ESPN College Football

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- Coming changes to the BCS have captivated the college football world this offseason.

Coaches have been paying attention, too, and have their own opinions about how a future four-team playoff should look. One of the bigger discussion points at the ACC spring meetings Monday was about the BCS. Executive director Bill Hancock presented some of the ideas that have come up during meetings with the conference commissioners.

Nothing has been settled about who gets in, but one of the biggest debates has centered on whether winning a conference championship should be a requirement. Hancock polled the room to see what the ACC coaches want, and the consensus was that conference champions should be given preference.

"There has to be some stipulation in there about champions," Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said. "Because not everybody plays the same schedule. We play a nine-game conference schedule. Other teams don’t. That’s weighed in. Some conferences have a conference championship game. Others don’t. Being a conference champion is no small task. Not only are you going through your conference, then you turn around and play a conference championship game. There has to be a lot of weight given to conference champions."

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has already floated one plan that would include only conference champions. Under this plan, conference champions would be required to finish in the top six of the final standings; the top four advance to the four-team playoff. If four conference champions are not in the top six, then the highest ranked at-large teams would be selected.

Under this plan, Alabama would have made it into a four-team playoff last season. No. 4 Stanford would have been left out.

"The BCS is an evolving situation, and it has been in, what, 16 years, and they’ve improved on it every year and I think they will improve on it some more," Boston College coach Frank Spaziani said. "It’s not black and white, and it’s not clear cut. That’s why it’s a difficult question. There’s good people running it and they have a good plan.

"I’m in favor of the BCS, what they’re doing right now and opening up the dialogue and coming up with something. I do know the conference champion does need to be involved. A conference champion, certainly, in order to keep the season and the championship games relevant has to be involved in whatever the BCS comes up with."

The next BCS meeting is set for June, when details are expected to be worked out on how the final four teams would be selected, where the games will be played, how current BCS games factor in and whether bowl tie-ins to those BCS games remain.

Frank Spaziani knows he probably is not getting 190-plus tackles from any of his linebackers this season. The Boston College coach is OK with that.

So, too, are the linebackers who will fill the void left by Luke Kuechly, the ACC's single-season (191) and career tackles (532) leader who left early for the NFL draft.

"If you talk to Luke, he'll be the first to say that we're a defense first, not just one guy," Sean Duggan said. "Losing a guy like him is a lot of tackles to make up, but we'll all chip in as a defense to get it done. Evenly as a unit we have to step up."

Kuechly will likely be the first linebacker to hear his name called in New York in less than three weeks. But the Eagles' linebackers are hardly fretting over Kuechly's departure, not after the promise they showed in winning two of their final three games to end an otherwise unfulfilling 2011 season.

The lone loss during that stretch was a two-point squeaker at heavily favored rival Notre Dame.

"I was on a team where losing was unacceptable," said linebacker Steele Divitto, who played for national power Don Bosco (Ramsey, N.J.). "That's the same mindset we're starting to apply here. It's not good enough to just do your job -- you have to go that extra mile. All my life I haven't really lost many football games, maybe two or three prior to BC. I hate to lose, and I think there are a lot of guys that hate losing and will do whatever it takes this offseason and in the season to win all these games.

"It's almost a mentality thing. I played for a great coach in high school and play for a great coach now. Coach Spaz talks about winning all the time: in the weight room, in conditioning, in the film room. We have to apply that mentality to everything."

Divitto is looking to build off a 72-tackle campaign from last season, when he was third on the team. (He added 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception as well.) In place of a bowl trip for last season's 4-8 squad, Divitto flew to Phoenix, where he worked out and studied with draft prospects at Athletes' Performance.

In the shadow of Kuechly last season on the outside, Divitto is now among the most experienced linebackers returning, along with fellow junior Kevin Pierre-Louis, who was hobbled much of the spring but had 74 tackles, six tackles for loss and a fumble recovery last season.

A possible replacement to Kuechly in the middle could be Duggan, who started three games outside last season as a true freshman, recording 39 tackles, three tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery.

"Steele, he's gonna get better. He has a lot of experience now out there, played a lot of football he's going to have to up his production to make up for obviously Luke not being there," Spaziani said. "And Sean, he played a lot in a backup role, started a couple games for us. Now it's a new position for him in the middle, but he's a good football player. And he just needs reps and he needs more time, but we're happy to have him on the football team."

Duggan actually played briefly with Kuechly, the Nagurski and Butkus winner from a year ago, at St. Xavier (Cincinnati) High School.

"When I talked to Luke he said you've just got to relax out there and trust yourself," Duggan said of his conversations with Kuechly this spring. "You can't think too much out there because then you're slow, and at this level you can't afford to be slow against these guys. So trust yourself and the guys around you."

Back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes have already begun to separate Florida State and Clemson from the rest of the Atlantic Division -- at least on paper.

It’s only news, though, when those programs don’t bring in some of the nation’s most talented players.

Clemson, after all, just won its first ACC title for the first time since 1991. Florida State last year couldn’t beat Wake Forest. Which is why there is no reason for the Deacs or anyone else in the division to surrender just yet.

“They key for us is not how many stars they come in with, it’s how good they play when they’re juniors and seniors,” Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said. “At least that’s our key. For us it’s all about developing players. It’s a standard joke among coaches, ‘How’d your recruiting go? Well, we’ll know in a couple of years.’ Sometimes that’s good to laugh and giggle about, but absolutely at Wake Forest, we know when they’re juniors and seniors if we’ve done the right thing in recruiting.

“For us, I think we know where we are. We’re a development program. We’ve got to do a great job of coaching our kids in the offseason and the weight room and out on the practice field, so by the time they’re juniors and seniors, there are a lot of other teams in the league that look at them and say, ‘Man, I wish I would’ve taken that guy.’”

Guys like Alphonso Smith, Aaron Curry, Chris Givens and Joe Looney. At Boston College, guys like Montel Harris and Luke Kuechly.

“Here’s the way I’ve always looked at the competition,” said BC coach Frank Spaziani. “As the competition gets better, everybody else better get better and move forward. There are a lot of other areas to it than just that.”

Just how much of a talent discrepancy is there within the division? Can BC compensate for a lack of stars with its hard-working, disciplined, blue-collar traits? Can Wake Forest continue to develop diamonds out of its “recruiting puddle?” NC State already beat a No. 7-ranked Clemson team, but can it win consistently? Will the hire of offensive coordinator Mike Locksley change Maryland recruiting?

Florida State and Clemson are ahead of the race, there’s no question about it. But until either one of them plays and wins with more consistency, it won’t be a two-team race in the ACC.

Boston College linebacker Steele Divitto is a meticulous note-taker. The kind of guy you want to sit next to in class.

Boston College missed out on a bowl game in 2011, but Divitto took a trip of his own to continue learning. Thanks to his dad, Divitto flew to Athletes' Performance in Phoenix, Ariz., for two weeks of additional training.

“After my sessions, I’d take out my notebook and I’d jot down everything I learned, whether it was technique-wise, or eating habits, whatever it was,” Divitto said. “I figured if I was going out there, I really should try to get the most out of everything.”

In turn, Boston College should be getting the most out of Divitto this offseason.

One of the biggest questions Boston College has entering spring practices on Saturday is what the linebackers will look like without All-American Luke Kuechly, who left early for the NFL draft. (“It looks like Superman is back in his suit and Clark Kent is there now,” coach Frank Spaziani quipped. “That’s what it looks like. The cape is gone and we’ve got the guy in the suit with the glasses.”)

As BC fans know, though, the blue-collar working player can get it done, too, and that’s just the kind of player Divitto is. Sean Duggan and Nick Lifka will both be competing for Kuechly’s old position in the middle, but Divitto is versatile enough to play there, too. When former linebacker Mark Herzlich left, Divitto won the starting job at strongside linebacker, but he played in the shadow of Kuechly. Now he’s looking to establish himself as the team’s next leading linebacker.

Divitto spent his mornings in Arizona working on speed training and the evenings were for lifting. He was given a nutrition plan and had the opportunity to measure himself against some of college football’s top performers, as several NFL draft prospects were also there.

“Steele is exceptional about putting the extra effort in,” Spaziani said. “He’s taken ownership of his own future, which is something we all need to do, and he’s done a great job with it. He went out to train for a week, did it all on his own, out there by himself. He’s just highly motivated and has taken complete ownership of his future and he’s a team player. We’re excited to see his development. We’ll see this spring how far he’s advanced.”

Divitto was good to begin with. He finished third on the team in tackles last season with 72, and had 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and five pass breakups. The trip to Arizona isn’t the first time he’s taken the initiative to get better. Last year he boxed during the offseason, and now he’s into Muay Thai, which is similar to kickboxing.

Divitto said it’s not about him; it’s about being the best player he can be for his teammates.

“I always believed that how hard you work throughout the offseason -- everything you do -- how you sleep how you eat, how you breathe, every rep you take in the weight room, every rep you take outside, all of that adds up to how you’re going to perform next season,” Divitto said. “I’ve lived my life just going off that hard work means everything. When you play a game, I feel like the outcome is already determined depending upon how much effort you put into it prior.”

If that’s the case, BC already has a winner.

Out of sight, out of mind, seems to have been the case with ACC fans and Boston College running back Montel Harris, who missed most of last season recovering from a knee injury.

As the Eagles prepare to open spring ball on Saturday -- with Harris -- here’s a quick reminder why you shouldn’t overlook him in 2012:

• He was the 2011 ACC preseason Player of the Year.
• He broke the school’s all-time rushing record last year against Wake Forest and enters spring ball with 3,735 career yards.
• He is the school’s all-time leader in carries (786) and 100-yard games (22), and ranks third in touchdowns (27).
• He held the ACC record for the most rushing yards through junior year.
• He is the ACC’s active leader in rushing yards and carries.

BC coach Frank Spaziani said Harris has been cleared to participate in spring practices, but that the staff won’t push him too hard because they already know what he can do.

“It’s not a matter of us seeing where Montel fits in, it’s a matter of us managing what he does,” Spaziani said. “We did that with him last year a little bit, and we’ll certainly utilize him the best way we can to have him ready for the opening game next fall. That’s how Montel’s spring will go.”

Harris was granted a medical hardship waiver and an extra season of eligibility. Spaziani said there is still some concern about Harris re-aggravating the knee injury.

“I’d be less than honest with you if I said there wasn’t a concern,” Spaziani said. “When this procedure was done on him, we were looking at four to six weeks being back playing and ready to go and it’s now been a year and something. That in itself is a little bit of a red flag and a concern, but there are no indications now that that will be the case, but once again, we had hoped we weren’t at this point, so there is that lingering concern until he does it.”

Don’t forget, though, that he’s done it before.

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.

1. The merger of what’s left of the Mountain West Conference and Conference USA on Monday is the latest painful episode of the epidemic unleashed upon intercollegiate athletics by AQ conferences. Of all that the BCS brought to college football, the most havoc has been wreaked by the heightened financial importance of belonging to an AQ league. Conferences are misshapen. Rivalries are tossed aside. Surely if anyone could have predicted this, the BCS commissioners would have come up with Plan B.

2. The NCAA Football Rules Committee’s proposed change on kickoffs is a two- or three-beer argument. If player safety is the goal, the idea of moving the kickoff from the 30- to the 35-yard line is a no-brainer. But moving the result of a touchback from the 20 to the 25? The argument is that it will encourage receiving teams not to return the ball from the end zone. But if I’m kicking off, do I want to surrender five more yards? If my kickoff defense is good, why kick it into the end zone?

3. Boston College has been anemic on offense for three years, yet new Rutgers coach Kyle Flood hired three Eagle offensive assistants in the last few days. Assistants, like players, are more successful under some head coaches than others. BC head coach Frank Spaziani already had hired former Kent State head coach Doug Martin and longtime Ohio State coordinator Jim Bollman to transform his offense. Rutgers may or may not be better for the arrival of the coaches. BC, which needs fresh blood, is better off for their departure.

Boston College has officially announced its 2012 recruiting class.

It's a smaller, 16-member class that is currently ranked No. 11 in the ACC by ESPN RecruitingNation, just ahead of Duke. Overall, this was a quiet day for the Eagles, and while coach Frank Spaziani and his staff are convinced they got what they needed, the reaction I've heard from BC fans makes me think they're not quite convinced. It's a class that lacks star power, but it does fill some needs, especially on defense and on the offensive line.

With bowl games no longer an option for either team, both Miami and Boston College were playing on Friday afternoon for their seniors, their pride and their future.

At Boston College, the Eagles never quit this season, despite losing six of their first seven games. BC rallied in the second half of the season under coach Frank Spaziani and finished with a 3-2 record in the final five games, including Friday’s 24-17 win over the Canes. It was a gritty, disciplined performance on the road that was classic BC -- tough, hard-nosed, blue-collar football led by the defense.

For Miami, in many ways the game was a microcosm of the entire careers of the recruiting class of 2008: A disappointment that fell below expectations. Miami’s offense produced two big touchdown plays early, but then stuttered for the majority of the game. The running game wasn’t working, so the Canes turned to a short passing game, but third-and-long situations put Miami under pressure. Untimely penalties like the holding call on Harland Gunn early in the fourth quarter were devastating and came at points when Miami desperately needed a spark. Quarterback Jacory Harris threw four interceptions, and made poor throws and decisions down the stretch.

BC’s Chase Rettig, on the other hand, played tough and aggressive in the face of Miami’s pass rush. He made good decisions and threw the ball well. The Eagles also made great use of tight end Chris Pantale, and the running game opened things up in the play-action pass. This was the closest thing to a bowl game that Boston College will see this year, and the Eagles played like it.

Both programs, though, have lots of questions to answer this offseason. Al Golden’s recent contract extension went a long way in erasing the speculation surrounding his future, but the NCAA must still rule on the program’s future. Until it does, though, recruiting will remain the No. 1 priority.

BC must also find a way back to the postseason. Will the Eagles' determination down the stretch be enough to keep Spaziani in the good graces of AD Gene DeFilippo, or will another change be made? Was that the last spectacular collegiate performance for junior linebacker Luke Kuechly, a projected first-round draft pick?

It was a trying season for both programs and head coaches, but on Friday, BC found a way to finish on a positive note.

Boston College coach Frank Spaziani has said repeatedly in the past few weeks that his team is getting better.

With the exception of a win at Maryland, though, we haven't really seen much of it on the scoreboard until now. This is the kind of defense BC fans are used to seeing, and the offense has played well, sustained drives and controlled the clock against NC State. The Eagles have nothing to lose at this point in the season, but NC State still has bowl eligibility on the line, and with two more wins needed in the final three games, the Wolfpack can't afford to lose this one -- not with No. 9 Clemson looming next week.

The first half has been an example, though, of the inconsistency that has defined NC State this year. The Wolfpack was manhandled in a 34-0 loss at Florida State, and then responded by beating rival UNC for the fifth straight time last weekend. And now this?

BC is getting better play from its offensive line, and NC State has just four rushing yards and hasn't been able to protect Mike Glennon as well as it needs to. BC hasn't quit, so expect more of the same effort in the second half.

Boston College and Maryland have simultaneously imploded this year. Both programs are guaranteed to be home for the holidays, both have identical 2-7 records and one conference win. They also both have underlying issues with the staffs. Whether or not either one of them wins another game this season remains a question. If there’s one thing they can play for at this point -- besides pride, of course -- it’s the future.

Which one of these two programs will get back to a bowl game first?

Making the case for Maryland: Terps’ fans can and should expect some turnover following this season. It’s clear not every player fits into Randy Edsall’s system, nor do some of them want to. Quarterback Danny O'Brien could be among those who decide to transfer, and considering he will graduate soon, Vanderbilt could be an enticing option. With that being said, once Edsall has cleared the program of any internal discord, it will be much easier to focus on winning with the players who want to be there. Having a healthy lineup will also make a difference, especially on defense, where seven potential starters have been sidelined. The current team is lacking an identity, but this offseason will provide Edsall with an opportunity to find new leaders once the dust settles. The other intangible Maryland has over Boston College at this point is more security at the head-coaching position. The athletic department can’t afford to fire Edsall, who has a lucrative six-year, $12 million contract -- at least not immediately after buying out the end of Ralph Friedgen’s contract. BC, meanwhile, could have some options.

Making the case for Boston College: The first thing that needs to happen is the coaching staff needs to work out any internal issues that might be brewing. The return of Kevin Rogers as offensive coordinator seems unlikely at this point, as Rogers took a leave of absence for health reasons, but Frank Spaziani needs to re-evaluate the position at the end of the season. Athletic director Gene DeFilippo also needs to figure out what he’s doing with Spaziani, whose job as head coach can be questioned, but who also started behind in the recruiting no thanks to his predecessor, Jeff Jagodzinski. One thing Spaziani has going for him is the fact that turnover at the head-coaching position has been part of the problem at BC. Another year of recruiting and stability under the same head coach -- provided the questions on offense get answered -- could pay off more than yet another transition year. There is enough talent on this roster to get to a bowl game, and that includes the running backs without injured star Montel Harris. BC had gone to 12 straight bowl games before this season. It’s not a stretch to say this season is the anomaly. Maybe the best and simplest argument for BC, though, is that it beat Maryland this year.

Prediction: Despite the expected turnover on the roster, the Terps seem to have more stability for the immediate future and the better chance at the postseason for 2012. The truth is, though, you could flip a coin on this one. Both of these programs are walking a fine line between a rough season and a rough few years and need to make internal changes to assure this is a short-term dip.

Boston College running back Rolandan Finch, known as “Deuce” to his friends and family, caught the ACC’s attention with 243 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 28-17 win against Maryland. It was pretty hard to ignore, as it was the most rushing yardage by a running back in the ACC this season.

Not bad for a player who started the season No. 4 on the depth chart.

His quick ascension came at the expense of injured teammates Montel Harris and Andre Williams, and he has made the most of the opportunity. Finch has been a surprise highlight for a position filled with turnover this year, and his emergence has helped the Eagles generate a respectable running game in recent weeks. The Eagles will be challenged to sustain that success tonight against Florida State, though, as the Seminoles are No. 4 in the country in rushing defense. Finch has run for at least 86 yards in each of the past three games – some of the most consistency the position as seen all season.

In mid-August, Harris had arthoscopic surgery on his knee and missed the first three games of the season. Andre Williams and Tahj Kimble were listed as the top two running backs. Williams started the first four games, but injured his ankle in the second quarter against Wake Forest on Oct. 1. On Oct. 8 at Clemson, Finch, who missed all of last season with an injury, earned his first career start and became the third running back to start the position through the first six games of the season. BC coach Frank Spaziani said Finch’s success has only been part of the equation.

“No. 1, our offensive line has been getting better,” Spaziani said. “You know, I think I've been quite consistent in saying that we have been, you know, able to hold that group together now for the last -- going on four weeks now, they have practiced and they have been out there every day. So that in itself lends itself to more proficiency and certainly Deuce has gotten a better flow of having to run the ball and what we are expecting of him. That added to it, and then that was two major contributing factors to the performance.”

BC enters the Florida State game with the No. 73 rushing offense in the country at 146.5 yards per game – not much worth bragging about. In the past four games, though, the Eagles have improved to 184.25 rushing yards per game. Unfortunately for BC, FSU is holding its opponents to just 77 rushing yards per game.

“Well, it will be a different level of intensity over there,” Spaziani said. “And certainly, it will be quite challenging to say the least. They do have quite talented people over there in their front seven and in their back end, also. So it's going to be a big challenge but once again in order for us to win any game, we have to be successful running. Now that's the key word; what is successful? So we are going to have to get some yardage and keep them off balance a little bit.”

And keep Finch right where he left off against the Terps.

At 5-1 last week, I was real close to bowl eligibility, but not quite. The only game I missed was NC State’s win at Virginia, which was impressive and not a complete shock. My overall record stands at 51-14 for a winning percentage of .785. I can do better. Can Georgia Tech?

Clemson 38, Georgia Tech 28: Because Clemson has struggled against the run, it seems likely the Jackets will be able to move the ball and their offense will find a spark again. Just not enough to win. This game will be close until the fourth quarter and then the Tigers will win their ninth straight game.

Boston College 21, Maryland 20: Yes, the Terps have home field advantage, but the Eagles have stability at their quarterback position, and the offensive line has been making gradual progress each week. Coach Frank Spaziani has kept this team in games, the Eagles are due for an ACC win, and this is the weekend they’ll get it.

Florida State 31, NC State 28: The Seminoles need to be concerned about NC State cornerback David Amerson in this game. He leads the nation in interceptions and has been a bright spot in an otherwise dreary season for the Pack’s defense. FSU, though, has one of the best defenses in the country, and the defensive line will be the difference, as the Noles find a way to fluster quarterback Mike Glennon.

Wake Forest 28, North Carolina 24: The Deacs’ offensive line will be challenged, but the injuries have been piling up for UNC. Wake Forest will take advantage of a struggling secondary with its passing game just like Clemson did, and the Deacs will leave Chapel Hill bowl eligible.

Virginia Tech 38, Duke 21: The Blue Devils will put up a fight and hang around like they always seem to do, but the Hokies will overpower Duke’s defense in the fourth quarter. The difference will be Virginia Tech’s running game, led by David Wilson, and the decision making of quarterback Logan Thomas, who has completed 60.5 percent of his passes of 10 yards or more with five touchdowns and no interceptions in his last three games

Miami 35, Virginia 14: This isn’t the Orange Bowl. Virginia has never won in Sun Life Stadium, and the Canes have been on a roll. Miami is starting to turn the corner under first-year coach Al Golden, and the Canes’ defense --which has been holding opponents to 21 points per game -- will stifle the Hoos. Miami also has the edge at quarterback with Jacory Harris, who is No. 14 in the country in passing efficiency.

» Power Rankings: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | Pac-12 | SEC

No change at the top, status quo at the bottom. In between? Every day I’m shufflin’ …

1. Clemson (7-0, 4-0 ACC; LW: No. 1) – Maryland gave Clemson its best shot, but the Tigers escaped College Park with a win thanks in large part to a record-setting performance by freshman receiver Sammy Watkins. It was not, however, a banner day for the defense. It was a close call, but Clemson still stands alone in the ACC and is one of 10 undefeated teams remaining in the country.

2. Virginia Tech (6-1, 2-1; LW: No. 3) – Welcome back, Hokies. Virginia’s upset of Georgia Tech gave the Hokies a boost in the conference race, but Virginia Tech has done a good job of helping itself lately. Quarterback Logan Thomas had another impressive performance in the win over Wake Forest, and the offense seems to have finally found its groove over the past two weekends.

3. Georgia Tech (6-1, 3-1; LW: No. 2) – This team has shown some vulnerabilities all season, and Virginia’s running game took advantage of one of them on Saturday. That loss didn’t undo the Jackets, it just leveled the playing field a bit more in the Coastal Division race.

4. Miami (3-3, 1-2; LW: No. 6) – Quarterback Jacory Harris has now gone three consecutive games without an interception, and the Canes seem to have new life. Miami has yet to put together back-to-back wins, but could be catching a Georgia Tech team when it’s down this weekend.

5. Wake Forest (4-2, 3-1; LW: No. 4) – The Deacs’ four-game winning streak came to a screeching halt against Virginia Tech, as the defense couldn’t find an answer for Logan Thomas or David Wilson. Wake now has back-to-back road trips against in-state opponents Duke and North Carolina, and is still in good shape with only one conference loss.

6. North Carolina (5-2, 1-2; LW: No. 5) – The Tar Heels have lost the two games that matter most so far, to division opponents Georgia Tech and Miami. It’s not going to get any easier this week at No. 7 Clemson. The Tar Heels are 5-2, but they’ve still got a lot to prove.

7. Florida State (3-3, 1-2; LW: No. 7) – The Seminoles took their frustrations out on Duke in a 41-16 romp over the Blue Devils and earned their first conference victory and snapped a three-game losing streak. After three consecutive road games, the Noles finally return home this weekend against a struggling Maryland team.

8. Virginia (4-2, 1-1; LW: No. 10) – The win over then-No. 12 Georgia Tech was monumental for coach Mike London and his program, but the challenge for Virginia now is to build on it -- something the Cavaliers weren’t able to do after last year’s upset of Miami. This team has a chance to become bowl-eligible, but it needs to take advantage of a home game against a struggling NC State team this weekend.

9. Maryland (2-4, 1-2; LW: No. 8 ) – It was an all-out effort by the Terps and an outstanding performance by quarterback C.J. Brown, but it wasn’t enough to knock off Clemson. Maryland has now lost four of its past five, and its bowl hopes seem grim. The outlook doesn’t look much brighter this weekend with a road trip to Tallahassee looming.

10. Duke (3-3, 1-1; LW: No. 9) – The Blue Devils’ three-game winning streak ran into a brick wall over the weekend against Florida State. Historically, the upcoming matchup with Wake Forest has been lopsided in the Deacs’ favor, but it’s been an entertaining series in recent years. Duke will have to get a faster start offensively, though, if it’s going to hang with Tanner Price & Co.

11. NC State (3-3, 0-2; LW: No. 11) – The Wolfpack had a bye week to heal and regroup, and they needed it -- just as much as Boston College. The problem is, NC State has back-to-back road games, and Virginia has confidence and momentum after its upset of Georgia Tech. Opportunities for bowl eligibility are getting slim.

12. Boston College (1-5, 0-3; LW: No. 12) – Coach Frank Spaziani is right: His team has shown some improvement week to week, but BC fans are ready for it to show up in the win column. That will be easier said than done, though, with back-to-back road trips, starting this weekend in Blacksburg.

Boston College receiver Colin Larmond Jr. said the Eagles need to work on a few little things and execute better, but he wouldn’t go so far as to say something is actually wrong at BC this season.

In looking at the Eagles’ 0-3 start, though, it’s hard to find too many things that have gone right.

“There’s still some positive stuff, as there was last week, but we’re close,” coach Frank Spaziani said. “Like I told the team, ‘We’re still a long ways away to close that little gap,’ and that’s the trick here. We need to close that gap and it’s hard. It’s like a golfer trying to break 80. You can get close, but it takes a lot to get wherever you have to go. That’s where we’re at really.”

BC is hoping it can close that gap this weekend with a home win over FCS opponent UMASS, but with the way things have gone in Chestnut Hill this year -- the ACC’s leading rusher is still sidelined with an injury, there have been missed field goals and extra points and the offensive coordinator took a leave of absence -- nothing is a given.

“I think it’s really frustrating to the whole team,” said linebacker Luke Kuechly. “We put so much work in this past winter and spring and summer, and this isn’t the way we wanted to start it, but we’ve got a good opportunity here this weekend to get that first win.”

Boston College is ranked last in the ACC in seven major statistical categories, including rushing offense, total offense, scoring offense and total defense. Statistically, the Eagles are one of the worst return teams in the country. While the absence of injured star running back Montel Harris has definitely been a factor, he’s not accountable for the struggles in all three phases of the game.

Yes, it’s still early in the season, but this Saturday BC will finish what was supposed to be the easiest part of its schedule. Florida State, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and Miami -- just to name a few -- are all still waiting.

“Guys aren’t down in the dumps because we know what we can do,” Kuechly said. “We lost five straight games last year and came back, ended up winning five straight. So we know we can do it. We just have to go out there and make it happen.”

There has been no players-only meeting, no dramatic come-together turning point and no real reflection on last season, when the Eagles rebounded in the second half of the season with five straight wins to reach the postseason.

Simply put, nobody is panicking.

“We’ve had three losses, but you can’t expect to win every game and go through the season perfect,” Kuechly said. “That’s obviously not realistic. Morale is fine. Our heads are still up high. No one is sad. We’re all disappointed we’re 0-3, no one is happy about it, but nobody is moping around with sad faces because we’re 0-3.”

Nobody except BC’s fans.