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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 October and Week 6:

• Miami at Notre Dame, NBC, 7:30 p.m. Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.
• Boston College at Army
• Georgia Tech at Clemson
• Virginia at Duke
• Florida State at NC State
• Wake Forest at Maryland
• Virginia Tech at North Carolina

My choice: Florida State at NC State

Why: Miami-Notre Dame isn’t what it used to be, and Florida State-NC State will help define the Atlantic Division race. As we start to get into October, these decisions become more difficult because there are more league games. The Georgia Tech-Clemson game has been a good series, but as far as the ACC race goes, I think the Atlantic Division matchup in Raleigh will be more important. The Hokies will have a tough road trip to UNC, but their defense should be the difference in that game.

The Wolfpack (and just about everyone else who pays attention to college football) will have spent the entire offseason listening to the experts pontificate about just how good Florida State can be this year. Nobody is really talking about NC State, but the Pack have a chance to be the best team coach Tom O’Brien has had so far at NC State. If the program is going to truly turn the corner, this will be the game that helps them do it. Last year, Florida State beat NC State 34-0. It was the first time since the 2008 season opener against South Carolina that the Pack were held scoreless. As good as FSU's defense is expected to be, I don’t see that happening again.

More in this series

My colleague Mark Schlabach has released his post-spring top 25, and the ACC has fared well:

7. Florida State
16. Clemson
23. Virginia Tech
25. Georgia Tech

I've got the first three in the same order in my post-spring conference power ranking, but I've apparently got more faith in NC State than Schlabach (and probably a lot of other people). Call it instinct. Call it a gut feeling. Call it Mike Glennon's ability to throw the ball, but I think the Wolfpack have the potential for a special season this year -- more so than Georgia Tech.

I do believe the Yellow Jackets can win the Coastal Division this season, but I'm still not sold on Al Groh's defense or on Tevin Washington as a difference-maker at quarterback. Washington is good -- he has proven he can run the offense. But can he PASS the offense? Especially without two of the top receivers from a year ago? Georgia Tech still seems to be lacking the player who can dazzle us like Jonathan Dwyer and Joshua Nesbitt did in years' past. And up front, there are questions on defense.

NC State, on the other hand, has a drop-back passer who is ready to show the rest of college football that he can hit his receivers just about anywhere on the field, and he's got an experienced offensive line to work with. This program seems ready to turn the corner under coach Tom O'Brien, and if there is a fourth ACC team worthy of a preseason top 25 nod, NC State would get my vote.

Who doesn't love lists or rankings?

And, to take that one step further, who doesn't love lists that include 124 people?

Steve Greenberg and Matt Hayes over at The Sporting News took the unenviable task of rankings every single FBS coach, Nos. 1-124. It should come as no surprise that Alabama's Nick Saban topped all coaches after winning two of the past three national titles.

Frank Beamer tops the ACC contingent, and is the only coach from the conference cracking the top-10, as Virginia Tech's leader is ranked ninth.

The average ranking of the 12 ACC coaches was 45.6, fourth-best among conferences.

Here's how they stacked up:

9. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
19. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech
27. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
31. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest
34. Al Golden, Miami
38. Jimbo Fisher, FSU
45. Mike London, Virginia
49. Tom O'Brien, NC State
53. Larry Fedora, UNC
65. Randy Edsall, Maryland
67. David Cutcliffe, Duke
110. Frank Spaziani, BC

North Carolina State recently received a bit more strenuous of a spring workout than normal recently.

To improve team-building and test mental endurance, Wolfpack coach Tom O'Brien enlisted the help of The Program, a leadership training regimen led by CEO and founder Eric Kapitulik.

Wolfpack players were put through calisthenics and carried various objects the night of April 23, all with the intent of performing as one. Other challenges awaited at 4 a.m. the next day in the pool, including an exercise in which players jumped in the deep end together and switched sweatshirts with each other while on command.

The players would perform the exercises again and again to improve their collective time.

O'Brien first used The Program two years ago, before a 9-4 campaign for NC State. Kapitulik, like O'Brien, graduated from the Naval Academy, and the coach gave The Program plenty of credit for the success of the 2010 season before inviting Kapitulik back this spring.

"I think it worked very well for us two years ago, so we brought him back and did it Monday night," O'Brien said. "We were on the field at 8 o'clock Monday night. Got off the field a little after 11:30, and were in the pool 4:30 the next morning. He brings basically himself, who is special operations, two other fellow Marine officers, a captain and a major that were special operations, a former NFL player, and they run the team through various drills and various team building exercises. I think it's a great experience for the team. I think they really enjoy it, especially once it's over."

A lacrosse player for Navy, Kapitulik was in a helicopter crash during a routine training regimen in 1999. Seven Marines were killed, and Kapitulik started a scholarship fund in honor of the fallen Marines.

He has continued living an intense life, climbing Mount Everest and four others and participating in marathons and a triathlon.

"I think that the biggest thing our players take from this is for each man to realize that the guy on his left and the guy on his right is more important than he is," O'Brien said. "To realize that to be successful as individuals, they have to help their teammates be successful."

When the test was over in Raleigh, Kapitulik awarded a silver shirt with The Program's logo on it -- the Spartan shield with the Greek letter lambda inside -- to redshirt senior safety Earl Wolff, the individual who represented being a great teammate the most.

"We have a lot of individuals on our team, but everything we did [during The Program] was together," Wolff said. "If everybody did it right and one person did it wrong, everybody had to do it all over. I think by the time it was over, everybody knew that it's not about them, it's about the team."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paul Johnson and Jon Barry will be looking to defend their crown later this month, as the Georgia Tech duo will be one of 10 ACC teams competing in the 16-team Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament, with the hope of winning a share of the $520,000 scholarship purse for their respective schools.

The sixth annual tournament will be held April 29 - May 1 at the Reynolds Plantation resort on Lake Oconee outside Atlanta. Florida State's Jimbo Fisher and Terrell Buckley, the 2010 winners, will be competing as well, along with the 2007 winners from Virginia Tech, Frank Beamer and Dell Curry.

Clemson (Dabo Swinney/Steve Fuller), Maryland (Randy Edsall/Stan Gelbaugh), Miami (Al Golden/Gino Torretta), North Carolina (Larry Fedora/Roy Williams), North Carolina State (Tom O'Brien/Tom Gugliotta), Virginia (Mike London/Jim Dombrowski) and Wake Forest (Jim Grobe/Riley Skinner) are the other seven ACC teams participating in the tournament.

The Yellow Jackets' duo of Johnson and Barry won the event last year with an 11-under par, four strokes better than the Seminoles' win from 2010. South Carolina's Steve Spurrier and Sterling Sharpe, who won the 2009 and 2008 tournaments with 12-unders, will be participating again this season.

Alabama, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Tennessee are the other schools competing.

ESPN is taping the event for broadcast in the fall.

First one on the board for the Yankees. Now if only the Mets could drop a game. Any game.

• AthlonSports.com ranks the ACC's top quarterbacks.
• Virginia Tech linebacker Ronny Vandyke could be a hybrid weapon, Mark Giannotto writes in the Washington Post.
• There is still distance between Georgia Tech starter Tevin Washington and backups Synjyn Days and Vad Lee, Ken Sugiura writes in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
• Shawn Moore's mission is to get Virginia's tight ends more involved, Doug Doughty writes in the Roanoke Times.
• NC State coach Tom O’Brien saw positives and negatives in the Wolfpack’s first scrimmage of the spring Saturday, Nate Taylor writes in the Raleigh News & Observer.

Desmond “Des” Kitchings has been hired as the running backs coach at NC State, the school announced on Thursday. Kitchings comes to Raleigh after spending last season as the running game coordinator/running backs coach at the Air Force Academy.

“We are very fortunate to have Des Kitchings join our program,” coach Tom O’Brien said in a prepared statement. “He will be a great addition to our staff both on and off the field. Not only does he have great experience as a coach, but he will also be an asset for us in recruiting because of his familiarity with and his ability to recruit the states of South Carolina and Georgia.”

Air Force ranked third nationally in rushing last season, averaging 314.8 yard per game. The Falcons also finished third nationally with 43 rushing touchdowns.

You wouldn’t believe this, but Hallmark was all out of Valentine’s Day cards for ACC coaches. So, I took it upon myself to lighten the mood here in the blogosphere with a little bit o’ love and these personal touch cards.

Dear …

FRANK BEAMER:

The loss to Michigan wasn’t so bad, it’s the 1-5 BCS bowl record that has your fans sad. The 2012 recruiting class should help ease the pain, just try not to lose to Clemson again.

DAVID CUTCLIFFE:

You’ve given it all, your heart and your soul, yet after four seasons we’ve still seen no bowl. This recruiting class is highlighted by athleticism and speed, which is good news for you -- it’s a running game you need.

RANDY EDSALL:

Danny O’Brien has broken your heart, but Stefon Diggs couldn’t bear to part. You win some, you lose some, that’s what they say, but you gotta spread the love if you want players to stay.

LARRY FEDORA:

Welcome to the ACC, where we do things right. That means keep all agents and runners out of our sight. There’s plenty of talent to start with a clean slate, the big question is, can you beat NC State?

JIMBO FISHER:

It’s you and your staff the elite recruits adore, but the rest of the world is still waiting for more. Another national title for that trophy case is the only thing your fans will truly embrace.

AL GOLDEN:

Nevin Shapiro has a whole lot to say, but just don’t you worry ‘bout that NCAA. The worst is behind us, you’ve said before, it’s the fans’ expectations that should concern you more.

JIM GROBE:

An impressive turnaround in 2011 was nice, but to do it again you must protect Tanner Price. Thirty-five sacks has got to hurt, and now four new starters must keep him outta the dirt.

PAUL JOHNSON:

Who needs a playbook? Not CPJ. The master of the option offense can throw his away. It’s defense and special teams that needs some work, and throwing more efficiently certainly couldn’t hurt.

MIKE LONDON:

Coach of the Year and first bowl since ’07? After only two seasons Virginia fans were in heaven. You’ve set the bar high, but there’s one question to me: Can you beat the Hokies, or is it strike three?

TOM O’BRIEN:

Broken bones have held your team back, so keep ‘em healthy and look out for the Pack. FSU and Clemson are getting all of the hype, but when it comes to quarterbacks, Mike Glennon’s just your type.

FRANK SPAZIANI:

They say your seat is hot, and I couldn’t agree more; in 2012 you must win more than four. The offense has been at the heart of your woes, but a new OC could help cure some of those.

DABO SWINNEY:

An ACC title, a top-10 recruiting class and more. There’s only one problem … West Virginia just scored. A new DC just might do the trick, but if you don’t beat South Carolina, Clemson fans will be sick.

While the star systems help evaluate each recruit and grade each class , the most important aspect of signing day is whether or not each program filled its specific needs at each position. Here’s a quick look at each school in the ACC and the biggest need it filled on signing day:

BOSTON COLLEGE: The Eagles wanted to continue to build the depth on both lines, and did that with three offensive linemen and a defensive end. BC might have gotten a future star in four-star guard Frank Taylor, who is rated No. 14 in the country at his position.

CLEMSON: One look at the 2011 depth chart and it’s easy to see where Clemson’s biggest need was, as three starters on the offensive line and three starters on the defensive line have to be replaced from the ACC title team. Mission accomplished in this class with 10 linemen, including six on offense.

DUKE: The Blue Devils got what they were looking for in offensive skill positions with a quarterback, two running backs and three wide receivers in the 20-player class. Jela Duncan, rated the No. 39 running back in the country by ESPN.com, could give Duke’s running game a much-needed boost.

FLORIDA STATE: An already deep defensive line got even deeper and faster. The Noles lured in five defensive linemen, including the No. 1 defensive end and the No. 1 defensive tackle in the country in Mario Edwards and Eddie Goldman, respectively.

GEORGIA TECH: The defensive line was the most pressing need for the Jackets, as they have to replace two senior starters up front. The staff got it done with five defensive linemen in this class, including three tackles.

MARYLAND: Randy Edsall and his staff put a heavy emphasis on linebackers in this class, with three outside linebackers and three inside linebackers. Abner Logan Jr., who is rated No. 28 in the country at his position, highlights the group.

MIAMI: Defensive backs were a big priority, and Miami took care of it with five cornerbacks and two safeties. The prize of the class was Tracy Howard, rated the No. 1 cornerback in the country by RecruitingNation.

NORTH CAROLINA: The Tar Heels' depth at linebacker needed some help, especially with having to replace outgoing senior Zach Brown. First-year coach Larry Fedora added some talent with four linebackers in this class, including four-star commit Shakeel Rashad.

NC STATE: Tom O’Brien bolstered his defensive line in this class with six newcomers, and he said he now has a “whole different breed” of pass-rushers. The Pack lured in defensive end Kenderius Whitehead, the No. 31 end in the country.

VIRGINIA: Offensive line was a concern, as the Hoos will have to replace their starting center and left guard in 2012. Mike London brought in three guards and two tackles to help build the depth up front.

VIRGINIA TECH: It’s no secret the Hokies needed to load up on running backs after back-to-back seasons in which three stars decided to leave early and one backup graduated. Virginia Tech got it done in this class with four running backs, including Drew Harris, ranked No. 19 at his position by RecruitingNation.

WAKE FOREST: The Deacs have to replace four starters on the offensive line, and while it’s unlikely a true freshman will earn a starting job, it’s certainly a place on the depth chart where an outstanding rookie has a chance to make an impact. Wake brought in two tackles and a guard to help their cause.

It was another whirlwind of a signing day, with a little bit of drama and a few surprises. Now that we’ve had some time to digest Wednesday’s news, here’s a quick overview of 2012 signing day in the ACC:

Top class: Florida State is the undisputed heavyweight champion in the ACC this signing day. The Noles brought in 10 ESPNU 150 commitments and finished with the No. 2 class in the country. Jimbo Fisher lured in the No. 1 player in the country in defensive end Mario Edwards, and bolstered an already strong defense by adding even more depth and speed, particularly up front, where it added the No. 1 DT in Eddie Goldman.

Biggest surprise: (Tie) Dante Fowler Jr. flipping from Florida State to Florida and Jawand Blue flipping from Virginia Tech to Miami. Both Fowler and Blue entered signing day committed to their previous programs, but at the last minute decided to flip. Fowler said he was enticed by Florida’s hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end position, and Blue’s decision caused quite a stir on Twitter when a conversation between he and a Virginia Tech assistant was made public via a reporter’s tweets.

Biggest loss: While some teams missed out on highly touted players, Georgia Tech lost one of its assistants to a recruiting violation. Co-offensive line coach Todd Spencer resigned after he broke NCAA rules by sending text messages to recruits.

Recruiter of the year: Miami coach Al Golden. Sure, Florida State and Clemson had higher-ranked classes, but Al Golden is only in his second season recruiting in South Florida (his first full recruiting calendar), and had to recruit against uncertainty that still looms because of an ongoing NCAA investigation. Despite possible further sanctions, Golden was able to lure in a top-10 class, which will help the program get back on track regardless of what awaits from the NCAA.

Rookie of the year: Virginia Tech running backs coach Shane Beamer. In his first season on staff, he made an immediate impact for the Hokies on the recruiting trail. Virginia Tech had five four-star recruits and one ESPNU 150 member sign, and Beamer played an integral role in giving the program's recruiting a boost. Coach Frank Beamer said this is the kind of class that could help change those results in the BCS bowls.

First impression: First-year UNC coach Larry Fedora is a walking advertisement for Red Bull. The man is hopped up, turbocharged, and it’s exactly what the program and fan base needs right now -- a little bit of life. With a recruiting window that was cut short by the timing of his hire, Fedora still cobbled together a solid class that met the needs of his philosophies and will help the program adapt to the changes in schemes. Much like Golden, he managed to do it with the NCAA cloud still hanging over the program.

Class most likely to make an immediate impact: Miami. With so many players leaving early for the NFL and graduating, one of the biggest selling points for Miami this year was immediate playing time. The early departure of Lamar Miller to the NFL should open the competition up at running back, and defensive back is another area of opportunity for freshmen, but there will be spots up for grabs all over the two-deep.

Under-the-radar class: NC State. Tom O'Brien said he's bringing in a "whole different breed" of pass-rushers, and that "we're finally getting to look like our guys did at Boston College, the guys that are still playing in the Super Bowl this weekend." It's not a flashy class, but it will make NC State better, and the Wolfpack are already a team worth watching in the 2012 ACC race.

NC State has announced 23 newcomers to the program for 2012, including four who have been enrolled at NC State since January and a transfer from Colorado State. The class includes six defensive linemen, three linebackers, four defensive backs, four offensive linemen, two wide receivers, one tight end, one running back and two quarterbacks.

"Our staff is very excited about the signing class of 2012," coach Tom O'Brien said in a prepared statement. "We went into this recruiting year with the intention of adding talent at every position, on both sides of the ball. We are at the point now where we are signing to build a team, not rebuild a position, and we are adding quality depth.

"It's a long, tall, very athletic class. Many of these young men were team captains and team leaders, which means they are the type of selfless players who will come in here with a goal of winning a championship. Seven of the signees attended our camp, so we have really had a chance to get to know them and their character."

Eight signees are from North Carolina high schools, six from Georgia and others from South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

When it comes to keeping top talent at home, Georgia Tech and NC State have come up short, according to research from ESPN The Magazine and RecruitingNation. The data came from the 18 states that produced at least 10 ESPNU 150 recruits from 2007-11. The BCS programs inside those states were then ranked by the percentage of local recruits they signed. Among the 10 BCS programs that missed out on elite homegrown talent, Georgia Tech ranked No. 2 and NC State ranked No. 5.

According to the report, Georgia Tech signed just two of 74 ESPNU 150 recruits since 2007, and NC State two of 24. Both trailed in-state rivals Georgia and North Carolina. NC State fans will be quick to point out, though, that those numbers haven't affected the Wolfpack's win-loss record against the Tar Heels under coach Tom O'Brien. He might not have five stars next to his recruits, but he's won five straight against UNC.

Here's an excerpt from what ESPN The Magazine's LaRue Cook had to say about NC State:

In terms of recruiting, we're as perplexed with the Wolfpack's lack of production as we are with Georgia Tech's. Two ACC programs that can't sign top local talent? (Okay, make that four. Duke nor Wake Forest has signed a single ESPNU 150 prospect from any state, so we didn't bother ranking them.) Clemson, Georgia and South Carolina have gone in to North Carolina and lifted a combined eight prospects over the last five years -- even Cal grabbed two. This year, the state's five ESPNU 150 recruits are committed to Georgia, Florida (two) and Clemson (two).

With the 2011 season behind us, it’s time to hand out the report cards. We’ll start with the Atlantic Division today and finish up with the Coastal Division on Wednesday:

BOSTON COLLEGE

Overview: We should have known this would be a troubling season from the start, when the Eagles lost at home to Northwestern’s backup quarterback. It’s one thing to struggle, though, and another to start out 1-6 and winless in league play. Granted, there were injuries, there was the loss of leading rusher Montel Harris, and there was the unexpected leave of absence of former offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers for health reasons. There were plenty of excuses BC fans didn’t want to hear as the Eagles wrapped up their worst season since 1995. The defense was respectable and the offense continued to struggle, but BC never quit and won three of its last five games.

Grade: D

CLEMSON

Overview: The Tigers’ offense flourished quickly under first-year coordinator Chad Morris, as Clemson shocked the college football world with its 8-0 start. Quarterback Tajh Boyd was in the Heisman conversation, and true freshman receiver Sammy Watkins became a household name. The loss to Georgia Tech on Oct. 29 was simply a matter of Clemson running into a team that played its best game of the year against the Tigers. The loss at NC State? That was Clemson pulling a Clemson. The Tigers lost three of their final four regular-season games, including to rival South Carolina, but they managed to play their best game of the year against Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game. That performance, though, in typical Clemson style, was followed by a flop -- a face plant of monumental proportions against West Virginia in the Discover Orange Bowl. Still, this was a team that was unranked heading into the preseason, and it won the school’s first league title since 1991. In the big picture, this season was a success.

Grade: A

FLORIDA STATE

Overview: The final impression of the 2011 team is one that didn’t live up to the preseason hype (again), but won with one of the nation’s best defenses and special teams units. There was no shame in the home loss to Oklahoma, but it was the start of a three-game losing streak which prompted many to call the Seminoles the country’s biggest disappointment in the first half of the season. Injuries added up for the Noles, and the inconsistency on the offensive line was too much to overcome. The Noles rebounded from the loss to Wake Forest, though, with a five-game winning streak, and beat rival Florida for a second straight season. They finished the season with the No. 4 scoring defense in the country. The Atlantic Division favorites beat Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl as a consolation prize, and they did it with four freshmen starting on the offensive line. Yes, it could have been better, but that three-game losing streak also could have spiraled into something much worse.

Grade: B-

MARYLAND

Overview: The 2011 season was as ugly as the Maryland Pride uniforms unveiled in the Labor Day opener against Miami. And it turned out that was the highlight of the season. Randy Edsall’s first year was a disaster, as Maryland finished 2-10 and went backward after a nine-win season and bowl appearance in 2010. Edsall wasn’t embraced by his players, many fans or members of the local media, as the Terps lost eight straight games and sank to the bottom of the ACC. Maryland had one of the country’s worst defenses, and a quarterback controversy in the second half of the season despite returning the ACC’s 2010 Rookie of the Year in Danny O’Brien. As a result, both coordinators were fired and at least eight players decided to transfer. The good news for Maryland? It can only get better.

Grade: F

NC STATE

Overview: Coach Tom O’Brien might be the unluckiest coach when it comes to injuries. Expectations were high for NC State after a strong finish in 2010, but the Wolfpack got off to an underwhelming 2-3 start and suffered one of the league’s most embarrassing losses in a 44-14 nationally televised Thursday night drubbing by Cincinnati. As the team got healthier, though, it also got better, and NC State poured every ounce of effort it had into becoming bowl eligible down the stretch. The Pack won five of their final seven games, including a shocking upset of Clemson and the biggest comeback in school history against Maryland. They finished the season strong with a win over Louisville in the Belk Bowl, and quarterback Mike Glennon showed measurable progress down the stretch and eventually shook the shadow of Russell Wilson.

Grade: B-

WAKE FOREST

Overview: This team was picked to finish last in the Atlantic Division and instead came within a field goal of winning it. The Deacs exceeded expectations after their 3-9 finish in 2010, and were able to exhale after becoming bowl eligible with a win over Maryland. Wake struggled to run the ball, but made great strides in the passing game in the second season of starter Tanner Price. Despite their success, it could have been better, but Wake Forest faltered down the stretch and lost four of its final five regular-season games and lost to Mississippi State in the Music City Bowl.

Grade: C+

It’s time to review some of the highs and lows from the ACC bowl season (there were highlights, I swear) …

Best performance: NC State cornerback David Amerson had two interceptions in a 31-24 win over Louisville in the Belk Bowl. He broke the ACC single-season record, and also moved into a tie for second place in FBS history for single-season interceptions with 13. The Pack were leading 24-10 in the third quarter when Amerson’s 65-yard interception return for a touchdown broke the record. His second interception late in the game moved him into a tie for second place in FBS history.

Best offensive performance in a losing effort: Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas. He outplayed Michigan’s Denard Robinson in every phase but the scoreboard. He threw for 214 yards and ran for 53. He also had an impressive 13-yard scramble on fourth-and-11. In his first season as a starter, Thomas finished with 3,482 yards of total offense, breaking Tyrod Taylor’s school record, which was set in 2010.

Best team defensive performance: Florida State. The Noles held the Irish scoreless for two quarters, and forced three turnovers, all interceptions.

Best defensive game plan: Virginia Tech. Michigan was in disarray, and Bud Foster had a lot to do with that. Fitzgerald Toussaint was held to just 30 rushing yards, and quarterback Denard Robinson had just 13 rushing yards. Nobody scored on the ground, and Michigan was just 4-of-13 on third-down conversions.

Best on-the-job training: Florida State’s offensive line. The Noles started four freshmen against Notre Dame, and they gave up five sacks, but they also grew up right before our eyes and looked much better in the second half.

Best quote: “I don't care what people think. I made a decision what was best for this football team going forward. When I made the decision and weighing all options and looking at the talent this kid has I knew we would have a quarterback. I don't have to feel vindicated by anybody. … But he helped [vindicate] me." -- NC State coach Tom O’Brien on replacing Russell Wilson with Mike Glennon, who was named the MVP of the Belk Bowl with three touchdowns.

Worst defensive performance. None other than the 70 points Clemson allowed, of course. Most. Points. Ever. In any bowl game. Ever.

Worst moment: The look of devastation on Danny Coale’s face when his would-be 20-yard touchdown catch in overtime was overturned by the replay officials and ruled incomplete.

Worst officiating: The Allstate Sugar Bowl. Take your pick. There were plenty of questionable calls in that game, but the most controversial was probably Coale’s negated touchdown catch. Whether it was a catch or not isn’t the point. Instead, there didn’t seem to be enough indisputable video evidence to overturn the original call of a touchdown.

Worst stat: The ACC dropped to 2-13 in BCS bowls.

Worst stat II: The ACC was outscored by 74 points in its bowl games.

Worst effort: North Carolina played like its coach had one foot out the door. Oh wait, never mind. … Missouri racked up 31 points in the first half. UNC had the ACC’s second-best rushing defense and allowed Missouri 337 rushing yards while UNC had 36.