The ACC Coastal is still a four-team race as Georgia Tech, Miami and North Carolina continued to win. Either the Canes or Heels will get their second conference loss of the season this Saturday when the two teams meet in Miami. The Jackets turned it on the second half against Middle Tennessee for an easy win, but have to travel to Clemson this week.
Elsewhere, Duke struggled on offense and Virginia struggled on defense in intradivision losses and three of our previous opponents lost, although one of those was NC State against East Carolina.
Sept. 6 vs. Boise State (6-0, 2-0 WAC)
Week 7: Boise State 48, San Jose State 0
Week 8: vs. Louisiana Tech
OBNUG: Broncos rub it in
Sept. 11 vs. James Madison (4-2, 1-2 CAA)
Week 7: New Hampshire 28, James Madison 14
Week 8: at Villanova
JMU Sports Blog: Injuries piling up for Dukes
Sept. 18 vs. East Carolina (4-2, 3-0 CUSA)
Week 7: East Carolina 33, NC State 27 (OT)
Week 8: vs. Marshall
Paint It Purple: Pirates come out on fire
Sept. 25 at Boston College (2-4, 0-3 ACC)
Week 7: Florida State 24, Boston College 19
Week 8: vs. Maryland
BC Interruption: Breaks don't go BC's way
Eagle in Atlanta: Still plenty to play for
Soaring to Glory: Defense keeps BC in it
BC Draft: Play calling makes it tough for young QB
Tomahawk Nation: Not a good defensive day for Noles
Oct. 2 at NC State (5-2, 2-1 ACC)
Week 7: East Carolina 33, NC State 27 (OT)
Week 8: Bye (Oct. 28 vs. Florida State)
Backing the Pack: Defenestrate bunnies
Oct. 9 vs. Central Michigan (2-5, 1-3 MAC)
Week 7: Miami U. 27, Central Michigan 20
Week 8: at Northern Illinois
FireUpChips.org: Bad team getting worse
Fire Up Chips: Enos era could go either way
Oct. 23 vs. Duke (1-5, 0-3 ACC)
Week 7: Miami 28, Duke 13
Week 8: at Virginia Tech
The Blue Devil defense kept them in the game for a half, but seven turnovers by their QBs submarined their chances at an upset. Starting QB Sean Renfree was responsible for six of those turnovers, including five interceptions. One pick was returned for a touchdown early in the second half to make the score 21-3, Miami.
Renfree was 18-for-38 (47.4%) for 157 yards (4.1 ypa) with no touchdowns. He was replaced late in the game by Brandon Connette, who was 4-for-6 for 30 yards. Connette contributed the Blue Devils' only touchdown on a one-yard run in third quarter, but also lost a fumble later in the game.
Duke struggled to get anything going on the ground, averaging 2.6 yards per carry. It was the second consecutive game it was held under three yards per carry.
The Blue Devils continue to struggle with inconsistency from the young Renfree. He's thrown five picks in his last three games and the Hokies should be able to pressure him and force him into mistakes.
Blue Devil Nation: Turnovers the story
Nov. 4 vs. Georgia Tech (5-2, 3-1 ACC)
Week 7: Georgia Tech 42, Middle Tennessee 14
Week 8: at Clemson
After not reaching the end zone in the Jackets' first five games, Anthony Allen has scored five touchdowns in two games and is warming up just in time for a key stretch for the Jackets.
GT faces Clemson, Virginia Tech and Miami in its next three contests, which will decide its ACC fate. It tuned up for that stretch by coming on strong in the second half after leading just 14-7 at halftime against the Blue Raiders. MTSU turned the ball over six times, three in each half, including four interceptions by Dwight Dasher.
Joshua Nesbitt had 22 of the Jackets' 57 rushes and had 106 yards (4.8 ypc) and a touchdown. However, they did receive production from all three primary ball carriers: the QB, B-Back and A-Backs.
On defense, the Jackets didn't give up any really big plays and forced turnovers.
From the Rumble Seat: Defense dominates Dasher
Nov. 13 at North Carolina (4-2, 2-1 ACC)
Week 7: North Carolina 44, Virginia 10
Week 8: at Miami
UNC got its first win in Charlottesville in 19 years and looked good doing so by racking up 479 yards of offense and forcing five turnovers on defense.
TJ Yates had an outstanding game, going 17-for-22 (77.3%) for 325 yards (14.8 ypa) for three touchdowns and no interceptions. The first play of the game was a short pass by Yates to Dwight Jones, who turned the play into an 81-yard touchdown after a missed tackle.
The Tar Heel defense allowed both of UVa's running backs to average nearly five yards per carry, but but kept the Hoos off the scoreboard by tightening up in the red zone and holding them to 4-for-14 on third down. Don't look now, but the Heels look like a real contender in the Coastal.
Their run game and run defense could use some improvement, but TJ Yates has morphed into a clutch quarterback capable of leading this team to the ACCCG.
Carolina March: Yates quietly excels
Tar Heel Fan: Defense comes up big when it matters
Nov. 20 at Miami (4-2, 2-1 ACC)
Week 7: Miami 28, Duke 13
Week 8: vs. North Carolina
Jacory Harris again struggled on the road, but did enough to get the Hurricanes a conference win against Duke. Harris was just 17-for-34 (50.0%) for 224 yards (6.6 ypa) with a touchdown, but didn't throw any interceptions and avoided the costly turnovers he had been prone to recently.
His favorite target, Leonard Hankerson, again had an impressive game with six catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. Hankerson is Miami's most consistent receiver and has hauled in at least five catches in all but one game this year with seven touchdowns.
On the ground, Damien Berry churned out 111 yards and a touchdown, but needed 25 carries (4.4 ypc) to do it and also fumbled deep in Blue Devil territory. Mike James was pretty electric for the Canes, running for 84 yards on just eight carries.
A week after getting pushed around by FSU's offensive line, the Canes' front seven returned to dominance.
Eye of the Hurricane: Defense keeps Duke down
Canespace: Miami will take it
All Canes: Miami sleepwalks to win
Nov. 27 vs. Virginia (2-4, 0-3 ACC)
Week 7: North Carolina 44, Virginia 10
Week 8: vs. Eastern Michigan
Nothing went right for the Hoos, except for their rushing offense. Keith Payne might be the most underrated back in the ACC and he added to his resume with 107 yards. However, 49 of those yards came on one play and he needed 22 carries to get the other 58 yards (2.6 ypc).
Mike London said he is sticking with Marc Verica as his starting QB, despite his three interceptions and no touchdowns against the Heels. Verica was 15-for-25 (60.0%) for 139 yards (5.6 ypa). His two backups also threw costly picks, including Ross Metheny on his lone pass attempt of the game.
UVa also struggles to adjust to its new 4-3 defense, giving up 8.3 yards per play. The Hoos struggled with missed tackles and their secondary, their strength, was torched by Yates.
From Old Virginia: No excuses left for defense
Dear Old UVa: Payne the lone bright spot
Streaking the Lawn: Verica's decision-making questionable