ESPN College Football

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.

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.

The official list for the NFL combine has been released. A total of 48 players from the ACC have been invited to audition for the NFL from February 23 – March 1. When categorized by school, it's somewhat of a reality check to see how many of the best players in the conference are moving on, and which programs will take the biggest hit. It's impossible not to wonder how good North Carolina could have been had all of the following players remained eligible. The Tar Heels will send the most players to the combine with 11.

Here are the players who will represent the ACC:

BOSTON COLLEGE (3)

• Anthony Castonzo
• Rich Lapham
• Mark Herzlich

CLEMSON (7)

• Da'Quan Bowers
• Marcus Gilchrist
• Chris Hairston
• Jamie Harper
• Jarvis Jenkins
• Byron Maxwell
• DeAndre McDaniel

FLORIDA STATE (3)

• Rodney Hudson
• Christian Ponder
• Markus White

GEORGIA TECH (3)

• Anthony Allen
• Mario Butler
• Jerrard Tarrant

MARYLAND (3)

• Torrey Smith
• Adrian Moten
• Da'Rel Scott

MIAMI (9)

• Allen Bailey
• Damien Berry
• Matt Bosher
• Orlando Franklin
• Graig Cooper
• Leonard Hankerson
• Brandon Harris
• Colin McCarthy
• DeMarcus Van Dyke

NORTH CAROLINA (11)

• Marvin Austin
• Kendric Burney
• Bruce Carter
• Greg Little
• Shaun Draughn
• Robert Quinn
• Da'Norris Searcy
• Quan Sturdivant
• Johnny White
• Deunta Williams
• T.J. Yates

NC STATE (2)

• Nate Irving
• Owen Spencer

VIRGINIA (2)

• Danny Aiken
• Ras-I Dowling

VIRGINIA TECH (5)

• Rashad Carmichael
• Darren Evans
• John Graves
• Tyrod Taylor
• Ryan Williams

UNC running back Shaun Draughn and tight end Ryan Taylor have been selected to play in the NFL Players Association Texas vs. The Nation game at 2 p.m. ET on Feb. 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The NFLPA game matches some of the best college players from Texas against some of the best players from the rest of the country in a postseason all-star game. Draughn and Taylor join Carolina's T.J. Yates on the Nation squad.

A native of Tarboro, N.C., Draughn began his UNC career as a safety. He converted to tailback in his sophomore season and led the team in rushing that year. He was the starting tailback in 2009 until he fractured his shoulder blade in the eighth game of the year against Duke. Last season, he started two games, including the Music City Bowl victory against Tennessee, and rushed for 637 yards and six touchdowns. Draughn was named MVP of the bowl game after gaining 160 yards and scoring a touchdown.

A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Taylor played a variety of positions at North Carolina, including wide receiver, linebacker and tight end. He had his most productive season as a senior in 2010 with 36 receptions for 330 yards and two scores. The 36 receptions were a single-season school record for catches by a tight end. Taylor was also Carolina's special teams captain in 2008 and 2010.

Here’s a quick recap of North Carolina's 30-27 win in two overtimes over Tennessee in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl:

How the game was won:With instant replay. Thanks to an official review, the Tar Heels got one more chance and one second back on the clock in regulation -- just enough time for Casey Barth to tie the game at 20 with a 38-yard field goal. Regulation ended with terrible clock management by North Carolina, as the Tar Heels let about 11 seconds run off the clock before spiking the ball. The officials said “the game is over” and mass confusion ensued before they decided on putting a second back onto the clock. Tennessee imploded with three costly penalties in the final 30 seconds, including a 13-yard personal foul that landed the Heels on the 12-yard line to start overtime. UNC quarterback T.J. Yates scored with a 1-yard run in overtime, but Tennessee answered right back, sending it into a second overtime. Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray, who got a little brash in the first overtime, threw an interception in the second overtime and Barth kicked the game-winning, 23-yard field goal.

Turning point: With 25 seconds remaining in the game, Todd Harrelson’s catch for 28 yards was reviewed, upheld, and a 15-yard personal foul was tacked on, setting the Tar Heels up with a first down on the Tennessee 37-yard line. It was the play in regulation that kept UNC's hopes alive for a chance at a field goal to send the game into overtime.

Stat of the game: North Carolina held Tennessee to just 27 yards rushing.

Player of the game: UNC kicker Casey Barth. His 39-yard field goal tied the game at 20 and sent it into overtime, and his 23-yard kick gave the Tar Heels their first bowl win since 2001.

Unsung hero of the game:UNC running back Shaun Draughn. Filling in for suspended starter Anthony Elzy, Draughn ran for 160 yards and one touchdown with an average of 7 yards per carry.

What it means: UNC took the next step in the postseason under coach Butch Davis and won the close game, snapping a three-game bowl losing streak. It was a fitting end to a season defined by Carolina's relentlessness through the NCAA investigations. North Carolina hasn't been at full strength all year because of injuries and the investigations, but they've dug deep all season to find ways to win, and this game was a microcosm of that effort.

Here are three keys for North Carolina heading into the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl against Tennessee:

1. Fluster Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray. He’s a big reason the Vols rode a four-game winning streak into the postseason, and he’s got a lot of poise for a true freshman. He does a good job of picking up pressure and eluding it. He gets good protection, so the Tar Heels will have to get off their blocks and win the battle up front. Quinton Coples has the ability to do that.

2. Good decisions by UNC quarterback T.J. Yates. His experience could be the difference in the game, and with the Tar Heels so thin at tailback, the passing game will once again be heavily depended upon. When Yates is on, he’s on, but when he’s off, you have the Virginia Tech game (four picks). UT has limited opponents to fewer than 250 yards passing in three of the last five games, and after recording only 10 sacks in the first eight games, the Vols have had 13 sacks in the last four.

3. Lockdown on third downs. After struggling to convert on third downs in the first four games of the season, the Vols greatly improved their conversion rate in the final eight games. Tennessee converted only 11-of-58 (19.0 percent) on third-down attempts in the first four games, but the Vols are 52-of-115 (45.2 percent) on third downs in the eight games since. UNC opponents have converted 40 percent of their third downs this season.

North Carolina Tar Heels (7-5) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (6-6)

Dec. 30, 6:40 p.m. ET (ESPN)

North Carolina take by ACC blogger Heather Dinich: North Carolina, which began the season ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press preseason poll, had much higher hopes this season, but considering how injuries and suspensions decimated the roster, an appearance in a bowl game is not an accomplishment those within the program take lightly. Carolina is in a bowl game for the third straight season, the school’s longest streak since going to seven straight bowl games from 1992-98. UNC and Tennessee had previously agreed to play in 2011 and 2012, but Tennessee canceled the series.

UNC returned all but two starters on defense and was expected to contend for the ACC title in coach Butch Davis’ fourth season, but the Tar Heels lost 14 players for at least one game and seven for the entire season because of a two-pronged NCAA investigation. UNC started the season with back-to-back losses, but a four-game winning streak revived their bowl hopes.

Backups have played integral roles for Carolina, but veteran quarterback T.J. Yates has been one of the most improved players in the country this year and at the heart of the team’s success. He is No. 2 in the conference in passing efficiency and No. 2 in passing average per game.

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Tennessee take by SEC blogger Chris Low: Tennessee was 0-for-October earlier this season and staring at a 2-6 record. Granted, the competition got a lot easier, but the Vols rebounded nicely under first-year coach Derek Dooley to earn a trip to the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl.

Tennessee’s surge here at the end of the season started with Dooley turning the keys of the offense over to true freshman quarterback Tyler Bray, and the cool Californian responded by throwing 12 touchdown passes in his four starts.

The Vols also have one of the better group of receivers in the SEC. Seniors Denarius Moore and Gerald Jones have both had big seasons, but true freshmen Justin Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers have also come on during this winning streak.

All told, Tennessee has 21 first-year players in its two-deep, and at times, had three freshmen playing on the offensive line. The Vols have also been a lot better on defense these past four games and kept teams out of the end zone.

To get to seven wins and finish a game above .500 would be a real accomplishment for this team and would match last season’s 7-6 record -- when it looked like the closest the Vols would get to a bowl game back in October was watching one on television.

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.

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

Well, it was a 4-2 record last week, bringing my grand total to 61-24 (71.7 percent) heading into the final week of the regular season. It’s a passing grade, but I feel like Randy Shannon – not in championship form. Speaking of championships, the Atlantic Division title is on the line this week and so are some bragging rights. Here’s a look at who will come out on top in Week 13:

Syracuse 13, Boston College 10: Without leading rusher Montel Harris (knee), Syracuse will win this game. True freshman Andre Williams is good, but there is no relief behind him, and Syracuse has a better defense than Virginia does. It has the No. 34 rushing defense in the country, and is No. 6 in total defense. Regardless, expect a low-scoring game.

South Carolina 24, Clemson 21 – The Gamecocks are No. 7 in the country in rushing defense and holding opponents to under 100 rushing yards per game. It’s going to be a tough day for Jamie Harper, and this defense will get pressure on quarterback Kyle Parker and force him into a key mistake or two.

Florida 28, Florida State 24 – The Seminoles are the ranked team for a reason, and they’ve got the momentum and home field advantage in their favor. But Florida’s defense and special teams will be the difference. The Gators have also done a better job of protecting the football this year.

NC State 35, Maryland 21: Russell Wilson is that good. Danny O’Brien is smart, and he has been poised in big games, but he’s more of a facilitator right now while Wilson is a game-changer. You also have to wonder how motivated Maryland will be now that the Terps know they’re out of the Atlantic Division race.

Vanderbilt 24, Wake Forest 21: This is how it goes for the Deacs, even against a similarly bad team; They’ll lose on the last play of the game, probably a field goal, and finish the season on a 10-game losing streak. Ouch.

UNC 28, Duke 17: Regardless of who’s on the field for the Tar Heels, they’re still too good on defense to lose this game. UNC quarterback T.J. Yates is coming off a record-setting performance in the loss to NC State and won’t want to close his career with a loss at Duke. He and his team are good enough that they shouldn’t have to.

Georgia 35, Georgia Tech 21: The Jackets are going to score some points, but Georgia has bowl eligibility on the line and will play like it. The rushing defense is one of the best in the SEC and country, and they’re No. 18 in the country in turnover margin.

Miami 28, South Florida 27: South Florida has been playing pretty well down the stretch, and won three of its past four, but the Cane have the better athletes and as long as they don’t turn it over should win. South Florida has one of the worst offenses in the country and Miami will have the edge up front.

Hokies 42, Virginia 10: This one could get ugly. Don’t expect the Hokies to roll over just because they’ve already got the Coastal Division locked up. There’s still plenty on the line, including the Commonwealth Cup, bragging rights, and the chance to become the ACC’s first undefeated team in conference play since Florida State in 2000.

Here we go …

The good: Bowl-eligible teams. Congrats to the ACC for filling its quota and avoiding the embarrassment of not having enough bowl-eligible teams to fulfill the eight agreements with its bowl partners. Clemson, Georgia Tech and Boston College all earned their sixth wins this past weekend and have some breathing room heading into their season finales. That was particularly important for Georgia Tech and Clemson, which close the season with SEC rivals.

The bad: My picks. I know, I know. Crow. Eating. I honestly thought the Blue Devils had a chance at Georgia Tech, and for a half, I felt kinda smart. And then reality set in. And Virginia Tech proved me wrong with its win at Miami. What can I say? It's a good thing my trip to Charlotte doesn't go through Blacksburg?

The ugly: Wake Forest. Oh those Deacs. Just dreadful. Nine straight losses. Just two touchdowns in the past three games, and one was on a trick play. Wake now owns the second-longest active losing streak in the FBS. The Deacs can thank 0-11 Akron for stealing their thunder.

The streak: NC State coach Tom O’Brien has now won four straight against Butch Davis. If NCAA sanctions don’t hurt, that certainly will.

The underappreciated: UNC quarterback T.J. Yates. The guy threw for more than 400 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s had a fantastic season, a record-setter, been one of the best in the ACC. And yet his career is coming to a close with no fanfare.

Top three games of Week 13

NC State at Maryland – This one takes precedence over the ACC-SEC rivalry games because it will determine the Atlantic Division winner. If NC State wins, it will advance to the ACC championship game for the first time in school history. If the Wolfpack loses, Florida State will win the division. It will be a challenge for Maryland to rebound from the home loss to Florida State knowing its championship hopes are now gone, but coach Ralph Friedgen said he is confident his players will bounce back.

Florida at Florida State – The Seminoles have a chance to accomplish their goal of winning the unofficial “state title,” having already defeated Miami. Florida State is the lone team from the state in the BCS standings this week, and if ever there were a time to get the Gators, this would be it. Florida has lost four games this year, but the Gators haven’t lost to Florida State since 2003.

South Carolina at Clemson – This one gets the nod over Georgia Tech-Georgia because unlike the Bulldogs, the Gamecocks are ranked, bowl-eligible, and have won their division. Clemson has won two of the past three and 10 of the past 13, but couldn’t get it done last year when it was favored to. Can the Tigers surprise South Carolina this year when few are expecting them to?

Here are your top five performers from Week 12:

NC State coach Tom O'Brien: For the fourth straight year, O'Brien got the win on his schedule that mattered most and beat rival North Carolina. This time, it came with the Atlantic Division standings on the line.

Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams: He was finally back to full speed after being hampered by a hamstring injury, and he ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns, including a career-long 84-yarder with 13:24 remaining, to lead the Hokies to a 31-17 win over Miami on Saturday to clinch the ACC's Coastal Division title.

UNC quarterback T.J. Yates: Despite the loss, his record-setting performance was impossible to ignore. Yates finished 33-for-44 for 411 yards and two touchdowns in his final home game. He also set the school's single-season and career passing yardage records. He did everything he could to give Carolina a chance to win and didn't turn it over.

Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington: The rookie completed 2 of 7 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, and he also had 21 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown to lead the Jackets to a 30-20 win over Duke.

FSU safety Nick Moody: He had a career-high 13 tackles and his 96-yard interception return for a touchdown with 36 seconds remaining sealed the 30-16 win over Maryland. Moody's previous high was 10 tackles in 2009 against Jacksonville State. It was also his first career touchdown and interception, and it was the longest FSU touchdown of the season.

Tom O'Brien did it again.

For the fourth straight year, NC State beat UNC. And this time, the Wolfpack did it with the ACC standings on the line. It was a great, exciting rivalry game -- one of the best games of the season. UNC quarterback T.J. Yates threw for 411 yards and two touchdowns, and Anthony Elzy caught nine passes for 178 yards and a touchdown, but it still wasn't enough. UNC couldn't convert the game-tying two-point conversion, and the Pack's linebackers got the final word by sacking Yates for a safety.

O'Brien was right -- the road to Charlotte does literally go through Chapel Hill, and he just passed that huge obstacle.

Now what?

• If Maryland wins its next two games, the Terps win the Atlantic Division.
• If NC State beats Maryland next week, it wins the Atlantic Division.
• FSU needs to beat Maryland tonight and have NC State lose next weekend.

In addition to keeping its hopes alive, NC State delivered a hit to Florida State's chances. The pressure is on both teams now in College Park, Md.

There he is, Good T.J.

There's Good T.J., and there's Turnover T.J.

Last week, UNC quarterback T.J. Yates turned it over four times in the loss to Virginia Tech. Today, he started out by completing all eight of his passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, and his seven-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Elzy gave the Tar Heels a 7-0 lead over rival NC State.

This is exactly how the Heels needed to start -- strong. The linebackers have been disrupting the passing game, Yates and Elzy have been moving the chains, and offensive coordinator John Shoop is in a groove.

The most important and most obvious thing to watch this week is the ACC standings, where somebody will be eliminated. It’s a big weekend in the ACC, with plenty to watch:

Florida State’s defensive line vs. Maryland’s offensive line: Florida State leads the nation with 39 quarterback sacks, an average of 3.9 per game. The Noles have 77 tackles for loss -- for minus 323 yards -- through 10 games. FSU’s 7.70 tackles for loss per game ranks seventh nationally. Maryland has finally found some consistency on its offensive line, which has had the same starting lineup the past four games. Injuries caused some shuffling earlier in the season, but their protection of redshirt freshman Danny O’Brien will be key.

Turnovers in College Park: Maryland is 6-2 when winning the turnover battle this year, and is No. 3 in the country in turnover margin. Florida State’s three primary ball-carriers have not lost a fumble since Nov. 7, 2009, when Chris Thompson lost one at Clemson -- a span of 12 games. Somebody is going to be forced into an uncharacteristic mistake.

Miami’s running game against Bud Foster’s defense: Statistically, Virginia Tech’s run defense has been better, but the Canes have excelled up front in two straight wins with more than 200 yards rushing in each game. The Hokies’ D has started off slow this year, and is allowing 155 rushing yards per game.

Miami receiver Leonard Hankerson. He is one touchdown reception away from setting the school record, which was set by Michael Irvin in 1986. Hankerson is currently tied with Irvin at 11. He is the only ACC player -- and one of just nine players nationally -- with 11 or more receiving touchdowns.

Rookie quarterbacks. It’s possible Florida State backup E.J. Manuel could see some playing time on Saturday at Maryland. Against Virginia Tech, Miami backup Stephen Morris will be making his third career start. For Morris, a win over the Coastal Division leader would be the biggest statement he could make to permanently replace injured starter Jacory Harris.

Clemson in the red zone. The Tigers have scored touchdowns in just three of their past 14 red-zone trips. Clemson was 0-for-4 in touchdowns once inside the 20-yard line at Florida State, and came away with just six points, missing two field goals and throwing an interception. Clemson should have the edge over Wake Forest, but the Tigers have yet to win on the road this season and that’s a big reason why.

The Nagurski finalists. Two of the five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy are in the ACC -- Clemson’s Da’Quan Bowers and BC’s Luke Kuechly. Both should be considered frontrunners for the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year race. The award is given to the best defensive player in the country, and will be presented by Clemson coach Dabo Swinney on Dec. 6.

Bowl seekers. Clemson, Georgia Tech and Boston College are all playing for bowl eligibility this weekend, and chances to reach six wins are running out. All should be favored in their respective games, but Clemson and Georgia Tech will have a particularly difficult time reaching the postseason if they don’t do it this weekend. Both face their SEC rivals in the final week of the regular season.

Duke’s defense vs. Georgia Tech’s option offense. The Blue Devils have already had success defending it in a win over Navy, and with all due respect, Tevin Washington is not Ricky Dobbs -- not yet, anyway. The Middies entered the Duke game ranked ninth nationally in rushing offense with 274.4 yards per game, but the Blue Devils held the Midshipmen to 148 yards on the ground -- 126.4 below their season average. The Blue Devils limited Navy to 41 rushing yards on 19 carries in the first half while building a 24-0 lead. The Midshipmen had just 67 yards of total offense in the first half. Duke linebacker Kelby Brown and safety Matt Daniels will be the key to stopping the Georgia Tech option.

Quarterbacks in Chapel Hill. It’s senior day in Kenan Stadium, and UNC quarterback T.J. Yates would love nothing more than to go out with a win over rival NC State. In order for that to happen, he can’t afford to throw four interceptions like he did last weekend against Virginia Tech. It could also be NC State quarterback Russell Wilson’s final game against the Tar Heels, as he hasn’t decided yet if he’s going to return for his final year of eligibility or join the Colorado Rockies. The Pack has the Atlantic Division title on the line.

In addition to the emotions that will already be swirling for Saturday's game against NC State, North Carolina has the added motivation of it being senior day, and this is an important group of 17 seniors (16 scholarship) to recognize.

In 2007, the Tar Heels were 4-8 with most of those players logging significant minutes as freshmen. UNC improved to back-to-back 8-5 seasons in 2008 and 2009, including consecutive Meineke Car Care Bowl appearances. Over the last four years, Carolina has won 26 games, the most since UNC won 31 from 1996-99.

The senior class has a wealth of experience, including four players with 40 or more starts, led by safety Deunta Williams (44). Offensively, quarterback T.J. Yates has started 41 games, the most at that position in school history.

Even though the Coastal Division and ACC titles are no longer possibilities, those within the program say they'll never forget the determination it took just to become bowl eligible this year despite the distractions and suspensions from the academic and NCAA investigations.

"It was a goal, but more importantly, guys are playing off pride and their commitment to this team," Williams said. "You're talking about guys who are saying they're not going to miss practice because they need to practice because they're going to play in the game. It's inspiring to see what this team has gone through. I told news reporters after the Florida State game -- I don't care what happens, what the score is, what our final record is. I'll never be able to replace memories of bad things with this team."

"Just being on this team is something that I'll always remember for the rest of my life, this year right here, because of the adversity we had to go through and the things that we did to come up out of the adversity," said Williams. "I've never been part of a team that's fought as hard as we fought this year. We scrapped and clawed and did anything possible to get wins. I've never seen a team with so many players go down, and so many players can't play, walk-ons stepping in and starting at some points in time. It was one of the first times I've ever been around it."

And on Saturday in Kenan Stadium, it will be one of his last.