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Before Notre Dame can get to its regular-season finale at Stanford, it has to get through the ACC.

The Irish's next three games are against Wake Forest, Maryland and Boston College. Two of the three are away from South Bend, but two of the three serve as Irish home games. (Confusing, we know.)

With the Irish 5-3 and set for confere ... er, ACC, play, Notre Dame blogger Matt Fortuna and ACC blogger Heather Dinich preview this week's matchup in Winston-Salem, along with the other two contests.

Matt Fortuna: Heather, first off, what do you make of this Wake Forest team? It is tough to judge from the Midwest -- it beats FSU, gets rocked by UNC and Virginia Tech. Also, the decision to make this a night game struck me as interesting. Are the folks down there treating this one like their biggest home game of the season?

Heather Dinich: Matt, there’s no question the Deacs are taking this one seriously, especially after such a poor performance against North Carolina. What to make of Wake Forest? This is a much, much better team than the one that finished 3-9 a year ago. They’re one win away from bowl eligibility and would like nothing more than to wrap that up this weekend against the Irish. Heading into this game, I thought Wake was overmatched, but now I think they’ll make it an interesting game. With both teams at 5-3, are they more alike than many thought they’d be? It’s hard to tell with such different schedules, but I think Notre Dame has the better win over Michigan State. Turnovers were a huge factor last week for the Deacs. Wake had turned it over just five times all season and then against UNC it had five turnovers. It was an uncharacteristic performance, to say the least. If the Deacs can take care of the ball and get the passing game going, they stand a chance. The bigger question to me is, are the next three weeks a foreshadowing of what’s to come with Notre Dame and the ACC? What are you hearing out of South Bend?

MF: Five turnovers in one game? No kidding, they really are alike. As for your question, Notre Dame will strive to remain independent in football at all costs. Right now I think the Irish are content to watch the dominoes fall in front of them until they are forced to make a move. If that time does come, however, I do think the ACC would be its best bet. For one, Notre Dame would be marginalized in the Big Ten, serving as just another regional power along with Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State. In the ACC it can still expand its recruiting bases from as South as Florida to as North as New York and Boston. Mike Brey, the men's basketball coach, has stated his preference is to remain somewhere East if Notre Dame is forced to move. Also, it is pretty funny that, in addition to this slate of games, the Irish have already traveled to future ACC member Pitt this season, and they currently seem bound for the Champs Sports Bowl, where they would face another ACC school. That would be five out of 13 games this season against current or future ACC schools, for those keeping count at home. While we're at it, Heather, who do you think looks like Notre Dame's likely bowl opponent should it find itself in Orlando?

HD: Right now I’ve got Florida State heading to the Champs Sports Bowl, Matt, and it seems like the most likely scenario. That would be a great matchup of two traditional programs, but let’s stick with the ones we know right now. Heading into this season, I predicted the ACC would strike out against the Irish with an 0-3 record. I still don’t see BC winning at Notre Dame on Nov. 19, considering what a dreadful season it’s been for the Eagles, and if BC isn’t going to get the W, there’s no reason to think Maryland can, even though that game is a virtual home game for the Terps in FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Maryland can’t even fill its own stadium, though, let alone a pro venue, and the Terps just lost at home to Boston College. It’s been a rough first season for Randy Edsall. So, it looks like the Deacs are the ACC’s best hope at picking up a W against Notre Dame, at least from my perspective. What are you predicting the Irish do against the ACC in three games?

MF: I'm with you, Heather. I just cannot see Maryland or Boston College beating Notre Dame, making Wake the favorite among the ACC teams to do so. Even then, the Deacs are clearly overmatched and will have a tough time keeping up with the Irish on both sides of the ball. I circled this one as a potential upset when making second-half predictions a little more than three weeks ago, but Wake has done little since (its only win was over Duke ... by 1) to convince me it can pull off the victory. Who do you got?

HD: I’m sticking with my preseason prediction, Matt, and going with the Irish. I’ll leave the score for tomorrow’s predictions post, but I just don’t see Wake Forest beating Notre Dame’s offensive line or slowing down that running game. Notre Dame’s offense line averages 305.6 pounds. Wake Forest’s undersized D-line checks in at an average of 247.5. No wonder Jonas Gray is averaging 8 yards per carry, and the Irish didn’t allow one sack in October. And of course, they’ve got one of the top linebackers in the country in Manti Te’o. Wake Forest will correct a lot of the mistakes it made last week against North Carolina, but it will come up short in a close game. Since you’re the visitor to ACC country, though, I’ll give you the final word.

MF: Not sure if that qualifies as southern hospitality, but it is appreciated nonetheless. I expect Gray to have a huge game as well. He's a guy who had zero career touchdowns until Week 4 at Pitt. He has had eight since, including three this past Saturday. Brian Kelly's teams are built for November and December, as evidenced by his 21-6 mark in the regular season's final two months. I think Wake Forest has a chance to keep it close early, but it lacks the depth and size to hang with the Irish throughout the night.

Filling in for Heather today. Let's see what's happening in ACC country.

• Former NC State quarterback Russell Wilson will visit Wisconsin next week, Tom Mulhern reports in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• North Carolina picks up another tight end commitment in Terrance Knox, Sammy Batten writes in the Fayetteville Observer.
• More than 40 New England Patriots players work out at Boston College's Alumni Stadium, ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss writes.
• Miami picks up a commitment from another homegrown prospect, CBSSports.com's Bryan Fischer writes.
• Virginia Tech's David Wilson is ready to take charge, FoxSportsCarolinas.com's Andrew Jones writes. Hokies cornerback Jayron Hosley is a Playboy All-American.
• The Orlando Sentinel takes a snapshot of new Maryland coach Randy Edsall. Former Maryland quarterback Tyler Smith lands at Elon University.

Here's what's happening around ACC country.

• In case you missed it, colleague Joe Schad reports the NCAA interviewed North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples about a party he attended last month. Carolina coach Butch Davis made the right call in dismissing Jared McAdoo, The Daily Tar Heel opines.
• Wide receiver Chris Jackson will return to Georgia Tech's team if he continues to stay on track, Ken Seguira writes in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
• ACC commissioner John Swofford is among those interested in exploring whether to allocate more funds to student-athletes, Schad writes.
• Clemson needs quarterback Tajh Boyd to stay on the field, Travis Sawchik writes in The Charleston Post and Courier. The Tigers add Kent State to their 2013 schedule.
• Miami coach Al Golden is still on the lookout for quarterbacks, Jorge Milian writes in The Palm Beach Post.
• Virginia's Week 2 matchup at Indiana will kick off under the lights.
• Virginia Tech picks up an offensive line recruit for 2012, Rick O'Brien writes in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
• College Football News previews NC State in 2011.
• Maryland wants recruit Ian Fisher to play tight end, but Fisher has his eye on quarterback, Rivals.com's Mark Clem writes.

It's no secret North Carolina's defense was good last fall. Just look at the numbers: sixth in total defense (270 yards per game) and 13th in scoring defense (17 ppg).

And those numbers were piled up with a terrible offense that kept giving the ball away.

Not surprisingly, with nine starters back on defense, the 2010 hype machine is starting to roll.

Not only does ESPN draft guru Todd McShay rank two Tar Heels among his top-10 defensive prospects for the 2011 NFL draft -- tackle Marvin Austin at No. 5 and end Robert Quinn at No. 6 -- he has this to say at the end of Quinn's blurb: "Don't be surprised if Quinn emerges as the top prospect on a Tar Heels defense that will draw comparisons to the USC Trojans group from 2008."

The 2008 Trojans yielded 222 yards and nine points per game. They surrendered just six touchdown passes all season. That squad finished 12-1 and ranked third in the nation (No. 2 in the final USA Today poll).

That defense featured eight picks in the 2009 draft, four of whom went in the first two rounds.

It was a pretty fancy crew.

But McShay makes a completely reasonable comparison.

This list of the top-32 2011 NFL draft prospects includes four Tar Heels defenders: Austin, Quinn -- at Nos. 3 and 7 overall -- as well as safety Deunta Williams and linebacker Bruce Carter, at Nos. 28 and 31. What about linebacker Quan Sturdivant? He made the list of "just missed" prospects.

Moreover, UNC's 2009 numbers look a lot like USC's 2007 numbers: The Trojans gave up 273 yards and 16 points per game -- with a much better offense than the Heels in 2009.

On the ACC spring conference call last week, coach Butch Davis said the emphasis this spring was building depth at linebacker and in the secondary. But you want to know what could cause the UNC defense to really put up stunning numbers?

The offense cutting its turnovers in half and consistently moving the ball, which is why the quarterback competition between maligned senior T.J. Yates and strong-armed freshman Bryn Renner figures to be one of the hottest items of the ACC preseason.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich While this list is flattering, it's also a reminder of who won't be playing for the ACC this year. NC State linebacker Nate Irving is one of the players on the Butkus Award watch list, as is BC linebacker Mike McLaughlin, whose return from a torn Achilles is still uncertain. Can the ACC repeat Butkus Award winners? Wake's Aaron Curry won it last year. The Butkus Award is presented annually to the nation's top linebacker, and the ACC certainly has a few of those worth looking at. Here are the other conference players who were recognized: Bruce Carter, UNC Kavell Conner, Clemson Daryl Sharpton, Miami Sean Spence, Miami Quan Sturdivant, UNC Dekoda Watson, FSU

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Just because it's not September doesn't mean there's not football being played on Saturdays. Here's a look at what's on tap this weekend in the ACC:

BOSTON COLLEGE: Third scrimmage on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Closed to the public.
Storyline: After two scrimmages, the Eagles' picture at quarterback is still as clear as mud. Dave Shinskie is in the lead but has yet to lock up the job. The defense has played well, though, and that's sure to be a trademark of Frank Spaziani-coached teams.

DUKE: Scrimmage at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Open to public.
Storyline: David Cutcliffe is still looking for consistency after Swine flu-like symptoms swept through the team and knocked out anywhere from two to five players for each practice. They're close to having everybody back now, so the Blue Devils should be able to develop some continuity.

FLORIDA STATE: Scrimmage on Saturday. Closed to media and public.
Storyline: Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews is still looking for more of everything -- including toughness -- from a young group that has at least a dozen freshmen or sophomores.

MARYLAND: Scrimmage at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Not open to general public.
Storyline: The Terps are still looking for improvement on the offensive line, and hope to see more from the running game. They'll try to solidify the first and second teamers and set the depth chart so they can break into scout teams soon and give the offense some different defensive looks.

MIAMI: Scrimmage on Saturday. Closed to the public.
Storyline: The Canes are still trying to build depth across the board and will take a close look at their second- and third-string players, particularly at backup quarterback, where freshman A.J. Highsmith has kept the competition interesting.

NORTH CAROLINA: Scrimmage on Saturday. No stats.
Storyline: Same as it's been all summer -- the Tar Heels are still looking for improvement from their receivers and trying to rebuild their offensive line. Because of the lack of bodies on the offensive line, the Heels have been so limited this will be their first scrimmage.

NC STATE: Situational scrimmage on Sunday. No stats. Closed to the public and media.
Storyline: The Pack is trying to replace four players in the secondary, and while frontrunners have emerged, it's still a group loaded with youth and inexperience. This will be more of a dress-rehearsal with an emphasis on situations like third downs and two-minute drills.

VIRGINIA: Scrimmage on Saturday. Closed. No stats.
Storyline: This will be the scrimmage that will help coach Al Groh and his staff really start to decide the starting lineup, as they'll review the film on Sunday and try to make some decisions.

VIRGINIA TECH: Scrimmage on Saturday. Practice will be from 2-4:15 in Lane Stadium (scrimmage will probably start around 2:30). Fans can sit on the west side only and aren't allowed to video tape.
Storyline: First, the Hokies need to keep the rest of their running backs healthy after injuries to Darren Evans and Josh Oglesby. The Hokies still aren't set on their starting receivers, and probably won't know until after next Wednesday, but this is another good audition.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

TGIF, ACC fans. Here we go.

• It's been 16 years since the ACC has had a team with two 1,000-yard rushers. Can Georgia Tech do it this year with Jonathan Dwyer and Roddy Jones? It's definitely a possibility, considering the numbers they put up last year.
• Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe has yet to name his workhorse running back, and he might not until the Baylor game, but Kevin Harris certainly hasn't done anything to lose the job.
• Maryland's Drew Gloster has a new number, a new position, and a new outlook on football and academics after missing last season.
• Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews is still looking for replacements in the secondary.
• Virginia Tech receiver Zach Luckett, who has been given a second chance by Frank Beamer to rejoin the team after being suspended last year, has been charged with driving while his license was revoked.
• Charges have been dropped -- not surprisingly -- after a scuffle between two UNC teammates.
• Virginia right guard B.J. Cabbell will need to be better this fall, and his teammates say he's come a long way.
• BC has bigger problems that naming a starting quarterback. The Eagles need to find some leaders.

Ivan Maisel and Heather Dinich preview the 2009 ACC season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Mmm. Links.

Miami defensive end Adewale Ojomo had surgery Tuesday morning for a broken jaw and could miss the season opener. Was he sucker punched? There seem to be conflicting reports.

Tim Tebow? Pshh. He ain't got nothin' on Charlie Ward.

There's an overall attitude change at Florida State, and the players' are the ones calling the meeting for it.

Steven Friday is a guy who will come in handy on Saturdays for the Hokies this year.

Georgia Tech safety Cooper Taylor's versatility makes him the perfect wolf.

When UNC coach Butch Davis talks about turnovers, the team listens. It's a proven formula for winning.

BC freshman defensive tackle Dillon Quinn is learning as fast as he can, so he can help the Eagles at one of the spots they need it most -- up front. The ideal situation would be to redshirt Quinn, but the staff might not have that luxury.

NC State will be without third-string tight end Mario Carter for at least the season opener after knee surgery. The Pack is about mid-way through its summer camp, and still looking for answers at a few positions.

Virginia has one important rule for its receivers: If you don't block, you don't play. Lesson learned for Raynard Horne.

Wake Forest joined the ACC injury club on Tuesday when receiver Terence Davis went down with a torn ACL. That could provide a way to get Skylar Jones on the field.

Aside from Jacoby Ford, Clemson's receivers have been an inconsistent group.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Here are five things that will play a role in the ACC's conference race this fall:

1. Virginia Tech's backfield. How the Hokies recover from the season-ending injury to star tailback Darren Evans will go a long way in determining their fate on the national stage, and it starts in the season opener against Alabama. They've got reasons for hope in Josh Oglesby, David Wilson and Ryan Williams, but for the most part, their talent is unproven. Until Tyrod Taylor and the receivers show the passing game is a dependable option, it's going to be up to the young backs to make the difference.

2. Health of starting quarterbacks. Tyrod Taylor. Josh Nesbitt. Chris Turner. Jacory Harris. Christian Ponder. Russell Wilson. Riley Skinner. They're all backed up by players who have yet to take a collegiate snap. NC State's situation should improve with Mike Glennon, and expectations are high for E.J. Manuel at FSU, but some teams -- like Maryland and Wake Forest -- would experience a significant drop-off if their starter went down.

3. Georgia Tech's defensive line. It's the biggest question the Jackets are facing this fall, as they have to replace three of their four starters up front who combined for 87 career starts. Those within the program seem confident the previous backup experience of the new starters will help make for a smooth transition. With a league-high 19 starters returning, it's the only unknown for these Coastal Division contenders.

4. Coach/coordinator changes. The entire package at Clemson is worth watching, as Dabo Swinney was promoted from wide receivers coach and Billy Napier, at 30 years old, is now the offensive coordinator. At Boston College, first-year coach Frank Spaziani has his hands full, and introduced first-year offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill to a team that lacks a starting quarterback. At Maryland, Don Brown's defense is sure to throw several ACC offenses off-kilter, and there's a buzz around Miami's offense that has been lacking now that Mark Whipple has arrived. And the Canes will have their third defensive coordinator in as many seasons with John Lovett. Virginia will unveil a spread offense under first-year coordinator Gregg Brandon.

5. New faces at receiver. The ACC has something it's been missing, and that's quarterbacks with experience. Problem is, many of them don't know who they're going to be throwing to. Virginia lost all of its top receivers, and so did NC State. Maryland said farewell to Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Clemson to Aaron Kelly. Duke lost Eron Riley and Wake lost D.J. Boldin. The list goes on. Beyond Clemson's Jacoby Ford and Georgia Tech's Demaryius Thomas, the ACC is lacking many proven receivers. Several schools -- like Miami -- have a long list to choose from, but who will separate himself?

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Two more hits for the ACC:

• Wake Forest redshirt freshman receiver Terence Davis suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at Monday night's practice and will likely miss the rest of the season. This is unfortunate for the Deacs, as Davis was one of the young receivers the staff was going to depend on. Because of his injury, backup quarterback and sophomore Skylar Jones was working out with the wideouts on Monday.
• North Carolina junior defensive back Matt Merletti tore the ACL in his right knee during Tuesday afternoon's practice and will miss the 2009 season. One of Carolina's top special-teams players, Merletti was competing for playing time at safety this fall. In 2008, the Cleveland native was a co-captain on special teams, an honor bestowed on UNC's top special-teams players based on a point system. Merletti had 11 tackles last year and recovered two fumbles, including a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown vs. Connecticut.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

The ACC was well-represented with nine players and more than half its schools on the list of 62 candidates for the Bronko Nagurski Award, given to the nation's best defensive player.

Players may be added or removed during the season. After the first four games of the season, the FWAA will revise the list and at that time school sports information directors may submit names for players not on the list to the FWAA and their conference's FWAA All-America Committee representative.

Each week during the 2009 season, the FWAA will choose a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week. If the selected player is not on the watch list, he automatically will be added. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 18 or 19. For the entire release, click here.

Here are the ACC's representatives:

• Morgan Burnett, safety, Georgia Tech
• Kam Chancellor, safety, Virginia Tech
• Ras-I Dowling, cornerback, Virginia
• Vince Oghobaase, defensive tackle, Duke
• Boo Robinson, nose guard, Wake Forest
• Quan Sturdivant, linebacker, North Carolina
• Deunta Williams, safety, North Carolina
• Alex Wujciak, linebacker, Maryland
• Willie Young, defensive end, NC State

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Records were made to be broken, and the ACC has a few worth keeping an eye on this fall. I surveyed each school's sports information director and the ACC to find out what records were in danger of being broken this fall. Here are the results:

ACC RECORDS AT STAKE

1. Former FSU quarterback Drew Weatherford's mark for most consecutive passes without an interception (270). NC State's Russell Wilson currently stands at 249.

2. Virginia's Matt Schaub had a career completion percentage record of .670. Wake's Riley Skinner is a shade better at .673 and could finish the year with the record.

3. C.J. Spiller stands a good chance of breaking the conference career mark for all-purpose yardage (rushing, receiving, kickoff and punt returns). Spiller currently has 4,908 all-purpose yards and needs 921 yards for the record. Leon Johnson of North Carolina holds the record with 5,828 yards. Spiller had 1,770 yards this past season.

SCHOOL RECORDS AT STAKE

CLEMSON

Spiller has 87 career receptions and needs 19 to break the record for running backs of 105 by Travis Zachery (1998-01). He has 917 career reception yards and needs 141 to break Zachery's record of 1,057. He also has 1,297 career kickoff return yards and needs 256 to break Derrick Hamilton's record of 1,552.

Crezdon Butler has 196 career interception return yards and needs 80 to break Rex Varn's standard of 275 set between 1976-79.

DUKE

Quarterback Thaddeus Lewis is 2,879 passing yards, 314 attempts, 227 completions and eight touchdowns away from Duke's career records held by Ben Bennett.

MARYLAND

Torrey Smith has a chance at the school's career kickoff return yards mark. He had the ACC single-season record with 1,089 last year. The school mark is 1,520 career yards by Keeta Covington (1983-86).

Quarterback Chris Turner can get to No. 2 on most of the career lists, but would have a struggle getting past Scott Milanovich. He needs 2,827 for the career passing yards mark.

MIAMI
Javarris James is currently eighth all-time in rushing attempts. With 73 attempts this season, he would move into sole possession of third place behind Ottis Anderson (691) and James Jackson (541).

Both James (1,670) and Graig Cooper (1,523) have a chance to move into the all-time top 10 in rushing yards (Alonzo Highsmith is currently 10th with 1,914 career yards). If Cooper runs for more than 1,000 yards this season, he would rank in the top 4 in UM history.

UM's Current Top 5 Career Rushing Leaders
1. Ottis Anderson 3,331
2. Edgerrin James 2,960
3. James Jackson 2,953
4. Clinton Portis 2,523
5. Danyell Ferguson 2,214

Jason Fox has started 36 games in his career. He could tie William Joseph for a UM-record 50 career starts if the Canes play in the ACC Championship game and a bowl game and Fox starts all 14 games. (Ed Reed is second on the list with 48 career starts).

Matt Bosher is seventh all-time in consecutive PATs (40) and 10th in both field goals (18) and points scored by a kicker (94).

WAKE FOREST

Skinner will need to complete 27 passes, attempt 282, throw for 1,416 yards and throw 11 touchdown passes in order to set school records. Through his first three years, Skinner has averaged 213 completions, 316 attempts, 2,200 yards and 10.3 touchdowns per season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

North Carolina's first three home games -- against The Citadel (Sept. 5), East Carolina (Sept. 19) and Virginia (Oct. 3) are sold out. UNC has sold out 12 of its 13 home games under coach Butch Davis, including all seven in 2008.

I wonder, though, what Carolina fans will see this year, especially early on.

The expectations are high in year three under Davis, but I have a feeling that the problems up front on the offensive line and the inexperience at wide receiver could make for a rocky start, especially against a tricky team like East Carolina or in a road trip at Connecticut.

It's not a matter of talent up front, it's a matter of bodies, and UNC is lacking depth on the offensive line. If defensive line coach John Blake can get the Heels to play up to their potential -- and that's something they have yet to do -- that Marvin Austin-led group could be something special. UNC will need all the help it can get from its defense early on.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Virginia Tech running back Josh Oglesby always wanted to be the Hokies' No. 1 tailback, but not at the expense of his teammate, Darren Evans.

Cline Beam has been one of the surprises of Wake Forest's summer camp, and that's good, because the Deacs need a kicker.

BC's quarterback situation is still evolving.

NC State tailback Toney Baker is starting to show that explosiveness he had when he last played in 2007.

Virginia defensive line coach Chad Wilt isn't an entirely new face on the staff this fall, as he was a GA in 2004 and 2005, but now Wilt is in a position to create a "generational legacy" with the line.

Miami had a closed scrimmage on Saturday, and coach Randy Shannon spoke about it for the first time on Monday. Save for the backup quarterbacks, it sounds like it went mostly well.

Donavan Tate's deal with the Padres is reportedly worth $6.25 million. UNC knew there was a strong possibility of the quarterback choosing baseball. And for that amount of cash, who wouldn't?

FSU's recruiting class of 2007 -- or what's left of it -- isn't pretty.