ESPN College Football

TEMPE, Ariz. -- On Jan. 6, Mike Bercovici was chilling with some friends when he got a call from Arizona State receiver Aaron Pflugrad. There, it seemed, was some big news for the Sun Devils' backup quarterback.

In a surprise to many, junior Brock Osweiler, the Sun Devils' starting quarterback, had decided to enter the NFL draft.

"My mindset changed immediately," Bercovici said. "I was really excited when I heard the news."

Of course he was. It's natural that the backup becomes the favorite to win the job when the starter leaves. Osweiler's decision meant Bercovici was suddenly in line to become No. 1 on the depth chart a year earlier than expected -- as a true sophomore.

But, as everyone also knows, Osweiler also wasn't the only person who bolted the Sun Devils. When coach Dennis Erickson was fired, offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone and his spread passing attack moved on to UCLA. Enter Todd Graham and his spread-option, Oregon-esque offense, which asks the quarterback to be a running threat.

Bercovici has a big arm but isn't really known for his ability to run the ball.

"I'm not as familiar with the zone read," he said.

The guy who lost out on the backup job to Bercovici last preseason, sophomore Taylor Kelly, however, does have experience running the spread option. And, oh by the way, redshirt freshman Michael Eubank, an impressive athlete at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, was recruited by Graham to play quarterback at Pittsburgh.

"He tells me he knows me. He's told me that numerous times since he's been here," Eubank said. "But I'm fighting for the job like the rest of the guys. I don't feel like I have any advantage just because I know him."

What we do know: This feels like an honest-to-goodness battle. This offense seems to fit Kelly's and Eubank's comfort zone better than Bercovici's, but Graham's offense also emphasizes throwing the ball downfield -- much more so than Mazzone's quick-hit passing attack. Bercovici can hurl the rock downfield, there is absolutely no doubt about that.

But Graham isn't talking so much about the different skill sets of his signal-callers. For one, spring practices only start Tuesday, so he hasn't seen them in action. But he makes clear that there's a lot more to playing the position than passing and running.

"We spend a lot more time focusing on the intangibles, the mental part of it," he said. "The guy who will win this job will be the guy who can lead our team."

That said, becoming proficient with the spread option is a key component of the competition. But it's not all about athletic ability and blazing speed, either.

"The read zone is a part of what we do," Graham said. "We want to hurt them with our legs but slay them with our arm. Most of the guys in this system have been between 4.8 and 5-flat [in the 40-yard-dash], but if you have great technique you can be very deceptive in the option game."

(Graham said his offense best compares to what Chad Morris runs at Clemson and what new Arkansas State coach Gus Malzahn ran as Auburn's offensive coordinator).

None of the three has any real college experience. And all three are young, so whoever wins could be in line to be a three- or (in Eubank's case) four-year starter. Graham and offensive coordinator Mike Norvell said each will get equal time with the first-team offense until a pecking order establishes itself.

"I don't have a timeline for when we're going to cut it to a two-man race or when we're going to name a starter," Norvell said. "It's a process and it's going to take its course. We're going to see how the guys compete."

And the competition is almost certain to extend well into fall camp.

Said Norvell, "I think I'll find it hard to name a starter after just 15 practices."

Clemson fans, fear not about receiver Sammy Watkins experiencing the dreaded “sophomore slump” in 2012.

He doesn’t even know what it is.

“I really don’t get what people mean by sophomore slump,” he said. “I mean, I’m just going to do what I did last year, but progress in the things I need to work at, such as being more physical, blocking down the field, going all out on every play, and improving on kick returns and punt returns.”

Watkins’ 2012 goals: remain humble, reach 1,000 receiving yards, be named a team captain, be committed, win an ACC championship and “maybe a national title.”

Sounds more like super soph than sophomore slump.

Not that Watkins hasn’t already become a household name after just one season. Watkins finished his freshman season with 82 catches for 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns -- all league records for freshmen, and the catches and yardage led all freshmen nationally, while the touchdown reception total tied for the national lead among first-year players. He also scored on an 89-yard kickoff return against Maryland, and he has the fourth-highest average in all-purpose yardage by a freshman in the NCAA’s FBS since 2000, averaging 176.0 yards per game.

Watkins topped 100 receiving yards in five games, and finished third overall in the ACC in receptions, second in receiving yards, and tied for the lead in touchdown receptions (12).

Heisman hopeful?

“It’s a great thing to be in the Heisman race and be chosen to go to New York, but I’m not really focused on that,” Watkins said. “I’m focused on winning this year.”

Watkins said both coach Dabo Swinney and offensive coordinator Chad Morris do their best to keep him humble, and Swinney said there’s definitely room for improvement.

“Sammy’s got to be a better player without the ball,” Swinney said. “We’ve really challenged him in a lot of areas. Everybody sees him with the ball in his hands, but we need him to be a better player without the ball. There’s a lot of little things that impact plays that he can do a better job of.”

Watkins agreed, and said he still has a lot to prove.

“I still have to prove things to everybody, because everybody says I’m going to have a sophomore slump,” he said. “I really don’t get what that means, but I’ve just got to come next year and show everybody the same thing I did last year.”

If that’s the case, it’s not Clemson fans who should be worried -- it’s the rest of the ACC.

Talk about putting your money where your mouth is.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has taken it upon himself -- basically out of his own pocket -- to give his assistants raises.

There is a clause in Swinney's contract stating that if he won the ACC, he would rise to a certain level from a salary standpoint among ACC coaches. When he won the 2011 title, that meant this year's contract would increase by $422,000. He is taking $265,000 of that to give to his coaches. Technically, it's an allocation -- not money he has already received. It is money he would have received -- and that is the key difference between what Swinney is doing and what Georgia coach Mark Richt did.

Regardless, it's a true investment in his program -- one I've never heard of or seen elsewhere in the college coaching ranks -- and odds are it will pay off. It is proof of the literal value of coaching stability.

Swinney's decision stems from today's announcement that the Compensation Committee of the Clemson Board of Trustees approved a proposal from athletic director Terry Don Phillips to grant salary increases totaling $450,000 for seven assistant football coaches, and the head strength coach. It will be in effect for two years, and 60 percent of that money is coming from Swinney. The remaining 40 percent, or $185,000 will be provided by the athletic department.

According to the school's release, Swinney is expected to make $1.9 million in 2012, which will rank 46th nationally according to the most recent data available to Phillips. The staff, including the head coach, is expected to rank between 12th and 15th.

“Coach Swinney has opted to invest in the stability of the program with money he earned in 2011,” Phillips said in a prepared statement. “We have a young football team returning for 2012 and 2013 and he felt it was imperative to have stability from a staff standpoint. These are all options that had been in his existing contract.”

“I am extremely grateful to the Board of Trustees for its approval of these salary increases,” Swinney said in the release. “We have a great staff and I want to do everything I can to keep it together at a critical time in our program. We have a young, but talented team and I feel we have a chance to do something very special in the near future.”

Earlier, it was announced that offensive coordinator Chad Morris would earn $1.3 million and defensive coordinator Brent Venables would earn $800,000 during the 2012 season, meaning Clemson’s nine full-time assistant coaches will earn $4.2 million.

Here is the official run-down of the remaining staff salaries recently approved by the Board of Trustees:

Joey Batson (strength coach) $200,000

Dan Brooks $310,000

Robbie Caldwell $310,000

Tony Elliott $205,000

Charlie Harbison $375,000

Marion Hobby $375,000

Danny Pearman $310,000

Jeff Scott $215,000

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+

Incredibly enough, Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris was coaching high school football just a few years ago in the state of Texas.

And who did he meet back then? None other than West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen, who was an assistant at Texas Tech and Houston at the time.

"I had met Dana at a couple clinics down in College Station at the Lone StarClinic," Morris said. "I met him there and listened to him speak. Obviously his time at the University of Houston they'd recruit in our areas. And then when he moved on to Oklahoma State, we played against him when I was at Tulsa. So as far as just meeting him, knowing him, and I've met him a couple times, I know he's a very sharp-minded football coach on the cutting edge, and that's always great to see, how he grows his offense. They definitely have those guys going.

"As a high school coach in state of Texas, that is one of the guys that you always looked at, and again, always on the cutting edge of things."

Indeed, it was Todd Graham who gave Morris his first opportunity on the collegiate level, hiring him to serve as offensive coordinator at Tulsa in 2009. Holgorsen and Graham had some bad blood between them during that time. After Houston beat Tulsa that season, Holgorsen had accused Graham of having his players fake injuries to slow down his tempo.

Holgorsen and Graham said back in November they had worked out their differences. After the success he had at Tulsa, Morris moved on to Clemson this season and just got a huge raise. He also likes to run a quick tempo, just like Holgorsen, which is why all eyes will be on these offenses come Wednesday in the Discover Orange Bowl.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Greetings from beautiful South Florida, where West Virginia and Clemson practiced for the second day in preparation for the Discover Orange Bowl.

Mountaineers defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel and select defensive players met with the media this morning, along with Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris and select offensive players.

The big story of the day, of course, were the injuries that keep mounting for West Virginia. Running back Dustin Garrison is out for the game, the third West Virginia starter to be declared out. On Casteel's side of the ball, West Virginia will be without safety Terence Garvin. Redshirt freshman Wes Tonkery and true freshman Shaq Petteway have been working the position during practice but no starter has been announced.

"We'll still work those two kids the next two or three practices, and they're both going to play," Casteel said. "That's what happens when you get an injury; a kid has to step up, and the next guy goes. I know that they're excited to play. We've been through those situations before, so those guys will be ready to go."

Eain Smith and Darwin Cook could be relied upon even more with Garvin out.

"I think the key is letting the kids get in and get settled in," Casteel said. "For some of these kids, obviously this is a big game for them. Once they get in and settle in, they're going to find it's no different than any of the other games that they've played.

"But our leaders will settle those guys down, and they'll be ready to play."

Playing with young players like Petteway and Tonkery is going to be something West Virginia will have to get through, the way it did when Garvin missed the Cincinnati game with a knee injury. Smith started in place of Garvin in that game, but the coaches don't seem to want to move him for this game.

Garvin was third on the team with 72 tackles. With the way Clemson likes to throw the ball, and the talent the Tigers have at the skill positions, they could take advantage.

"Will it change our thinking?" Morris asked. "We're going to do what we do. We've got to be able to be who we are, what got us to this point in the season. You know, we try to do a good job of mixing up the run and the pass. So are we going to change our thought process? No. And if we were, I couldn't tell you.

"So it's one of those type of deals. We feel like we've got to make sure that we do the things that got us here, protecting the football, being physical, playing physical and being aggressive. That's who we are, that's who I've been since 2002, and it's not going to change.

"You know, it's unfortunate. I heard the injury report, and that's unbelievable. I hate that for that young man. What a great football player. But again, we've got to do what's got us here to this point."

Both head coaches offered statements about the way practice, which was closed to the media, went Saturday afternoon:

• Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said receiver DeAndre Hopkins practiced and is good to go for the game. "He’s back and it and looked fine," Swinney said. "Probably could’ve practiced yesterday, but we just wanted to have another day to evaluate him but I thought he moved around pretty good. Other than that, we’re physically in good shape, just have to mentally get dialed in."
• West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen named his captains for the game: linebacker Najee Goode, center Joe Madsen, quarterback Geno Smith and cornerback Keith Tandy.
• Former Mountaineers who were at practice Saturday were Grantis Bell (WR, 1985-88), Johnny Dingle (DL, 2005-07), Dale Williams (OL, 1991-93) and James “Puppy” Wright (LB, 1991-94).
• Also in attendance at Saturday's practice was former Miami coach Randy Shannon and Florida Atlantic assistant Kurt VanValkenburgh.
• “Practice went fine today," Holgorsen said. "We consider this our Tuesday practice so we were getting into our normal routine for the game week. The weather has been outstanding and I can see that our players are getting excited for game day. The player’s focus has been good, and they have been working hard. We are down here to win a football game, and I think our mix of preparation and fun has been good.”

Despite the repeated motto in Death Valley under coach Dabo Swinney, not everyone was “all in” when offensive coordinator Chad Morris was first hired.

He was one year removed from coaching high school football in Texas. He was bringing in a new offensive philosophy and new scheme. And his collegiate coaching experience consisted of one season at Tulsa.

“There were a lot of questions from him coaching high school and Tulsa, Conference USA,” quarterback Tajh Boyd said. “It was like, ‘Well, this is the ACC. We’re known for defense.’ … We did have questions coming into the season if it was going to work against teams like Virginia Tech and top-notch defenses in the conference.”

Now?

“Oh, man, that’s my guy right there,” Boyd said with a laugh. “Pretty much anything he says is golden.”

And so is Morris’ new contract.

After a successful season which was punctuated with the school’s first ACC title since 1991, Morris has made a rapid ascension from high school football coach to one of the nation’s most sought-after coordinators. The Sunday morning after Clemson beat Virginia Tech for the ACC title -- on Morris’ birthday -- Morris was called into Swinney’s office to negotiate a new contract. He is now one of the highest-paid assistants in the country. His offense has been the difference in the Tigers’ championship run, and it will have to be again next week to match a prolific West Virginia offense when Clemson makes its first appearance in the Discover Orange Bowl in 30 years.

“It’s been like someone stomping on the accelerator,” Morris said. "It’s been a blur. There have been a lot of miles, a lot of ups and a lot of downs. Everyone wants to make that it’s all been a bed of roses and it hasn’t. There are a lot of things you have to learn and adapt to along the way.”

Surprise: With a first-year starting quarterback in Boyd, Clemson learned and adapted quickly enough to start out the season 8-0. The Tigers enter the Orange Bowl having already set school season records for passing yards, total offense and points scored. Clemson has improved its total offense by over 100 yards per game since 2010 and has improved from 88th in the nation to 29th. Clemson has also improved from 78th to 21st in passing offense. Clemson was 10th in the ACC in scoring last year and is second this year with 33.6 points per game.

“I wasn’t envisioning the success we’d have this quick,” Morris said. “I thought we’d be maybe a year away from really executing at the level we execute now. I know we had three games of stubbing our toe, but I felt like those three games would come early in the year, and we’d learn and grow from it, and slowly pick it up. But to see the guys how they came out and execute at the pace we were executing, it caught me off-guard.”

One person who obviously had no reservations about the hire was Swinney.

“If I felt like it was a gamble, I wouldn’t have hired him,” Swinney said. “I hired him because I was certain that that’s what was best for the guys on the team, the guys I had recruited coming in here, for Clemson and for me. He was a guy I really liked and I thought it was a pretty easy marriage between our systems and what we were doing. I liked that a freshman was an old player to him, coaching these guys in high school for so many years. I really felt that was good because I knew we were going to have to get a lot of young guys ready to play. He was exactly what I was looking for and it’s been great.”

The next challenge will be to keep it up on the ACC’s biggest stage.

ACC blogger Heather Dinich has the height and weight advantage, but Big East blogger Andrea Adelson is a shifty little back with elusive speed. Today they go head-to-head to determine who will have the better conference this bowl season. The ACC has been dogged time and again for its losing record in bowl games, which extends back to 2006, but the Big East has been the joke of the BCS conferences this year. The two conferences will square off this bowl season in two bowls, as NC State (7-5) will face Louisville (7-5) in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 27 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), and Clemson (10-3) will face West Virginia (9-3) on Jan. 4 in the Discover Orange Bowl (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). If you thought the NC State-Cincinnati game was ugly this season, brace yourself for this catfight …

Heather Dinich: I would love to entertain you all day, AA, but the truth is there really is no argument here for the Big East. In fact, I almost feel bad for you. Almost. I’ve got two teams in BCS bowls and you’ve got, well, West Virginia -- a program that loves its conference so much it’s already got one foot in the Big 12. The Big East was so good this year that its best nonconference win came against Notre Dame by a South Florida team that finished 1-6 in the league. Now, I will give you this: The ACC and Big East enter bowl season tied at 3-3 this year, thanks to wins by Syracuse (ahem, in overtime with Wake’s quarterback injured), West Virginia (you and I could beat Maryland) and Cincinnati (I’ve got nothin’). There’s no reason, though, that the ACC shouldn’t come out 2-0 against the punching bag of the BCS. First down, me. Your turn.

Andrea Adelson: Yes, there is plenty to brag about when your second BCS team is a laughingstock that does not deserve its spot in the big game. I think even you said that yourself, Heather. The Big East has its problems, and it's easy to take tired jabs. But it does appear as if my preseason prediction is on the verge of coming true. You might recall that I said this summer that the Big East would have a winning record over the ACC this year. Let's take a closer look at the X's and O's to really get this debate started. I would love to hear how NC State is going to beat Louisville, the hottest team in the Big East right now after ending the season 5-1. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was just named by "College Football Live" as rookie of the year, and the Cardinals' defense has been playing lights-out during this winning streak. The Cardinals have their run game going, they've shored up their offensive line and their defense is one of the most aggressive in the Big East -- ranking No. 2 in scoring defense and total defense. Adrian Bushell has developed into a shutdown corner, Dominique Brown has made a huge difference in his move from quarterback to running back, and Bridgewater rarely makes mistakes. Cincinnati hammered NC State, a team I think you called the most inconsistent in the ACC. So how exactly are the Wolfpack going to win this game? And I love how Clemson lost three of four going into the ACC title game, but a win over big-game choker Virginia Tech makes the Tigers a favorite all of a sudden. But we can get to that game in a second.

HD: Wait, wait, wait. Are we talking about the same Louisville team? The one that ranks No. 100 in scoring offense? No. 104 in total offense? No. 111 in sacks allowed? And No. 94 in rushing offense? Yep, that’s the one. How is NC State going to beat that team? Probably by pressuring Bridgewater into an interception right into the hands of cornerback David Amerson, who leads the nation with 11 picks. By winning the turnover battle, thanks in part to quarterback Mike Glennon, who has eight touchdown passes to one interception in the past two wins. By making great use of their tight end, George Bryan. And by winning the field position battle, thanks to the No. 12 punt returner in the country, T.J. Graham. Yeah, Louisville won five of its last six games, OK, but three of those wins came against teams with losing records in conference play. NC State, meanwhile, beat Clemson, the No. 7 team in the country. Speaking of the Tigers, I know you’re going to bring up West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith as your main argument, but I’ll see you Smith and raise you Sammy Watkins. Oh, and P.S. West Virginia is 4-9 against the ACC in postseason play.

AA: You can bring up Geno, who has been quite solid this season. But I will bring up the West Virginia defense, which you could argue is the biggest reason why the Mountaineers are playing in this BCS game. West Virginia looked really shaky early in the year. I will bring up the Syracuse game for you. But then Dana Holgorsen urged his players to quit acting like they could just step onto the field and win without even trying. There was one more hiccup against Louisville, but the defense has been outstanding in wins over Cincinnati, Pitt and USF. Two of those teams are going to bowl games. West Virginia had defensive scores against the Bearcats and Bulls. It was Najee Goode's huge strip of B.J. Daniels late in the season finale against USF that allowed the Mountaineers to come back and win. How about 10 sacks against Pitt? Clemson is going to have to account for Julian Miller and Bruce Irvin up front -- both players have come on strong at the end of the season. And the biggest reason West Virginia has improved on pass defense has been cornerback Brodrick Jenkins, who's a major upgrade over Pat Miller. He and first-team Big East cornerback Keith Tandy have been a nice duo. Plus, West Virginia just finds a way to win close games -- 4-1 in games decided by six points or less.

HD: Two words for the West Virginia defense against Chad Morris’ offense: good luck. If it were JUST Sammy Watkins, that would be one thing, but as Virginia Tech figured out in loss No. 1 to Clemson, the Tigers’ offense runs deeper than the country’s best freshman. Tight end Dwayne Allen has been an X factor all season, and the Tigers have plenty of other options surrounding quarterback Tajh Boyd. Clemson has already set school season records for passing yards, total offense and points scored. Boyd has been inconsistent this season, but he’s had far more good moments than disappointing ones. The biggest factor for Clemson has been the turnover margin. The Tigers are 8-0 when they win the turnover battle and 2-3 when they don’t. These two teams are similar in that area. Clemson has lost 20 turnovers this year, WVU 21. I’m guessing that slim margin could be the difference in the game. Quite frankly, Clemson is the more talented team and should win. The ACC will prove this season that it’s the better conference. If it weren’t, why would Pitt and Syracuse be so quick to jump ship? You can’t possibly think that adding Boise State, San Diego State, Houston, UCF and SMU will beef up the Big East. To me, it just got watered down. Even you called the realignment scenario “preposterous.” Great word, by the way.

AA: Are you talking about the same juggernaut Clemson offense that averaged 14 points in its losses to NC State, Georgia Tech and South Carolina? The same Boyd who threw two touchdown passes and five interceptions in those games? Yeah, I think West Virginia can handle that. Don't forget, the Mountaineers see a pretty prolific offense in practice, and Dana Holgorsen has been doing this a little longer than Chad Morris. As for realignment, what the Big East had to do to get itself back in order is preposterous, no question. Having to reach all the way to California to find a new member is ridiculous. But the Big East would not be in this predicament if the ACC kept its hands to itself. If the ACC was such a great, solid conference filled with the finest football programs, why exactly does it keep raiding the Big East? The ACC can now count five former Big East members. Hey, I have an idea. Maybe we should just start calling the ACC the Big East because it will have more of the Big East's original members than the newly reformed Big East-West-Country-USA. The ACC really has the worst of both worlds, taking jabs not only for its own league members but for the Big East, too!

HD: Hey, if I recall correctly, the ACC “received applications” from Pitt and Syracuse, not the other way around. There was probably a line at ACC commissioner John Swofford’s door, with Rutgers, UConn and West Virginia all elbowing each other to try to get in, too. The ACC will be bigger and better, thanks to expansion. The Big Conference will be just that -- bigger. Look, I’d love to sit here and watch you swing at air some more, but the ACC has eight teams in bowl games, unlike the Big East. I’ve got some work to do. So why don’t you just settle in, get yourself some Beef O’Brady’s, and watch the ACC go 2-0 against your Big conference. I know, I know, you’ve got something to say. Go ahead and have the last word. You’ll need it.

AA: Well, considering you cover a conference with 12 teams and I cover one with eight, the Big East has just about the same percentage of teams in bowls. And I don't really need to remind you that the Big East has a better winning percentage in bowl games, or that the ACC has not posted a winning record in bowl games since 2006. Or that the ACC hasn't posted a winning record against the Big East in bowl games since 2007. Nah, you don't need to be reminded at all.

Defying expectations was the theme of the ACC in 2011, for better (Clemson and Virginia) or for worse (Florida State). This was supposed to be the year of the Seminoles. Florida State began the season ranked No. 6 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25, but quickly stepped into the shadows from which Clemson and Georgia Tech emerged. Both programs, a year removed from losing seasons, started the season with perfect 6-0 records and appeared headed for a collision between undefeated teams, but Georgia Tech couldn’t maintain its course and lost back-to-back games at Virginia and Miami. As it turned out, Virginia’s win wasn’t a fluke.

The Cavaliers, in only the second season under coach Mike London, added a twist to this year’s Coastal Division race -- by being in it. The Hoos were picked to finish fifth in the division, and after a 2-2 start, that seemed about right. Virginia had other ideas, though, and won six of its next seven games to set up a division championship game in the regular-season finale against Virginia Tech. The Hoos were beaten soundly 38-0, and one of the few predictions of the preseason came to fruition with the Hokies repeating as division champs.

Unfortunately for Virginia Tech, the Hokies also repeated losses to Clemson.

Clemson, which lost three of its final four games of the regular season after an 8-0 start, found a way to win the games that mattered most this year and beat Virginia Tech soundly twice. The Tigers played their best game of the season in the ACC championship game to win their first league title since 1991. With a first-year starting quarterback (Tajh Boyd) and a new offensive coordinator (Chad Morris) Clemson exceeded expectations from the start when it reeled off three straight wins against ranked opponents Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech in a span of three weeks.

The Tigers were able to finish what they started, while other programs just couldn’t wait to finish.

At Maryland, first-year coach Randy Edsall went backward. He inherited a nine-win bowl team and the ACC’s 2010 rookie of the year in quarterback Danny O'Brien and finished with a miserable 2-10 record and a quarterback controversy that ended only because O’Brien was hurt.

At Miami, a widely publicized NCAA investigation that was revealed during summer camp was the ultimate surprise for first-year coach Al Golden, who had to enter his season opener against Maryland with eight players suspended. Golden ended the season with yet another surprise. After clawing and scraping to become bowl-eligible, the team was told after its sixth win that it would decline a bowl invitation as a pre-emptive strike against expected NCAA sanctions.

There were plenty of surprises throughout the season this year, but possibly none bigger than Virginia Tech’s selection to the Sugar Bowl, which gave the ACC two BCS bowl teams for the first time in the existence of the BCS. It was a fitting end to another season in the ACC which turned out to be anything but what most were expecting.

OFFENSIVE MVP: Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd. There’s a reason he was in the Heisman conversation during the first half of the season. He was the unanimous choice for the MVP of the Dr Pepper ACC championship game, and despite some struggles late in the season, Boyd came through in the clutch and had a record-setting season. He threw for 240 passing yards and three touchdowns in the title game against Virginia Tech, and added another rushing touchdown. He finished with 31 touchdown passes and five rushing for the season for a school-record 36 total in terms of touchdown responsibility. Boyd also set the school record for passing yards and total offense in a season. Boyd enters the Discover Orange Bowl with 3,578 passing yards, and 3,764 total yards.

DEFENSIVE MVP: Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly. He won the Butkus Award and finished the season with 191 total tackles, including 102 solo, and three interceptions, including one for a touchdown. Kuechly has 532 career tackles, including 299 solo tackles, in 37 career games and is averaging 14.0 tackles per game and 7.9 solo tackles per game. All four standards are unmatched among active collegiate football players. He also broke the school's career record of 524 tackles (formerly held by linebacker Stephen Boyd) in his 37th collegiate game, and registered the top two single-season tackle totals in ACC history (191 in 2011 and 183 in 2010). He has registered 10 or more tackles in 33 (of 37) games since making his collegiate debut against Northeastern on Sept. 5, 2009.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins. His five catches for 80 yards against Virginia Tech set the school record for receiving yards in a season. He now has 77 receptions for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns. He tied the Clemson season record for touchdown receptions. Watkins now has 12 total touchdowns, tying C.J. Spiller’s record for touchdowns in a season by a freshman. Watkins had 157 all-purpose running yards against the Hokies and went over 2,000 for the season. He is the second Clemson player to do that joining C.J. Spiller, who had a record 2,680 in 2009. Watkins now has 2,077 entering the bowl game.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. He led the Tigers, who were unranked this preseason, to the ACC championship this past Saturday with a 38-10 victory over No. 5 Virginia Tech. It was Clemson’s first ACC championship since 1991. Clemson finished 15th in the final BCS standings, tied for its highest finish in the BCS. Swinney guided the Tigers to a 10-3 record overall, including four wins over Top-25 teams, tied for the second most in the nation and the most in one season in school history. Earlier in the year, Clemson defeated Top 25 teams from Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech on consecutive weeks, the first ACC team to defeated teams ranked in both polls in three straight games. The 10 wins are the most for the Clemson program since the 1990 season.

BIGGEST SURPRISE: Virginia. That loss to Southern Miss doesn’t seem all that bad now, does it? The Hoos rebounded from a 2-2 start to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2007 and were one win away from the Coastal Division title. Virginia to the Chick-fil-A Bowl? Surprise.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: The nonconference record. Florida State was the ACC’s biggest disappointment during the midseason report, but collectively, the ACC’s record against the big boys added up to a bigger flop. Florida State came up short against Oklahoma, Clemson lost to South Carolina for a third straight time and Georgia Tech fell to Georgia. The ACC finished with a 3-3 record against the Big East, 1-2 against the Big 12, 0-1 against the Pac-12, 2-3 against the SEC and 0-3 against Notre Dame. Ugh.

BEST GAME: The best game was Virginia Tech versus Miami, but the most memorable one was NC State’s surreal comeback over Maryland. There was better football in Blacksburg, where Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas scored with 56 seconds remaining to give the Hokies the win. What happened in Raleigh, though, was astounding. NC State trailed Maryland 41-14 with six minutes remaining in the third quarter and overcame a 27-point deficit to beat the Terps 56-41. It was the biggest comeback in school history and the second-biggest comeback in ACC history. NC State scored 35 points in the fourth quarter to become bowl-eligible.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris said there haven't been any changes to his current contract in regards to an extension or raise based on the success of his first season. He did say he has been contacted about job possibilities with other programs.

"I am committed to Clemson," he said. "It is crazy right now. It's the time of year. That's all I know. Have there been people who have contacted me? Yes."

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said after the game that Clemson fans don't have anything to worry about, and Morris is sticking around.

He might want to get working on that contract to make sure.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As the offensive team bus turned into the stadium near the West End Zone last Saturday night following Clemson’s third consecutive loss to rival South Carolina, the bus driver turned the lights on, and Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris took the opportunity to stand up in front of his players and tell them he wasn’t giving up on them.

“I promised them if they come to work on Monday, we’ll get it right,” he said, “and I told them we’ve lost our last football game. I’m sick of it.”

Apparently, so were they.

While Clemson’s convincing 38-10 upset of fifth-ranked Virginia Tech in the Dr Pepper ACC championship game shocked many on Saturday night, those within the program say there was no shortage of motivation in the week leading up to the most important game of the season. After back-to-back losses to finish the regular season, there was what tight end Dwayne Allen called a “come to Jesus meeting” on Monday, in which coach Dabo Swinney “laid it on us, and it was much-needed.” There was Swinney’s highly publicized Thursday night rant about rival South Carolina that got his team all jacked up. And then there was Friday’s meeting, in which every player was required to stand up and pledge that he would give 100 percent against Virginia Tech.

Whatever it took, and no matter how they did it, the Tigers have found a way this season to win the games that matter most. It just so happened that two of those games were against Virginia Tech, and for the second time this season, the Tigers played their best game of the year against the Hokies. Say what you will about Clemson’s infamous implosions -- none bigger this season than an inexplicable loss to an unheralded NC State team, and an anemic offensive showing in last week’s 34-13 loss to South Carolina. In the end, though, it was Virginia Tech that “pulled the Clemson.”

“We’ve been pretty ugly here in the last few weeks, and tonight we got back to our formula,” Swinney said. “We created turnovers, we took care of the ball. My quarterback showed back up. I told him, I said, ‘We’ve been like a team with the flu or something.' We got better. We needed some early momentum, we needed a spark.”

They didn’t just get a spark; Clemson got a third quarter filled with offensive fireworks. Clemson outgained Virginia Tech 181 to minus-2 total yards on the first three drives. The game was tied at 10 at halftime, but Clemson scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter. The Tigers outgained Virginia Tech in total yards 210 to 51 in the third quarter and scored three touchdowns on five plays in a span of 4:24.

“It was just one of those things that just didn’t happen right,” coach Frank Beamer said. “If you’ve been in athletics and you’ve been in games, sometimes it gets rolling like that, and it got rolling, and we didn’t do a good job of stopping it.”

Clemson’s defense, on the other hand, smothered Virginia Tech. Again. And running back David Wilson didn’t seem too thrilled about it. The ACC Player of the Year had only 11 carries for 32 yards. He openly questioned the staff’s play calling.

“I mean, I never got to get in a rhythm. … A lot of times we were calling a run straight into their blitzes," Wilson said.

“Part of the reason we stopped running the ball, I guess the coaches thought that it wasn’t being successful. But at the same time, you have to get your guys going. The offensive line has to get them moving, and you have to get your running backs into the flow of the game. … When we run our plays into their blitzes, it’s not gonna work.”

Nothing seemed to work for the Hokies. It was the worst margin of defeat for Virginia Tech since it joined the ACC. The Hokies were beaten soundly up front by Clemson’s defensive line, and Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd, the game’s unanimous MVP, picked apart a secondary that was depleted by a stinger to cornerback Jayron Hosley.

It wasn’t injuries, though, or officiating that determined the outcome of this game. It was Clemson’s 457 total yards of offense. It was Virginia Tech’s three turnovers and nine penalties. And it was Clemson’s transformation this week from choking to champion.

“You know, we don’t listen to the outside world,” Clemson defensive end Andre Branch said. “Basically like Coach Swinney always said, we play for each other. So yeah, we lost some, but we can either pout about it and keep losing or we can man up and just do what we’re capable of doing.”

It’s been 30 years, though, since they’ve had a chance to do it in the Orange Bowl. Clemson won its first ACC title since 1991, and will play in the Orange Bowl for the first time since 1981.

“Coach said it all along,” Allen said. “The only team that can beat Clemson is Clemson. If you watch the film, it’s not South Carolina physically beating us, it’s not NC State physically beating us, it’s us not doing our jobs. Guys are going to kick someone’s butt every now and then, but when you don’t have your eyes in the right spot, when you’re not in your gap, you can’t win.”

Clemson didn’t beat South Carolina or NC State this year, but more importantly, with a championship on the line, the Tigers finally didn’t beat themselves.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Hokies were favored to win this game, but Clemson has done a good job of getting the ball to Sammy Watkins in space, and DeAndre Hopkins was wide open on another big gain, as was tight end Dwayne Allen. Short passes have turned into some long gains for Clemson, and the Hokies have missed tackles and gotten beat on a few plays.

Meanwhile, the ACC's Player of the Year, David Wilson, hasn't been enough of a factor. His 11-yard gain late in the second quarter was the Hokies' longest run of the half. One thing that's similar to the first meeting between the two teams earlier this season, is that Logan Thomas has struggled to find guys open downfield, and there was also a turnover on the Hokies' first offensive play of the game. Both teams have made costly mistakes, in particular penalties. Here's a look back at the first half:

Turning point: Clemson defensive end Andre Branch was flagged for roughing the passer late in the first half, which gave Virginia Tech an automatic first down on Clemson's 48-yard line. It was a foolish, unnecessary hit and gave the Hokies new life. The penalty was followed by gains of 19 and 13 yards. The Hokies got as close as the 14-yard line, but Clemson got a break when Jaymes Brooks was called for holding, and the Hokies lost about 14 seconds off the clock because they seemed to be aware of it and were forced to kick a field goal. The penalty on Branch, though, gave them that opportunity.

Stat of the half: Wilson's 21 yards on six carries tied a season-low for rushing yards in a first half. He also was held to that many against Boston College, but finished with 134 yards.

Best player in the half: Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd. He's already had a much better game than what he did in last week's loss to South Carolina. Boyd has completed 14 of 21 passes for 118 yards and one touchdown. Chad Morris is putting him in positions to be successful, and he's only been sacked once after 11 sacks in the previous two games.

Strike three, Clemson.

For the third straight season, Clemson lost to rival South Carolina. The Tigers only turned it over one time, but it didn't matter. South Carolina's defense was stifling in the 34-13 win. Clemson was outgained 421 yards to 153, converted 6 of 17 third downs, and ran for just 70 rushing yards. Heading into this game, offensive coordinator Chad Morris had said that Clemson had lost some confidence over the past three games and that the Tigers needed somebody -- anybody -- to step up and give them a spark. Sammy Watkins couldn't do it. Tajh Boyd didn't get it done. Neither did Andre Ellington nor Dwayne Allen.

What began as a spectacular season for Clemson has since fizzled with back-to-back losses and three losses in the past four games. It's the opposite direction Virginia Tech has headed, as the two teams prepare to meet in the ACC championship game. With the Hokies coming off a 38-0 shutout of rival Virginia, and Clemson's offense playing flat in the past three games, the Hokies clearly have the momentum heading into Charlotte.

This is it. Enjoy every minute of it, because it’s the final week of the regular season and it’s going to be a long, long time before these rivalry games come along again. There’s plenty to keep an eye on this weekend, but here are 10 things worth watching:

1. The scoreboard against the SEC. The ACC has not had a winning record against the SEC since 2003. It’s off to a 1-0 start with Clemson’s victory over Auburn, but No. 12 South Carolina and No. 13 Georgia are both ranked higher than the ACC rivals they face Saturday, Vanderbilt will be playing for bowl eligibility against Wake Forest, and Florida, well, the Noles look like the better team in that matchup. Can the ACC finally turn the tables on the SEC?

2. The magic seven. NC State needs to beat Maryland in order to become bowl-eligible. Can the Wolfpack avoid a letdown after knocking off then-No. 7-ranked Clemson? The Atlantic Division was on the line last year when NC State lost at Maryland, and coach Tom O’Brien is 1-3 against the Terps. NC State has only had back-to-back victories once this season. Can the Wolfpack do it again when it matters most?

3. Turnovers for Clemson. The Tigers now have 11 turnovers in the past three games after having just eight in the first eight games. Clemson is 1-2 in those games, and the Tigers can’t afford to continue that trend against a South Carolina defense that is tied for No. 6 in the country in turnovers gained with 29.

4. Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins. Coach Chad Morris said this week that the Tigers needed a spark. Could Watkins’ return to the lineup be it? Watkins said Tuesday that he thinks he will be close to 100 percent by game time, and that the late kickoff should give him even a little more time to heal. While Watkins’ absence last week didn’t entirely explain the Tigers’ meltdown, it did play a role in the second half when Clemson was trying to come from behind and didn’t have him as a vertical threat.

5. Florida State’s offense.There have been too many missed blocks in the past two weeks, both by linemen and running backs, and the passing game has gotten out of sync. FSU has just two offensive touchdowns in the past two games. In the victory over Miami, FSU’s best offense was a punt return for a touchdown and three field goals. In the loss to UVa, FSU was just 3-of-13 on third downs. Florida ranks fourth in the nation in third-down defense, allowing opponents to convert just 29.14 percent of the time, the best number that UF has posted since the 2001 season (26.7 percent).

6. BC linebacker Luke Kuechly. Kuechly, who is averaging 16.55 tackles a game, needs only 6 against Miami to set the NCAA’s record for stops per game in a season. He had 14 tackles in Saturday’s 16-14 loss at Notre Dame and now has an ACC-record total of 523 in his career. That is the third-highest on record with the NCAA, which began tracking the statistic in 2000. Kuechly is 22 stops from tying the NCAA record, held by Tim McGarigle of Northwestern (2002-05). This is his last game of the season, but it could also be the last in a BC uniform if he leaves early for the NFL.

7. Georgia Tech’s defense. Six Georgia receivers have more than 200 yards receiving, and four have at least 29 catches. Georgia has also had four different 100-yard rushers this season. This is going to be a big test for Tech defensive coordinator Al Groh, whose defense has been average this season and is allowing 359.5 yards per game.

8. The No. 2s. Georgia Tech ranks No. 2 nationally in rushing offense (323.6), while Georgia ranks No. 2 nationally in rushing defense (81.3). Something’s gotta give.

9. First downs in Charlottesville. UVa has averaged 21.2 first downs per game, which ranks No. 3 in the ACC behind Clemson (23.1) and Virginia Tech (22.3). UVa’s opponents are averaging only 16.5 first downs a game, which ranks as the third-fewest in the ACC and No. 14 nationally. Of Kris Burd’s 53 receptions on the season, 36 have resulted in a first down. That is a rate of 67.9 percent. Clifton Richardson has seven rushes on third down and all seven have resulted in a first down.

10. Virginia Tech’s pressure on quarterback Michael Rocco. The Hokies are averaging three sacks per game, which ranks tied for eighth nationally. UVa’s offensive line has played well this season, and is tied for 16th in the country with one sack allowed per game. Last week against FSU marked the 11th consecutive game that Virginia had the same five starters in the offensive line. UVa hasn’t gone through an entire season with the same starting lineup on the offensive line since 2004.

As the regular season comes to a close, the ACC Coach of the Year race has a chance to heat up. Sure, there have been some bumps along the way –- even a few wrecks (ahem, Clemson) –- but overall, if you look at the preseason expectations compared with where they are now, there has been some pretty good coaching in the ACC this year.

Clemson, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and Virginia all had losing seasons a year ago. Now, all of those programs are bowl-eligible, and two of them -– Clemson and Virginia -– have a chance to play for the ACC title. Clemson has already clinched the Atlantic Division for the second time in three seasons under Dabo Swinney, and Virginia has far exceeded expectations in the second season under Mike London. Wake Forest was 3-9 a year ago, and now has a chance at an eight-win season. Georgia Tech was 6-7 last season and still has a chance at the 10-win mark.

It’s not just the turnarounds that are impressive, it’s the obstacles they each had to overcome to get there. Consider Clemson: The Tigers entered this season with a first-year starting quarterback in Tajh Boyd, a first-year offensive coordinator in Chad Morris, and an entirely new offensive system and philosophy. How quickly we forget the three straight wins over ranked opponents.

And Virginia? Puh-lease. The Hoos had four quarterbacks almost the entire offseason.

It’s not just the coaching with winning records, though, who have danced around disaster this season. While UNC’s Everett Withers isn’t likely to be retained as the head coach, he deserves a round of applause for holding the program together after its head coach was fired just days before summer camp began. Yes, UNC was capable of more, but it was also capable of falling apart.

And then there’s Miami. Whoooa, Miami.

Somebody get Al Golden a raise, just for keeping his cool since August. He took the job, thinking Miami is a place that can win national titles, and it is. But before he could get his foot onto a sideline, he stepped into quicksand, and now he’s up to his neck in an NCAA investigation he had zero involvement in. Possibly the best illustration of Golden as a coach came during the most intense moments of Saturday’s game at South Florida. With the game on the line, and an opportunity at a game-winning field goal, Golden was all smiles. He had his players jumping around, smiling, waving their arms in the air to get the crowd going. In that instant, Miami had that thing they call swagger. The players believe in him, with or without a bowl.

Even wildly inconsistent NC State has seen some magic from coach Tom O’Brien. Historically, he has been at his best in the second half of the season, and when almost everyone had counted the Pack out of the postseason, they go and play their best game of the year when it mattered most – against No. 7 Clemson. If NC State avoids a letdown against Maryland, O’Brien should at least be considered for the coach of the year award. Nobody wants to hear about injuries, but the truth is, they devastated NC State this year. O’Brien has had a chance to show what his team can do when it’s almost full strength.

It goes without saying, of course, that Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer and his staff have done another outstanding job. It hasn’t always been pretty, but the staff continuously finds ways to win, and this weekend the program will be playing for its fifth Coastal Division title. Beamer’s rival, though, London, has arguably done the best coaching job this season. After just four wins last year and questions at quarterback heading into the season, UVa was picked by the media to finish fifth in the Coastal Division.

Now they’re trying to win it.

Yes, there have been some disappointments in the ACC this year, most notably at Boston College and Maryland, but when you take into consideration outside factors such as injuries and suspension, scheduling and staff changes, the ACC coaches this season have won more than they’ve lost.