Hokies have life
Virginia Tech hasn’t lost four consecutive regular-season games since 1992.
The Hokies, suffering through one of their worst seasons in 20-plus years, made sure that’s not going to happen this season, thanks to their 17-16 upset of No. 21 Duke.
They also have a shot at extending their consecutive bowl streak to 22 seasons after they improved to 5-5 (2-4 ACC), with games left against Wake Forest and Virginia.
Despite not playing up to their usual lofty standards this season, the Hokies previously notched a 35-21 upset victory at Ohio State on Sept. 6.
That remains the Buckeyes’ only loss this season.
ACC TD record tied
There’s no stopping 250-pound Pittsburgh running back James Conner.
He rushed for 220 yards and tied the ACC’s single-season record with his 21st touchdown after rushing for four scores in a 40-35 loss to North Carolina.
Conner scored on runs of 56, 16, 2 and 22 yards. He has 1,562 rushing yards this season.
Numbers game
362 N.C. State rushing total in a 42-13 victory over Wake Forest, its highest total in an ACC game since it rushed for 376 yards against Maryland in 1987. Shadrach Thornton, who played at Liberty County, became the first Wolfpack runner to surpass 100 yards this season, finishing with 110 on the ground.
398 Total yards by North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams, who threw for 276 yards and led the Tar Heels with 122 yards and three touchdowns it their 40-35 victory over Pittsburgh.
He said it
"You look at our record, you think, 'Oh man, Tech's having a terrible year this year.' We've been in most of the games until the fourth quarter. … It's a breath of fresh air." – Virginia Tech linebacker Derek Di Nardo after the Hokies' 17-16 victory over Duke
"We had a lot of adversity throughout the game, and sometimes it gets the better of us with big plays or whatever. But we fight back, and when it really comes time to bow our necks and make a play, I think we're pretty good at doing that." – North Carolina's Shakeel Rashad after the Tar Heels' 40-35 victory over Pittsburgh
Standings
Atlantic; ACC; All
Fla. State;6-0;9-0
Clemson;6-2;7-3
Louisville;5-3;7-3
Boston Coll.;3-3;6-4
N.C. State;2-5;6-5
Syracuse;1-5;3-7
Wake Forest;0-6;2-8
Coastal; ACC; All
Ga. Tech;6-2;9-2
Duke;4-2;8-2
Miami;3-2;6-3
N. Carolina;3-3;5-5
Va. Tech;2-4;5-5
Pittsburgh;2-4;4-6
Virginia;2-4;4-6
(Through afternoon games)
Thursday’s schedule
North Carolina at Duke, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Saturday’s schedule
Virginia Tech at Wake Forest, 12:30 p.m., WUPA
Georgia State at Clemson, 3:30 p.m. FSSO
Syracuse at Pittsburgh, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU
Louisville at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., NBC
Miami at Virginia, TBD
Boston College at Florida State, TBD
