ESPN College Football

There are three programs in the ACC facing uncertainty at the quarterback position, and this month the competition will determine who the starter is at Virginia, Miami and Georgia Tech. Of the three, Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington has the most job security and currently sits atop the depth chart.

None of them, though, should feel comfortable.

Here’s a look at the top three quarterback battles in the ACC:

1. VIRGINIA

The candidates:

• Ross Metheny: He played in five games last year and completed 13 of 17 passes for three touchdowns, one interception and 171 yards. He had a career-best day against Florida State when he completed 7 of 9 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown and he was 2-for-2 for 50 yards and a touchdown against Virginia Tech.
• Michael Rocco: He played in six games as a true freshman last year and was the first option off the bench in four games. He has completed 13 of 25 pass attempts for one touchdown, two interceptions and 143 yards.
• Michael Strauss: He enrolled in January 2010 and redshirted last year.
• David Watford: The true freshman enrolled in January and was inconsistent this spring. He was rated the No. 58 quarterback in the nation by ESPN.com.

The skinny: None of them emerged as a true leader this past spring. Coach Mike London said the first few weeks of summer practice will be spent watching their fundamentals, their drops, their throws and reactions to the defense. London said he would like to determine who’s No. 1 and No. 2 by game week.

The quote: “We’ll be able to tell early on where these guys are and how far they’ve moved ahead, stayed the same or taken a step backwards,” London said. “… They touch the ball 100 percent of the time. You want to make sure there’s enough evaluation to assess where they are. I would say about midway through practices as we’re still going good-on-good we’ll make some type of determination on that.”

2. MIAMI

The candidates:

• Jacory Harris: Despite a concussion that sidelined him for three games, Harris finished last season with 6,340 career passing yards, the third most in program history. His 14 passing touchdowns gave him 50 for his career, the second most of any Miami quarterback. Yet despite his cemented place among the program’s career leaders, Harris’ 32 interceptions over the past two seasons are reason for concern.
• Stephen Morris: He enrolled in January 2010 and grew up quickly last season when he played in six games, including starts in the final four regular-season games. He threw for 1,240 yards on 82-of-153 passing and had a team-high 125.01 quarterback efficiency rating. His 206.7 yards per game average was the highest on the team.

The skinny: Last year’s disappointing season can be attributed in large part to the unraveling of the quarterback position. Harris had been plagued by poor decision-making all season, and then took a major step back when he was injured. Morris played admirably considering the circumstances, but as expected made some rookie mistakes. The competition between them began in the preparation leading up to the bowl game last year and will continue until one of them separates himself. Will first-year coach Al Golden go with Harris, the veteran, or Morris, who has shown promise despite having to learn two offensive systems in as many seasons?

The quote: Golden said he wouldn’t completely rule out the idea of a two-quarterback system, but “it’s something I haven’t been comfortable with.” Golden said Harris’ experience isn’t necessarily an edge over Morris. “Either one could very easily lead our team right now.”

3. GEORGIA TECH

The candidates:

• Tevin Washington: He started the final four games of the season after replacing injured starter Joshua Nesbitt in the Virginia Tech game. He rushed for 514 yards and is the team’s second-leading returning rusher. He completed 25 of 61 pass attempts for 417 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He was voted by his teammates as “most likely to surprise” in 2011.
• Synjyn Days: He rushed for more than 100 yards and accounted for two touchdowns in the spring game. He redshirted last year and played an option-type offense at Hillgrove High School in Georgia.
• Vad Lee: He’s a true freshman from Durham, N.C., who led Hillside High to the state championship. He rushed for 1,300 yards and passed for 3,223 last year. He rushed for five touchdowns in one game with Paul Johnson watching in the stands.
• Demond Smith: A true freshman from Monroe, Ga., Smith led his high school team to an 11-2 record and state playoff appearance. He rushed for a school-record 1,795 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior.

The skinny: Washington has earned his place atop the depth chart entering the fall. It’s his job to lose, it’s that simple, but coach Paul Johnson has made it very clear that there will be competition this summer. Washington is 1-3 as a starter, but the Jackets’ offensive woes weren’t entirely his fault last year. The season changed with Nesbitt’s injury. Washington was the most consistent performer this past spring, but he really struggled during the spring game and was outperformed by Days.

The quote: “We’re going to play the guy who gives us the best chance to win. Sometimes winning the game is not losing it, being able to manage and do those kinds of things.” -- Johnson.

The "spring shoes to fill" series looked at the most difficult player to replace in each program. Five of them were quarterbacks, four linemen, two receivers and one linebacker.

Boston College: Anthony Castonzo
Clemson: Da'Quan Bowers
Duke: Abraham Kromah
Florida State: Rodney Hudson
Georgia Tech: Joshua Nesbitt
Maryland: Torrey Smith
Miami: Leonard Hankerson
North Carolina: T.J. Yates
NC State: Russell Wilson
Virginia: Marc Verica
Virginia Tech: Tyrod Taylor
Wake Forest: Russell Nenon

Hudson was the most decorated offensive lineman in ACC history. Taylor was the winningest quarterback in school history. Nesbitt was the most prolific rushing quarterback in league history. Bowers was honored as the nation's top defensive player. Almost all of them were record-setters. The ACC lost some tremendous talent from 2010 rosters.

Of these 12 players, I took the liberty of narrowing the list down to five choices for the most difficult player to replace in the ACC.

The window in coach Paul Johnson's office overlooks Grant Field at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Because of the ongoing construction on the practice field, the Yellow Jackets have spent the offseason doing their individual workouts in the stadium -- in full view of their head coach.

This offseason, Johnson liked the view more than usual.

“I think that the whole attitude is better," he said. "A lot of the little things, from breakfast checks to class checks, extra lifting, extra workouts that they are putting in on their own. I can see out my window and there are always people out there working.”

The players didn't have much choice if they have any hopes of improving upon last year's 6-7 season. Georgia Tech's season was derailed the second former quarterback Joshua Nesbitt broke his forearm against Virginia Tech, but the Jackets' troubles ran deeper than that last year. The offense couldn't hold onto the ball, the special-teams units were filled with blunders, and the defense under first-year coordinator Al Groh?

It was just like everything else, Johnson said, "just kind of so-so. We weren't really good at anything."

With only 11 starters returning, competition will be the theme this spring. Georgia Tech returns just 37.9 percent of its points from a year ago (128 of 338). The Jackets are in search of their next 1,000-yard rusher at B-back, and still in need of a go-to receiver. The good news is that the top two receivers return, the A-back position is deep, and all three starters return on the defensive line. There are also a few position changes to watch, including Daniel Drummond's move from B-back to linebacker, sophomore J.C. Lanier moving from defensive line to offensive line, and quarterback David Sims switching to B-Back.

One of the more intriguing position battles will be at B-back, where Preston Lyons, Richard Watson and Sims are all competing for the majority of the reps. Redshirt freshman Charles Perkins practiced last year with both the B-backs and A-backs. Johnson said he's not worried about the position, but knows everyone will be watching the quarterback battle, where it's Tevin Washington's job to lose.

“He is the starter coming in, and I think that he has earned that," Johnson said. "It is very similar to a lot of the positions, the depth chart is always fluid. He has been taking snaps. This is why I try not to get too hyped up on the freshmen. We are excited about a group of them, but until they do it on the field consistently, I don’t know that you hype them all that much. Synjyn [Days] has a lot of ability, but he has to beat Tevin out. It’s Tevins’ job.”

Johnson said the players worked a lot on team building and chemistry in the offseason -- "probably more so than we have in the past" --and as a result, the work ethic has been better. Johnson said it's still too early to tell how much better this year's team will be.

"We'll have a better idea coming out of spring," Johnson said. "I like our athleticism. I think we're going to be all right. I think it's going to be good to be kind of -- nobody has very high expectations for us, and I think that's a good thing. It's kind of the way we were the first year I was here."

In 2008, Johnson's first season, the Yellow Jackets finished 9-4 and tied for the Coastal Division lead, despite critics who said his spread option offense wouldn't work at the BCS level. He has since won an ACC title and has proved it can.

The next challenge is to do it again.

We've already looked at who and what to watch in the Atlantic Division this spring. Here's a breakdown of three issues facing each program in the Coastal Division:

DUKE

Spring practice starts: Feb. 16

Spring game: March 26

What to watch:

• Jim Knowles taking over as defensive coordinator. After coaching the safeties last season, Knowles was promoted in late January following the departure of Marion Hobby to coach Clemson’s defensive line. It’s not a complete overhaul on defense, but for the third time in as many seasons, a different person will be calling the plays. Knowles has also assumed the lead role with Duke’s practice scheduling and weekly preparation.
• New faces at linebacker. Duke graduated its leading tackler from 2010, Abraham Kromah, and freshman All-American Kelby Brown is out while recovering from knee surgery. Those two slots will be wide open this spring and the competition will be among Austin Gamble, C.J. France, Tyree Glover and Kevin Rojas.
• Offensive line shuffling. The Blue Devils return four starters up front, but they’ll be missing the glue of the line in Bryan Morgan, who graduated. Brian Moore, who has started the past two seasons at right guard, will make the transition to center. John Coleman and Laken Tomlinson are expected to compete for the right guard spot.

GEORGIA TECH

Spring practice starts: March 28 (tentative)

Spring game: April 23

What to watch:

• Starting quarterback competition. Tevin Washington enters the spring at No. 1 on the depth chart, and it's his job to lose, as he has the most experience after taking over for injured starter Joshua Nesbitt in 2010. Synjyn Days will give him legitimate competition this spring, though, and it will increase this summer with the addition of standout recruit Vad Lee to the roster. For now, though, it’s between Washington and Days, as David Sims is expected to move to B-back.
• Offensive line reshuffling. Georgia Tech will have to replace three starters in all-conference center Sean Bedford, right tackle Austin Barrick and left tackle Nick Claytor, who decided to leave early for the NFL draft. Phil Smith, Barrick’s backup last year, is the only one with any experience at tackle. The staff will likely have to move a player or two from guard to tackle, and only it knows who those candidates might be right now.
• Revamped secondary. Jerrard Tarrant's decision to leave school early and enter the NFL draft left the Jackets without any returning starters in the secondary. Junior cornerback Rod Sweeting, sophomore cornerback Louis Young, redshirt freshman cornerback Ryan Ayers and sophomore safety Fred Holton are front-runners, but they all have a lot to prove this spring. Holton and Young played sparingly as true freshmen and combined for 21 tackles. Sweeting played in all 13 games and had one fumble recovery and eight passes defended, including one interception. Senior cornerback Michael Peterson may help, and safety Jemea Thomas played as a true freshman in 2009 but redshirted last year. There’s some talent, but the inexperience makes it a question mark.

MIAMI

Spring practice starts: March 5

Spring game: April 9 or 16

What to watch:

• New staff, new schemes. Defensively, first-year coordinator Mark D’Onofrio will work with two other assistants who were with him and first-year coach Al Golden at Temple, so there is familiarity there. Linebackers coach Michael Barrow has to learn D’Onofrio’s system, but the players tend to pick it up faster if the majority of the staff is already acclimated to it. Offensively, everyone will be working together for the first time. Jedd Fisch wants to run a pure pro-style offense based on matchups, and the good news is that several of the assistants, because of their respective backgrounds, are already schooled in at least a version of it.
• Quarterback battle. Golden has said he would like to name a starter by the end of the spring, making these practices critical auditions for both Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris. Harris has both flourished and flopped as a starter for the Canes, and his injury last year gave Morris the opportunity he needed to win the people’s choice award. Has a new era of quarterback begun, or will Harris finally have the breakout season Miami fans have waited for in his final year as a Cane?
• Corner competition. Following the departures of Ryan Hill, DeMarcus Van Dyke and Brandon Harris, Brandon McGee is the only corner remaining on the roster with any significant experience. He played in 11 games, started one, and had 15 tackles. Redshirt freshman Devont’a Davis, sophomore Kacey Rodgers, and redshirt sophomore Jamal Reid will also compete for playing time. There are also several incoming freshmen who could be immediate contributors.

NORTH CAROLINA

Spring practice starts: March 16

Spring game: April 9

What to watch:

• The rookie quarterbacks. There’s no guarantee that Bryn Renner will be the Tar Heels’ starter in 2011, but he enters the spring slightly ahead of the race, as he was No. 2 on the depth chart last season and was pushing T.J. Yates for the starting job at this time a year ago. The staff would also like to see what true freshman Marquise Williams, who enrolled in January, has to offer. Braden Hanson and A.J. Blue will also compete for playing time. Blue was injured two years ago and redshirted last season.
• Running backs race. The Tar Heels graduated three key players from 2010: Johnny White, Anthony Elzy and Shaun Draughn. Ryan Houston is back for his fifth year after redshirting last year and is the most experienced of the returnees. Giovani Bernard was a true freshman last year and had been expected to get some playing time, but he tore his ACL on the third day of training camp. It’s not clear yet how much he’ll be able to participate this spring. Hunter Furr played sparingly last year and true freshman Travis Riley, who enrolled in January, are also in the mix.
• Another strong defensive line. If Quinton Coples was an all-conference selection as a defensive tackle, he could be scary good at his natural position, defensive end. Coples played there as a freshman and sophomore, but switched to tackle out of necessity last season. The defensive line should once again be the strength of the team, but it will be reconfigured again, as Coples’ move will leave a defensive tackle spot up for grabs. Junior college transfer Sylvester Williams, who enrolled in January, could fill that role.

VIRGINIA

Spring practice starts: March 16

Spring game: April 2

What to watch:

• The search for a new starting quarterback. With Marc Verica graduated, the lead contenders to replace him are the ones who saw the field last year -- Michael Rocco and Ross Metheny. Neither of them started, but Rocco played in six games and Metheny five. Nobody has thrown the ball more than Rocco’s 25 times. The staff will also look at Michael Strauss, who redshirted last year, Miles Gooch, and David Watford, who enrolled in January.
• Competition at running back. With leading rusher Keith Payne graduated, the question becomes what can Kevin Parks do after redshirting last year? There’s a lot of depth at the running back position, but Parks, the No. 56 running back in his class by ESPN.com and national prep record-setter out of the state of North Carolina, came to Charlottesville facing high expectations. With Payne gone, this could open the door for him to meet them, but returning starter Perry Jones will also be competing for carries.
• Development of the receivers. In January, Jared Green Tweeted that he had decided to transfer after finishing his degree in Charlottesville this spring, according to a school spokesman. His departure, coupled with the graduation of Dontrelle Inman, leaves the Cavaliers without two of their top wideouts from 2010. With Tim Smith coming off an injury, the development of other receivers will be critical -- especially with a new starting quarterback.

VIRGINIA TECH

Spring practice starts: March 30

Spring game: April 23

What to watch:

• Quarterback Logan Thomas. The Tyrod Taylor era is over, and Thomas is the front-runner to succeed the winningest quarterback in school history. Ju-Ju Clayton is the only other quarterback on the roster who’s ever taken a snap, and he’ll push Thomas this spring. It’s Thomas’ job to lose, but the staff is looking for him to improve his accuracy. He played quarterback in only his final two high school seasons and was projected as a tight end. He’s still raw and learning the position, but physically, he’s a clone of Cam Newton. If he develops some poise in the pocket, look out.
• Competition on the defensive line. The Hokies have to replace starters John Graves (defensive tackle) and Steven Friday (defensive end), who both graduated. They’ve got Antoine Hopkins and Chris Drager back, but it’s possible Drager could move back to tight end after starting 10 games at defensive end last year. Tackle Kwamaine Battle, who started the first two games before he tore his ACL and Hopkins took over, is another front-runner. Hopkins’ younger brother, Derrick, will also be in the mix, along with James Gayle and J.R. Collins. Redshirt freshman defensive end Zack McCray, the cousin of Logan Thomas, has also impressed the staff so far.
• Tight end auditions. The graduation of Andre Smith leaves the Hokies with only one returning tight end who’s caught a pass in a game, Randall Dunn (one). Redshirt freshman Eric Martin was the second tight end when the Hokies used two-tight end sets, but he missed three games mid-season with an injury.

Earlier this morning, we looked at how the ACC stacked up after the 2010 season. Now it’s time to look ahead, and there’s a new leader in the league. And as of right now, the No. 1 spot is about the only one that seemed clear-cut. Every other one is debatable. This year should bring a wide-open race, and this list will fluctuate many times before the season’s end.

Here are the first ACC Power Rankings for 2011:

1. Florida State: This spot was a no-brainer for the Noles, as they finished the 2010 season with a win over the SEC East champs, and they did it with their backup quarterback. Jimbo Fisher led FSU to an appearance in the ACC title game in his first season, so expectations should be even higher in his second.

2. Virginia Tech: It’s a rebuilding year for the Hokies, who will have a new starting quarterback and are down to one proven running back after Ryan Williams and Darren Evans decided to leave for the NFL draft. That one running back, though, might be the best in the league, and until proven otherwise, the Hokies are still the team to beat in the Coastal Division.

3. NC State: Quarterback Russell Wilson hasn't announced he's going anywhere yet, so this is where the Pack land as long as he's on the roster. NC State also gets the nod over UNC because, well, the Heels haven't been able to beat NC State under Tom O'Brien.

4. North Carolina: The Tar Heels' roster is loaded with talent, and aside from the resignation of John Blake, there haven't been any major staff changes, despite the NCAA investigation. UNC will have a new quarterback, but expectations are high for Bryn Renner.

5. Miami: Despite the staff transition, Al Golden at least has enough talent to start with. He needs to name his starting quarterback and offensive coordinator, but Golden will rejuvinate the program and win in his first season.

6. Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets have to improve in all three phases of the game, but at least quarterback Tevin Washington got some experience, albeit at the expense of injured starter Joshua Nesbitt. The defense should also take a step forward in the second season under coordinator Al Groh.

7. Boston College: The Eagles have a Heisman-caliber player in linebacker Luke Kuechly, but it’s not the defense that needs an overhaul. BC’s offense, which could be under the direction of a new offensive coordinator, looked like it regressed against Nevada in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. Still, with Kuechly, running back Montel Harris and quarterback Chase Rettig returning, the Eagles have enough returning for another winning season.

8. Maryland: First-year coach Randy Edsall inherits a talented team led by ACC Rookie of the Year Danny O’Brien. The defense will stay the same under coordinator Don Brown, whom Edsall brought with him to Maryland, but Maryland's best win last year was over NC State. What separates Maryland from Clemson right now is its quarterback situation.

9. Clemson: The Tigers have a new offensive coordinator, a new defensive line coach, and a new quarterback, not to mention they lost their top player, defensive end Da’Quan Bowers, to the NFL draft. The pressure is on coach Dabo Swinney to avoid a second losing season and three straight losses to rival South Carolina.

10. Wake Forest: The Deacs should improve now that quarterback Tanner Price has had a year of experience, but they’ve still got something to prove. The linebackers will lose two starters, and center Russell Nenon and receiver Marshall Williams will be missed, but an extremely young roster in 2010 could pay off in 2011.

11. Duke: The Blue Devils will have to overcome the revolving door at defensive coordinator, as they’ve had three in three years, but they’re leaving because they’re good. In order for Duke to become bowl eligible, the Blue Devils have to develop a running game and take a big step forward defensively.

12. Virginia: Mike London has had instant success on the recruiting trail, but it’s going to take some time before it translates into a bowl appearance. He has to name a new starting quarterback and find the best spots for the new talent.

Georgia Tech is looking to stop its streak of five straight bowl losses and avoid a losing season for the first time in 14 years. Here’s a quick preview of this evening’s AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl:

WHO TO WATCH: Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington. It’s unlikely that starter Joshua Nesbitt (broken forearm) will play, so Washington will have one more chance to build his case for being the Jackets’ quarterback of the future. So far, he is 1-2 as a starter. Washington will enter spring practices at the top of the depth chart because of his experience this season, but the job is not guaranteed. A strong performance against Air Force will be needed to match the Falcons’ 32.25 points per game, but it will also give Washington something to build on heading into the offseason.

WHAT TO WATCH: Georgia Tech’s defensive line against the triple option. It’s not accurate to say Georgia Tech has been practicing against this offense all season long. The Jackets face their scout team, which tries to simulate each week’s opponent. Georgia Tech’s size up front won’t be much of an advantage, because Air Force can compensate with its athleticism. The Falcons don’t have to double-team a lot because they can wrap the legs of bigger defenders. The Jackets have struggled to stop the run and rank No. 78 in the country at 169.67 yards per game.

WHY TO WATCH: Old school football at its finest. Georgia Tech leads the nation in rushing (327.0 yards per game) and Air Force (317.9 ypg) ranks second. This game will feature offenses that have combined to average 12.4 pass attempts per game. It could be the quickest bowl game you’ve ever seen.

PREDICTION: Georgia Tech 28, Air Force 24. Paul Johnson defeated the Falcons five straight times when he was head coach at Navy, and has enough talent on the roster and enough staff members familiar with Air Force to do it again. The key is whether the defense can play a disciplined game. The Jackets have struggled in their first season under coordinator Al Groh, but they’ve had ample time to prepare for this game.

Air Force takes on Georgia Tech in the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl in a game featuring the two top rushing teams in the country. Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson used to be at Navy, but he and Air Force coach Troy Calhoun only coached against each other just once when Johnson was with the Midshipmen. There is not much familiarity between the coaches, but there should be familiarity of the offenses. Here is a quick preview:

WHO TO WATCH: Air Force quarterback Tim Jefferson. The Falcons had such a successful season and were able to win the Commander-In-Chief Trophy for the first time since 2002 because of Jefferson. His 769 yards rushing are the most by an Air Force quarterback since Chance Harridge had 914 in 2003. His team- and conference-best 15 rushing touchdowns are the most by an Air Force quarterback since Harridge set a then-NCAA record with 22 in 2002. Not to be outdone, he threw for a career-high 1,342 yards this season and ranks 11th in school history for single-season total offense with 2,111 yards. He’s only a junior, too.

WHAT TO WATCH: Option vs. option. Air Force runs a version of the triple-option and so does Georgia Tech, but the Falcons have gotten a chance to play against other similar option-style teams this season in Navy and Army. Georgia Tech essentially has only seen it during practice. So it will be interesting to see how the Yellow Jackets combat an offense very similar to their own. Georgia Tech has struggled against the run this season, giving up nearly 170 yards on the ground per game. That's not a good sign when playing the No. 2 rushing offense in the country.

WHY WATCH: Don’t you want to know who is the best rushing offense in the land? This game will settle that debate once and for all. OK, maybe not once and for all, but for the 2010 season at least.

PREDICTION: Air Force 27, Georgia Tech 17. With Joshua Nesbitt likely not playing in this game for Georgia Tech, the advantage goes to the Falcons. The Yellow Jackets go into this game having lost four of their last five, and are 1-2 without Nesbitt as the starter.

1. The New Era Pinstripe Bowl seemed like a good idea. Playing a postseason game in the new Yankee Stadium reconnects college football to the days when Army and Notre Dame annually played in the House That Ruth Built. But the blizzard that arrived the same day that Kansas State and Syracuse should remind all of us that bowls are made for warmer climes. Or at least indoor ones, and not the New York Sheraton, where the Wildcats had a walkthrough Sunday instead of practice at Columbia. With luck and a few shovels, Yankee Stadium might be clear of snow by kickoff Thursday.

2. James Willis had been a protégé of Tommy Tuberville at Auburn. Tuberville lured him from Alabama by making him defensive coordinator at Texas Tech. On Sunday, Tuberville dumped Willis, six days before the Ticket City Bowl, for flirting with new Florida coach Will Muschamp. If every coach who trafficked in careerism got fired, no one would keep a job, which means Willis must have breached some sort of protocol. I hope for Willis’ sake that Muschamp hires him.

3. The two wild cards in any bowl are motivation and rust. The Independence Bowl on Monday should present a case study. Air Force and Georgia Tech run option offenses that depend on timing that can go awry after a month’s layoff. But the Falcons should have an edge in motivation. They are, after all, at a military academy. Georgia Tech, one year removed from a BCS bowl and playing with backup quarterback Tevin Washington (starter Joshua Nesbitt is doubtful), is set up to lose its sixth straight bowl game.

Air Force Falcons (8-4) vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-6)

Dec. 27, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Air Force take by nation blogger Andrea Adelson: The Falcons took home the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the first time in eight years after beating Navy and Army this season, an incredible achievement considering the stranglehold Navy has had on the service academies. Perhaps even more than that, though, Air Force made headlines this season after jumping out to a 5-1 start and nearly upsetting Oklahoma on the road. Then the tough part of the schedule hit -- with back-to-back-to-back games against San Diego State, TCU and Utah. Still, the Falcons rebounded nicely and are headed to a bowl game against a team that might appear to be a mirror image of them.

But what has made Air Force so successful this season has been quarterback Tim Jefferson. Air Force ranks No. 2 in the nation in rushing and runs a version of the triple option, as all the service academies do. But Jefferson posted career highs for rushing yards (769), rushing touchdowns (15), yards per rush (5.4), passing yards (1,342) and touchdown passes (10). It is his passing that has added a different dimension to this offense. Asher Clark also had a 1,000 yard season on the ground. Meanwhile, the defense is anchored by cornerback Reggie Rembert, a first-team AFCA All-American and first-team Mountain West player. He is the heart of that unit.

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Georgia Tech take by ACC blogger Heather Dinich: The defending ACC champs were missing too many pieces from last year’s title team to repeat, but Georgia Tech (6-6, 4-4 ACC) was still able to become bowl eligible for the 14th straight time. That’s the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS. The question now is whether the Jackets can find a way to end their five-game losing streak in bowl games.

It should be an interesting matchup considering coach Paul Johnson’s recent history against Air Force. As head coach at Navy, Johnson lost to the Falcons in 2002 and then beat them five straight times. Both run versions of the triple option offense, and Georgia Tech leads the nation in rushing with 327 yards per game. The Jackets’ rushing defense is No. 78 in the country, allowing 169.67 yards per game.

Georgia Tech’s biggest problem this year has been on defense under first-year coordinator Al Groh, former head coach at Virginia. The Jackets are No. 60 in the country in scoring defense, allowing 26.17 points per game. Air Force is averaging 32.25 points per game. Georgia Tech has lost four of its past five games, but one of the biggest losses of the season was quarterback Joshua Nesbitt, the heart and soul of the offense.

As the regular season comes to a close this week, I thought it would be a good time to honor the ACC’s Super Seniors, players who have made key contributions to the program on and off the field. There's more than one at every school, and all of them will be missed, but say farewell, ACC fans, to this year’s class of Super Seniors:

Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich. He beat Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer and is now the third-leading tackler on the team with 54. He also has four pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and three interceptions, and 3.5 tackles for loss. It has to be the most remarkable comeback story in college football.

Clemson safety DeAndre McDaniel. His 15 career interceptions rank him second in Clemson history and third among active FBS players. He’s the top tackler on Clemson’s defense with 47 and has six pass breakups and 4.5 tackles for loss.

Duke center Bryan Morgan. He’s been a role model on and off the field, and was one of 22 players selected to the All State AFCA Good Works team for his community service. He’s a third-year starter at center for the Blue Devils, is an amazing musician and has dedicated his time to helping hospital patients with serious illnesses and promoting reading and education to elementary school students.

Florida State guard Rodney Hudson. Some might call him the “big ugly” version of Christian Ponder. Hudson, a four-year starter, 2010 Outland Finalist and likely consensus All-American, was offensive line coach Rick Trickett’s first signee and has been a mainstay in the lineup since his arrival. It’s likely he’ll be a four-time All-ACC selection, only the second lineman in league history to earn that distinction. He’s been a calming force and mentor in the locker room and is a relentless blocker on the field.

Georgia Tech quarterback Joshua Nesbitt. It was unfortunate to see an injury prematurely end Nesbitt’s career, but he still went out as a record-setter. With 2,806 career rushing yards, Nesbitt has rushed for more yards than any quarterback in ACC history and over 1,000 yards more than any quarterback in Tech history. He has rushed for 35 career touchdowns -- six more than any quarterback in the history of the ACC and 16 more touchdowns than any quarterback in Yellow Jacket history.

Maryland linebacker Alex Wujciak. He has started a team-best 36 straight games. He is one of 11 active linebackers in the FBS with two career interceptions returned for a touchdown. UNC's Bruce Carter is the only other ACC player. He had 10 tackles against Florida State, giving him 105 on the season. The senior has at least 100 tackles in three straight seasons and is just the sixth player in school history to accomplish that feat.

Miami receiver Leonard Hankerson. Hankerson’s 9-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter against Virginia Tech was his 12th of the season, breaking the single-season record held by Michael Irvin (11) in 1986. Hankerson became just the fourth Miami receiver to record 900 yards in one season, joining Eddie Brown (‘84), Andre Johnson (‘02), and Wesley Carroll (‘90). Only Brown and Johnson have recorded 1,000 yards in a season and Hankerson needs just 42 yards to join that club. Hankerson has scored a touchdown in six straight games and nine of Miami’s 11 games this season.

North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates. He’ll finish his career as Carolina’s all-time leader in passing yards, completions and attempts. He also holds the single-season mark for passing yards. Yates has 231 completions this year and needs four to break Darian Durant’s single-season record of 234 set in 2003.

NC State linebacker Nate Irving. Against Wake Forest, in the last home game of his career, he had a school-record eight tackles for loss. That mark broke the previous mark of six held by Mario Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NFL draft. Irving now ranks third nationally in tackles for loss for 2010. This year he has 89 tackles and 18.5 tackles for loss. That single-season tackles-for-loss currently ranks sixth in school history. He has tallied 37.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage for his career, the eighth-best mark ever by a Wolfpack defender.

Virginia running back Keith Payne. After a year away from the team, Payne has done everything coach Mike London has asked of him and then some. He leads the ACC and is tied for 16th nationally with 15 touchdowns. Payne has a team-high 741 rushing yards this season, an average of 4.8 yards per carry. He needs just four yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark for his career.

Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor. He has started 39 games and has won 32 of them, the most wins for a starting quarterback in school history. He needs 153 passing yards to surpass Bryan Randall (6,508) as the all-time passing leader at Virginia Tech.

Wake Forest center Russell Nenon. The three-year starter started at guard in 2008, then moved to center where he has been a fixture since (though he did start two games at guard this fall due to injuries). His 36 career starts are currently the most on the team.

Enjoy today, ACC fans, because we're quickly running out of college football Saturdays, and if Virginia Tech wins today and Miami loses, the Coastal Division will be wrapped up early.

Can the Hokies pull it off?

That depends, since half of the equation is out of their control. Can Georgia Tech get its offense going without injured quarterback Joshua Nesbitt? Both rookie quarterbacks -- Georgia Tech's Tevin Washington and Miami's Stephen Morris -- have great potential but lack experience. They're going to wow you and frustrate you, which will leave the outcome in the hands of veteran defenders. Somebody on defense will make a play that will change the game or, one defense won't be able to make the stops when it matters most.

In Chapel Hill, both Virginia Tech and North Carolina have to overcome injuries to starters, and the loss of UNC leading rusher Johnny White (collar bone) and Virginia Tech starting defensive end Chris Drager and kickoff returner/tailback David Wilson could be a difference in what should be a close game.

Having seen the Hokies last week against Georgia Tech, they didn't do anything spectacular that made them seem that much better than anyone else in the Coastal Division. What they do have, though, are two talented tailbacks, which immediately gives them an edge over the depleted Heels heading into this game.

There's no reason Virginia Tech can't end the day as Coastal Division champs, but in the ever-unpredictable ACC, it also wouldn't surprise me in the least if UNC and Miami both won. I'll stick with my Thursday prediction, though, and say the Hokies are kings of the Coastal once again by this evening.

Here’s a look at the top 10 things to keep an eye on this week in the ACC, in no particular order:

Pass-rushers in Tallahassee. Clemson at Florida State will feature two of the ACC’s top pass-rushers in Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers and FSU defensive end Brandon Jenkins. They’re No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the ACC in both sacks and tackles for loss. FSU’s offensive line has allowed 2.11 sacks per game (19 total), while Clemson has allowed nine total.

Rookie quarterbacks in Atlanta. Miami rookie Stephen Morris and Georgia Tech backup Tevin Washington will both take center stage Saturday in Bobby Dodd Stadium at the expense of injured starters. Morris already has one start under his belt and played well in last week’s win over Maryland, but Washington has been in the system longer and took the first-team reps this spring when starter Joshua Nesbitt was out with an ankle injury.

Replacements in Chapel Hill. There will be plenty of them. With UNC tailback Johnny White out for the rest of the season, the Tar Heels’ tailback situation remains a question as of now. Will Ryan Houston redshirt? Will Shaun Draughn (ankle) be cleared to play? The Hokies have their own problems, as defensive end Chris Drager, tailback/returner David Wilson and receiver Dyrell Roberts are all out. All of the backups will be forced into key roles.

Scoreboards in Chapel Hill and Atlanta. These are the two games to watch, as a Virginia Tech win coupled with a Miami loss will lock up the Coastal Division for the Hokies. The Atlantic Division race is more complicated, as no outcome will determine the division winner, but a Clemson win in Tally opens the door for a four-team race.

Turnovers in Durham. The one thing that’s been going right for Duke in its two-game winning streak is it hasn’t been turning the ball over like it was in its losses. That could change against a BC defense that ranks third in the country in turnovers gained with 26. The Blue Devils have turned it over just one time in the past two games compared with an average of three per game in the previous seven.

Virginia Tech’s secondary vs. T.J. Yates & Co. Yates has thrown for over 400 yards twice this season, and the Tar Heels are No. 33 in the country in passing offense (258.44 yards per game). Virginia Tech is No. 22 in the country in passing defense (187 yards per game).

Keith Payne and Perry Jones against Maryland’s rushing D. Virginia has two of the ACC’s top 10 leading rushers, as Payne is No. 7 (74.8) and leads the ACC with 14 rushing touchdowns, and Jones is No. 10 (61.9). Maryland is holding ACC opponents to just 2.6 yards per carry, the best in the league.

Virginia receiver Dontrelle Inman. Against Duke, he caught 10 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown. On the season, Inman is sixth in the ACC with 66 receiving yards per game. He’ll face an underrated Maryland secondary that features playmakers Kenny Tate and Antwine Perez.

Cursed kickers. Clemson missed two field goals last week, Florida State’s wide right curse continued in the loss to North Carolina, and NC State will be without senior Josh Czajkowski for the rest of the season after he injured his hamstring in the loss to Clemson. Sophomore Ellis Flint and freshman Chris Hawthorne were competing for the job this week.

Running back rotations. NC State’s Dean Haynes is back after missing the Clemson game with a head injury, but coach Tom O’Brien did not say which of his top three tailbacks will start against Wake Forest. At Miami, Lamar Miller had the best performance of any Miami running back this season against the Terps, but Damien Berry returned to practice. He is still listed as questionable, and Miller, Mike James and Graig Cooper should again carry the load. UNC’s running back situation remains a question, and Ryan Williams and Darren Evans will carry the load without No. 3 tailback David Wilson.

Here’s your weekly rewind and sneak preview in the ACC:

The good: Backup quarterbacks. Miami couldn’t have asked for much more from true freshman backup Stephen Morris, who guided the Canes to a 26-20 comeback win against Maryland. Morris completed 18-of-30 passes against Maryland, including the game-winning, 35-yard touchdown to Leonard Hankerson with 37 seconds to play. Morris threw for 286 yards, a single-game high for any UM quarterback this season, and also rushed for 13 yards.

And the effort from Georgia Tech’s Tevin Washington after Joshua Nesbitt broke his right forearm was almost good enough to beat Virginia Tech. Washington will have to continue to make strides, as Nesbitt is out for the rest of the regular season and possibly a bowl game.

The bad: Turnovers and penalties. ACC teams combined for 23 turnovers (congrats, FSU and UNC for not contributing to that total). Virginia had 11 penalties for 103 yards. Miami had 10 penalties for 100 yards. Clemson had a touchdown called back for holding.

The ugly: The Atlantic Division. Florida State, NC State and Maryland all blew fourth-quarter leads. FSU had two missed field goals and so did Clemson, which also fumbled five times and lost three. For NC State, it was the second time in conference play the Wolfpack has lost despite leading by 10 points in the third quarter.

The quotable: Duke running back Desmond Scott, on leaping into the corner of the end zone on his game-winning 35-yard touchdown run against Virginia: "I was pretty good at geometry. I knew with the angle I had on the guy, I could dive, so that's what I did." Only at Duke does geometry fit into the touchdown equation.

The manster: Virginia Tech linebacker Bruce Taylor made a career-high 14 tackles, including a game-high two sacks, in the win against Georgia Tech. His two sacks resulted in a loss of six yards. He earned 58 points in the coaches' grading system, one of the top totals this year.

Top three games of Week 11:

Virginia Tech at North Carolina: UNC’s upset of Florida State makes this game a lot more interesting for the Coastal Division standings. The Tar Heels will have to overcome yet another setback as leading rusher Johnny White is out for the rest of the season with a broken collar bone. Both quarterbacks, Tyrod Taylor and T.J. Yates, have been integral to their teams’ success this year.

Clemson at Florida State: The Tigers are still alive in the Atlantic Division race, and Florida State is trying to rebound from back-to-back heartbreakers. A Clemson win would make the standings even more jumbled, as NC State and Maryland still have to play each other.

Miami at Georgia Tech: This one has some history to it – the series is split over the past two seasons - and it’s a must-win for the Canes if they hope to stay in the ACC race. It’s the final road trip of the season for the Canes, but they haven’t won at Georgia Tech since 2004. Miami’s rushing defense is No. 7 in the ACC, allowing 150.7 yards per game. The Jackets are averaging 320.6.

» Power Rankings: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | Pac-10 | SEC | Non-AQ

If everyone who lost this past weekend dropped in the rankings this week, three of the top four teams would lose their spots, as NC State, Florida State and Maryland all stumbled. It’s around this time where it gets tougher to give credit to head-to-head results.

The bottom line is this: There’s only one team that has separated itself from the rest of the pack, and that’s Virginia Tech, which is the only team still undefeated in conference play. This month is more about the race for No. 2, and right now, it’s whoever wants it the most.

Here’s a look at how the ACC stacks up this week:

1. Virginia Tech (7-2, 5-0 ACC; LW: No. 1) -- The Hokies weren’t flawless against Georgia Tech -- they allowed 426 yards -- but they were good enough to win. They’ve been the most consistent team in the ACC since their Sept. 11 loss to James Madison, but back-to-back road trips against North Carolina and Miami could be traps in the Coastal Division race.

2. NC State (6-3, 3-2; LW: No. 2) -- The Wolfpack couldn’t take advantage of Clemson’s numerous mistakes, and made one too many of their own. Fortunately for NC State, so did everyone else in the hunt for the division title.

3. Florida State (6-3, 4-2 ACC; LW: No. 3) -- Two words: Wide right. Once again, a missed field goal was the difference, and it could come back to haunt the Seminoles in the final standings. Florida State hosts Clemson this weekend, and the Tigers just proved anything is possible with their win over NC State.

4. Miami (6-3, 4-2; LW: No. 5) -- The Hurricanes are still hanging on, and they’re doing it with a true freshman quarterback in Stephen Morris. The defense is good, but is it disciplined enough to handle Georgia Tech this week? Is the entire team disciplined enough to win? Miami had 10 penalties for 100 yards against Maryland.

5. Maryland (6-3, 3-2; LW: No. 4) -- The Terps’ defense made several game-changing plays against Miami, but couldn’t make the stops when they needed to most and failed to capitalize on Miami’s numerous mistakes. Maryland allowed Miami possession for almost 37 minutes.

6. North Carolina (6-3, 3-2; LW: No. 8) -- This team has nine lives. At least. The Tar Heels are still finding ways to win, but now they’ve lost their injured leading rusher, Johnny White, for the rest of the season. Can they continue to win without him this week against the best team in the ACC?

7. Clemson (5-4, 3-3; LW: No. 6) -- The Tigers won’t quit, but they should be taking the defense out to dinner every night this week. The offense, for all of the experience and talent on it, isn’t going anywhere fast. And quarterback Kyle Parker is getting mixed signals from his coaches. The offense will need to be much more productive in Tallahassee this weekend.

8. Georgia Tech (5-4, 3-3; LW: No. 7) -- The Yellow Jackets lost one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC when starting quarterback Joshua Nesbitt broke his right forearm against Virginia Tech last Thursday. Backup Tevin Washington had a valiant effort, but his interception in the end zone sealed the win for the Hokies.

9. Boston College (4-5, 2-4; LW: No. 10) -- The Eagles will hit the road for the second straight week, but they’ll take something with them that Duke has been missing -- defense. BC has to win two of its next three to become bowl eligible, and this is one of its best shots.

10. Duke (3-6, 1-4; LW: No. 12) -- Duke earned its first conference win of the season over Virginia, and will have home field advantage again this weekend against Boston College. The Blue Devils have enough offense to win, but stopping Montel Harris will be a tough task.

11. Virginia (4-5, 1-4; LW: No. 9) -- The Cavaliers weren’t able to build on their momentum from the upset of Miami and fell on the road to Duke, making the third straight year they’ve lost to the Blue Devils. Virginia’s three turnovers and 11 penalties were the difference in the game.

12. Wake Forest (2-7, 1-5; LW: No. 11) -- Well, this is a first for coach Jim Grobe, at least as long as I’ve been covering the ACC. It’s impossible for the Deacs to become bowl eligible now, and with a road trip to NC State looming, it doesn’t look like things are going to get much better soon.

Here’s a look at the lessons learned in Week 10:

Nobody wants to win the Atlantic Division. NC State, Florida State and Maryland all lost, leaving the Atlantic Division up for grabs. All three teams have two conference losses each, but NC State and Florida State were ranked in the BCS standings and favored to win their respective games. Clemson isn’t out of it yet, thanks to the upset of NC State, but the Tigers tried their best to give it away.

The Coastal Division remains Virginia Tech’s to lose. The Hokies have been the most consistent team in the ACC since losing to James Madison on Sept. 11. Georgia Tech’s hopes at defending its ACC title took a huge hit with the Thursday night loss to the Hokies, but UNC and Miami kept things interesting with their respective wins.

Backup quarterbacks are capable of winning. Even in the loss, Georgia Tech backup Tevin Washington played his heart out with starter Joshua Nesbitt out with a broken arm. Miami’s Stephen Morris, filling in for Jacory Harris, led the Canes to a comeback win against the Terps, and Duke couldn’t have won without backup Brandon Connette. Both Washington and Morris had costly turnovers, but mistakes are to be expected. Their efforts were impressive.

Wake Forest is heading in the direction of the 2009 Terps. Nobody – not even Duke or Virginia – has fewer losses than the 2-7 Deacs. With the loss to Boston College, Wake Forest becomes the ACC’s first team that cannot become bowl eligible. It’s one of the worst teams in the Jim Grobe era, and it’s shaping up to look like this year’s version of 2009 Maryland, which finished 2-10.

Mistakes can be overcome – only in the ACC. Only in the ACC can Clemson win despite fumbling five times, losing two of them, throwing an interception, having a touchdown called back on a holding penalty, and missing two short field goals. Only in the ACC can Miami win despite 10 penalties for 100 yards, two interceptions and two missed extra-point attempts. Only in the ACC can Duke win despite allowing Virginia 643 total yards. Only in the ACC is there a winner in a game with seven turnovers, six interceptions and no touchdown passes (congrats, BC).