in every phase of the game, and they’ll have to get better blocking from their offensive line, get the running game going, tackle better and make fewer mistakes. Bottom line: They can’t play like they did last Saturday and win.

7. North Carolina’s replacements. The Tar Heels have to hold it together after losing starting center Lowell Dyer and tight end Zack Pianalto for the next three to four weeks. Ed Barham or Christian Wilson will take over for Pianalto and Cam Holland will fill in again for Dyer. The Tar Heels will need to pave the way for Shaun Draughn and Ryan Houston, and give T.J. Yates some time to play like he did in the fourth quarter against Connecticut.

8. Upset watch in College Park -- again. James Madison almost did it last week before losing in overtime. Middle Tennessee did it last year. The Terps’ defense has struggled mightily in its first two games, and now will be without its top cornerback, Nolan Carroll, for the rest of the season. Can Maryland avoid an embarrassing home loss?

9. NC State cornerback Rashard Smith. He’s a true freshman who earned the starting job against Murray State and is slated to start again against Gardner-Webb. He is the first true freshman to start for NC State in the secondary since 2001, when Marcus Hudson (now with the San Francisco 49ers) started four games. Smith played just 24 snaps last week, but made three tackles and a tackle for loss. He now has two tackles for loss this season.

10. Number of sacks Virginia allows. The Cavaliers returned four starters to their offensive line, and it was supposed to be the one dependable aspect of the offense early in the season. Last week against TCU, though, Virginia allowed eight sacks, the most since giving up nine to Florida State in 1997. Virginia allowed just 16 sacks all of last year. Southern Miss has five so far this season. The Golden Eagles are in the midst of a seven-game winning streak and have not allowed more than 100 yards rushing during that span.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

There wasn’t a huge shake-up from last week, though some teams looked better in defeat (Clemson) than others that won (Florida State), which can make the rankings a little more interesting. Here’s how the lineup looks heading into Week 3:

1. Georgia Tech (2-0) -- The Yellow Jackets’ offense was hardly prolific, and weaknesses in the passing game were exposed, but it came up with enough big plays when needed, and that was the difference against Clemson. Until Miami proves otherwise (and we’ll know that this week), the Jackets stay at the top. No need to reshuffle the top when the Jackets won and Miami didn't play.

2. Miami (1-0) -- The Hurricanes had the bye week to prepare for their Thursday night game against Georgia Tech, but looked spectacular at times in the opener against Florida State. If the Canes continue to build upon that performance, they could be the most complete team in the ACC. But first, let’s see what their defense does on Thursday night.

3. Virginia Tech (1-1) -- The offense came alive, but it woke up at home against Marshall. It’s a start, but we’ll find out how much progress the Hokies really made when they face another Top 25 team in Nebraska this week.

4. Clemson (1-1) -- Save for the first quarter, the Tigers have nothing to be ashamed about in their loss to Georgia Tech. In fact, Dabo Swinney is convinced his team is better now than it was then, and we saw what the Tigers can do when they make full use of Jacoby Ford and C.J. Spiller. Not to mention the defense was sound for three quarters.

5. North Carolina (2-0) -- It was an odd defensive game, with UNC beating Connecticut late in the game on a safety. It was the first real test of the season for the Heels’ offense, and it didn’t exactly shine, though T.J. Yates did a good job of sustaining late drives. UNC will have to avoid a possible trap game this weekend against East Carolina.

6. Wake Forest (1-1) -- While the Noles were hanging on for dear life at home against Jacksonville State, and the Pack were beating up on Murray State, the Deacs fought off Stanford, a team they felt was better than Baylor last week. They showed what they’re capable of when the offense is clicking and Riley Skinner is playing like the veteran he is. The Deacs move up two spots for beating a Pac-10 team.

7. NC State (1-1) -- The Wolfpack took their aggression from the loss to South Carolina out on Murray State, but just like Virginia Tech, let’s see it against a more formidable opponent like Pittsburgh. The Pack have another unheralded opponent in Gardner-Webb coming up this weekend and another chance to fine-tune the offense before hosting Pitt. If Russell Wilson keeps it up, the Pack will move up this list quickly.

8. Florida State (1-1) -- A win is a win, but ... ugh. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the Noles pulled away from Jacksonville State at home. It felt like they earned half a win. Maybe they were looking ahead to their road trip at BYU. Maybe the defense has more problems than we thought. Regardless, they won’t get away with that this weekend.

9. Boston College (2-0) -- Say what you will about this scrappy team, but the Eagles are still undefeated heading into Saturday’s game against Clemson. BC still doesn’t know who its quarterback will be for its ACC opener, but so far both Dave Shinskie and Justin Tuggle have seen success. The Eagles stay status quo, though, until they overcome a tougher opponent.

10. Maryland (1-1) -- It took overtime to beat James Madison (at home!) on Saturday, but the Terps deserve some credit for pulling off the win after a tough loss to Cal. Now they face Middle Tennessee, the team that upset them a year ago, and if the same problems persist, they might get the same outcome.

11. Duke (1-1) -- The Blue Devils went on the road and redeemed themselves for a season-opening loss to FCS champion Richmond with a win against an improved Army team. A daunting challenge lies ahead as they travel to Kansas this weekend to take on a Top 25 team.

12. Virginia (0-2) -- It wasn’t a surprise that Virginia lost to TCU, especially after losing its home opener to William & Mary. What was a surprise was that the Cavaliers didn’t quit, and in the fourth quarter showed flashes of the spread offense their fans have been waiting to see. Unfortunately for Virginia, most of its fans had already left the stadium by then.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

Boston College quarterback Dave Shinskie didn’t watch Thursday night’s game between Clemson and Georgia Tech, even though the Eagles will travel to Death Valley to face the Tigers in their first ACC game of the season on Saturday.

It’s hardly as if Shinskie was the only one on the team who ignored the prime-time game, and coach Frank Spaziani was hardly surprised to hear it.

	AP Photo/Lisa Poole
	Frank Spaziani’s Eagles have outscored their first two opponents 88-7.

“Well, I asked him not to watch it,” Spaziani said. “It doesn’t surprise me that they listened to their coach. It’s a distraction. We have had everybody, ever since the summer, talking about the third game of the year before we played our first two. We hadn’t played No. 2 yet, and there was still a lot of talk about Game No. 3. We usually like to watch the Thursday night game, it was just bad timing that it was Clemson.”

Now, after outscoring their first two opponents 88-7, Clemson is all they’re watching. Granted, Boston College’s first two wins against Northeastern and Kent State were somewhat expected, considering the first was an FCS program and the second a 4-8 team in the MAC a year ago. But the Eagles, which were predicted by the media this summer to finish last in the Atlantic Division after winning it the past two seasons, have looked more promising despite the many questions the team faced heading into September.

Remember, this is a team that entered the season without a quarterback with any collegiate experience. There was a staff overhaul that included promoting Spaziani from defensive coordinator to head coach, and hiring Gary Tranquill as offensive coordinator. Two NFL draft pick defensive tackles had to be replaced, as did the entire linebacking corps after standout Mark Herzlich was diagnosed with cancer, and leader Mike McLaughlin has been sidelined with an Achilles injury. It seemed as if they couldn’t catch a break this offseason.

And yet the Eagles enter this week 2-0.

Asked if he has any sense of what this team is capable of this year after its commanding start, Spaziani didn’t hesitate when he said, “no.”

“Nope,” he said. “This is a real, real young squad in a lot of ways, with a new staff and a new system. I’m not sure. It’s going to take four or five more weeks before we know really what kind of football team we have. We’ve got good kids, I’ll tell you that. We’ve got good kids who know how to work.”

	Michael Tureski/Icon SMI
	Dave Shinskie has thrown one TD pass in each of BC's first two games.

Led by a veteran offensive line, Boston College’s offense has steamrolled its opponents, despite not knowing who its starting quarterback will be this season. The running game, led by Montel Harris, has flourished, and both quarterbacks, Justin Tuggle and Shinskie, have had their moments. There has only been one turnover so far -- an interception by Shinskie against Kent State. Spaziani said Sunday they’re still evaluating the position and that “there’s not a great deal of separation.”

“Me and Justin, we’re going at it at practice every day and in the games, and we’ve both been successful,” Shinskie said. “It’s been fun so far. We back each other up every week, we back each other up every series. When Coach Spaz makes a decision and gives the nod to one of us, I’ll be happy for him, he’ll be happy for me. Whatever works out.”

While they might not yet know where their place is in the Atlantic Division, or who their quarterback will be on Saturday, or how the young defense will fare against the veteran talent and speed of Clemson, the Eagles have definitely learned a few things about themselves in the first two weeks.

“We’ve learned that we can overcome adversity, in losing some guys on defense and having no quarterback,” Shinskie said. “By working hard we’ve overcome all the stuff people have said about us in the beginning of the year. I mean, they expected us to win these first two games, but we’re going to work hard this next week and the week after. We’re looking one game at a time and this Clemson game is the biggest game of the year so far.

“We might have to work a little harder than we did the past two weeks,” he said, “but that’s what BC football is all about -- overcoming adversity and working hard.”

And in that respect, the Eagles are also 2-0.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

It was only the first week, and like Frank Beamer keeps saying, there’s still a lot of football left to play. Here’s a look at what to watch in Week 2 of ACC football:

1. Drops, fumbles and turnovers. Clemson receivers dropped four passes. NC State’s dropped five. Virginia had seven turnovers, Wake Forest four. Let’s see if the ACC can’t cut down on the sloppiness in Week 2.

2. The nonconference scorecard. It’s not exactly a blockbuster lineup in the ACC this week, but there are still opportunities for the conference to pick up some statement wins. UNC travels to Connecticut, Virginia hosts No. 16 TCU and Wake Forest hosts Stanford, a team Jim Grobe says is better than Baylor. Can the ACC pick up some big wins and avoid more embarrassing losses?

3. Electric returns. Can the ACC keep this up? There were four punt returns and two kickoff returns for touchdowns in Week 1. The four punt returns for touchdowns matched the ACC’s entire total for 2008.

4. ACC defenses vs. triple option. Clemson isn’t the only team that will face the confusion of a triple option offense this weekend. Duke travels to Army, where the Blue Devils will face the same.

5. Struggling starting quarterbacks. Riley Skinner. Russell Wilson. Tyrod Taylor. The entire Virginia three-deep. None of them played up to their potential last weekend (even with some of the blame shared by those around them).

6. Pass protection. Speaking of struggling quarterbacks, several coaches throughout the ACC are looking for drastic improvement up front. Maryland’s Chris Turner was sacked six times, Wilson was sacked six times, Taylor was sacked five times.

7. Jonathan Dwyer vs. C.J. Spiller. Coaches and players throughout the conference couldn’t agree this summer on who was the better back, but tonight their performances will speak for themselves.

8. UNC linebacker Bruce Carter. Carter blocked three punts last year in the Heels’ 38-12 win against Connecticut. UNC will travel to Storrs, Conn., this weekend, but the Huskies have changed their punt coverage scheme and will no doubt key in on Carter.

9. Georgia Tech A-back Roddy Jones. He missed the season opener against Jacksonville State with a dislocated wrist, but will return to the starting lineup tonight against Clemson.

10. BC’s quarterback situation. It’s still a toss-up as to whether Dave Shinskie or Justin Tuggle will emerge as the Eagles’ leader on offense, and coach Frank Spaziani has said Saturday’s game against Kent State will be another audition.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Boston College coach Frank Spaziani said his quarterback situation is "status quo" heading into Saturday's game against Kent State. Justin Tuggle was 3-of-5 for 56 yards and a touchdown, and Dave Shinskie was 7-for-10 for 110 yards and a touchdown in last weekend's 54-0 romp of Northeastern.

"They improved and made some progress and I think we'll stay the way we are and figure it out at the end of the week," Spaziani said. "Eventually we'll get to the point where one is standing by himself and then we can go that way, but right now we don't have one, so we'll see what we have.

"The ideal situation would be to have one quarterback and then have one guy backing him up that gets some playing time and be ready to go in a third and emergency, but we're not in an ideal situation and we have to do what we feel is best to give ourselves the best chance to win."

The bad news for the Eagles is that linebacker Mike McLaughlin isn't ready to practice yet, let alone play, but senior wide receiver Clarence Megwa, who injured his finger in the Northeastern game, will return to practice this week. Starting right tackle Rich Lapham (neck) is also back this week.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

Here’s a quick look at five things we learned about the ACC in Week 1, and it wasn’t pretty:

1.The ACC isn’t ready to move up the ranks in the BCS ladder of success. Not only did the ACC lose to every major BCS conference opponent it played, it also lost to the little guys. You can’t be taken seriously when the first weekend includes losses to Richmond and William & Mary. When your best wins come against Northeastern, The Citadel, Middle Tennessee and Jacksonville State, there’s no reason to even start an argument about conference supremacy, because right now, the ACC is making the Big East look like a worldbeater.

2. Virginia Tech’s offense picked up right where it left off. And that’s pretty much pulled over and stalled in a Ford Pinto. Both Alabama and the Hokies showed why their defenses have ranked among the nation’s elite, but in the deciding fourth quarter of a 34-24 Alabama win, the difference was Alabama found its offense, and Virginia Tech looked like it did last year. Tyrod Taylor finished 9-of-20 for just 91 yards and passed for just four first downs. According to ESPN Stats and Analysis, Taylor completed 4 of 11 passes for eight yards and no first downs when he was in second and third-down situations. Alabama finished with 498 total yards compared to the Hokies’ 155.

3. Boston College thrives on proving doubters wrong. Of all the teams to come out and completely rout their opponent this week, BC might have been the least expected. They entered the season with zero collegiate snaps at quarterback, a new interior defensive line and new linebackers. And it didn’t phase them one bit in their 54-0 drubbing of Northeastern. It’s not like Dave Shinskie or Justin Tuggle declared himself the undisputed quarterback of the team, but the Eagles found plenty of offense despite not knowing who their signal caller will be.

4. Kyle Parker was the right choice as Clemson’s quarterback. Kudos to coach Dabo Swinney for making the decisive call and tough decision to start Parker over the more experienced Willy Korn. Parker finished 9 of 20 passing with 159 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Korn fumbled on his only series, leading to Chris McCoy's 68-yard return for Middle Tennessee's only score. The Tigers will still need to find some more help from the wide receiving corps (there were a few too many drops against Middle Tennessee).

5. Virginia coach Al Groh’s seat went from lukewarm to hot in one half. There were plenty of reasons to doubt Virginia’s bowl eligibility this fall -- the Cavaliers lost their top five pass catchers from a year ago, their leading rusher, three standout linebackers, and brought in a new offensive coordinator with a new offense. There were no excuses, though, to lose to William & Mary, 26-14. There are never any excuses for seven turnovers. It was the Tribe’s first win over an FBS opponent since 1998 and the first against an ACC opponent since it beat -- go figure, Virginia -- in 1986. This loss will linger over the conference like Clemson's did last year, but this one is even more embarrassing.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Forget about quarterback. Boston College has tailbacks Josh Haden and Montel Harris, both of whom have already scored touchdowns for the Eagles, giving BC a 14-0 lead over Northeastern in the first quarter.

With Justin Tuggle managing the offense, the Eagles are running the ball effectively. Of course, they've made a few mistakes they won't get away with against their ACC opponents, but that's to be expected in the opener, especially with such a young team. The early indication here, though -- and it's not a surprise -- is that BC's running game will be the identity of this offense. They can do it with the sophomore one-two punch of Harris and Haden, plus the veteran, talented offensive line.

So far, so good in Chestnut Hill.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Boston College quarterback Dave Shinskie returned to practice on Tuesday despite recently breaking a rib, and could possibly play in Saturday's season opener against Northeastern, coach Frank Spaziani said on Wednesday's ACC teleconference.

"He was able to practice, and we'll try and push him a little bit more today, and hopefully he'll be full go," Spaziani said.

Even with Shinskie healthy, though, it's still a murky situation.

"We'll probably be playing two quarterbacks, only because we don't have one," Spaziani said.

Justin Tuggle has been working with the first two units, and will likely be the other one to help Shinskie, but it's "in the air." True freshman Mike Marscovetra could also be called upon.

"As best we can determine, no one has separated themselves," Spaziani said. "They all have some redeeming qualities, or else they wouldn't be on our football team. We've got about as far as we can go with practice, trying to determine where we're going to make a decision with these guys. We're going to have to put them in a game. You really never know about a quarterback until you get in the game, even if you've picked one."

Or, in his case, two.