Boston College (2-9, 1-6 in ACC)
Next game: at N.C. State, 3 p.m.
Riding high: The Eagles played well in early losses to Miami and Clemson behind Chase Rettig, who has thrown for 2,976 yards despite having no running game.
Feeling blue: A five-game losing streak, which included a loss to Army, ruined any chances of a strong season. Only a close win over QB-less Maryland has stemmed a season-long collapse.
Big surprise: LB Nick Clancy is fourth in the FBS with 127 tackles and has twice had more than 20 in a game.
Name to remember: WR Alex Amidon, a junior, entered this year with 36 career catches, but has set school records with 75 catches and 1,175 yards.
Clemson (10-1, 7-1)
Next game: vs. South Carolina, 7 p.m., ESPN
Riding high: The Tigers are riding a seven-game win streak in which they're averaging 47.9 points a game, leading to a No. 11 rank in the BCS.
Feeling blue: There's only one loss, that coming at Florida State in a game in which the Tigers scored 37, but couldn't slow the Seminoles, who gained 667 yards.
Big surprise: Suspensions and injuries to Sammy Watkins hasn't slowed DeAndre Hopkins, who has become QB Tajh Boyd's favorite target. He's second in the nation with 15 TD catches on 68 catches for 1,171 yards.
Name to remember: Sophomore DE Vic Beasley (Adairsville) hasn't started a game, but he's second in the ACC with eight sacks.
Duke (6-5, 3-4)
Next game: vs. Miami, 12:30 p.m., WUPA
Riding high: On Oct. 20, the Blue Devils snapped an eight-game losing streak to North Carolina and became bowl eligible with their sixth victory.
Feeling blue: They haven't won since improving to 6-2. Duke is allowing 48.7 points a game in its three-game streak.
Big surprise: The early schedule wasn't tough, but Duke's four-game win streak over N.C. Central, Memphis, Wake Forest and Virginia, put it in position for bowl eligibility.
Name to remember: WR Jamison Crowder, a sophomore, has proven to be a worthy complement to Conner Vernon with 62 catches for 822 yards and six TDs.
Florida State (10-1, 7-1)
Next game: vs. Florida, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Riding high: The Seminoles shocked Virginia Tech 28-22 on EJ Manuel's 39-yard TD pass to Rashad Greene (Westover) with 40 seconds left on Nov. 8.
Feeling blue: Chris Thompson was on his way to becoming it's first 1,000-yard rusher since Warrick Dunn in 1996 when he was lost for the season with a torn ACL on Oct. 20. He missed eight games last year with a broken back.
Big surprise: They blew a 16-point lead and lost 17-16 to N.C. State, ruining their chance at being in the national championship picture.
Names to remember: Sophomores James Wilder Jr. and Devonta Freeman have combined for 1,035 yards and 18 TDs.
Maryland (4-7, 2-5)
Next game: at North Carolina, 3 p.m., FSSO
Riding high: Consecutive wins over Wake Forest and Virginia had the Terrapins at 4-2 and looking like a bowl contender.
Feeling blue: The Terrapins lost their fourth QB to season-ending injury when Caleb Rowe tore his ACL on Oct. 27. They're down to LB-turned QB Shawn Petty, one reason they've lost five straight.
Big surprise: Maryland's run defense has been remarkably strong. It is second in the ACC, 20th in the nation, allowing 123.9 yards a game and 3.3 yards a carry.
Name to remember: Do-everything freshman Stefon Diggs, who is second in the ACC in all-purpose yards with an average of 164.8.
Miami (6-5, 4-3)
Next game: at Duke, 12:30 p.m., WUPA
Riding high: A 4-1 start, including a victory over Georgia Tech, gave the Hurricanes plenty of reason to be optimistic.
Feeling blue: There were plenty of ups and downs, but the 41-40 loss to Virginia might have been the worst valley. The Cavaliers had lost six out of seven prior to that game.
Big surprise: The university's decision to hold the Hurricanes out of a bowl for the second straight year. Miami hopes to lessen any NCAA sanctions by doing so.
Name to remember: Duke Johnson, a freshman, is third in the ACC in all-purpose yards and has returned two kicks for TDs to go with his 771 yards rushing.
North Carolina (7-4, 4-3)
Next game: vs. Maryland, 3 p.m., FSSO
Riding high: Giovani Bernard has had plenty of highlights, but his shocking 74-yard punt return with 13 seconds left gave the Tar Heels a 43-35 win over N.C. State on Oct. 27.
Feeling blue: A week earlier, North Carolina lost for the first time in nine years against Duke, falling 33-30. What's worse is that Duke became bowl eligible with that win.
Big surprise: The Tar Heels didn't waste any time adapting to new coach Larry Fedora's offensive philosophy. They've scored 66, 62, 50 (in a loss), 48 and 43 in games.
Name to remember: Sophomore TE Eric Ebron has set the single-season school record for catches for his position with 37 (for 568 yards) and has even filled in on the defensive line.
North Carolina State (6-5, 3-4)
Next game: vs. Boston College, 3 p.m.
Riding high: Winning five games, including a 17-16 upset of Florida State, during a six-game stretch in September and October.
Feeling blue: Homecoming was a huge letdown after the Wolfpack had five turnovers in a 33-6 loss to Virginia. N.C. State didn't score until the fourth quarter.
Big surprise: The penetrating ability of the defense, which is tied for 10th in the nation in tackles for loss. LB Rickey Dowdy leads the Wolfpack with 12½.
Name to remember: It appeared freshman RB Shadrach Thornton (Liberty County) would redshirt, but has had two 100-yard games and leads the team with 550 yards rushing.
Virginia (4-7, 2-5)
Next game: at Virginia Tech, noon, ESPNU
Riding high: Consecutive upsets of N.C. State and Miami helped stem the ugliness of a six-game losing streak.
Feeling blue: Virginia fell behind Maryland and ended up with a 27-20 home loss to the Terrapins and backup QB Perry Hills.
Big surprise: The Cavaliers have won only four games and will miss a bowl one season after going 8-5 and playing in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Name to remember: QB Phillip Sims transferred from Alabama and won the job from incumbent Michael Rocco. The sophomore gained valuable experience this season.
Virginia Tech (5-6, 3-4)
Next game: vs. Virginia, noon, ESPNU
Riding high: It went to OT against a struggling opponent, but Virginia Tech ended its three-game losing streak with a 30-23 win at Boston College on Saturday.
Feeling blue: Virginia Tech was on its way to upsetting Florida State, but the Seminoles scored with 40 seconds left for a 28-22 win on Nov. 8. It was the fifth loss in six games for the Hokies.
Big surprise: The entire season. It's been 19 years since the Hokies missed a bowl game, but a loss to Virginia will break that streak.
Name to remember: Demitri Knowles is another one of the ACC's outstanding freshmen WR/KR. He's second in the ACC with 29.2-yard average and has returned one for a TD.
Wake Forest (5-6, 3-5)
Next game: vs. Vanderbilt, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU
Riding high: Everything clicked for Wake Forest in its 28-27 win over North Carolina on Sept. 8, prompting coach Jim Grobe to say, "This is as good as it gets."
Feeling blue: When WR Michael Campanaro broke his hand on Sept. 29, it not only robbed the Demon Deacons of their best offensive weapon, it also hurt because he's a well respected team leader.
Big surprise: If Wake Forest doesn't qualify for a bowl after reaching five wins on Nov. 3. A loss to Vanderbilt would mean the Demon Deacons would end the season on a three-game losing streak.
Name to remember: Sophomore CB Kevin Johnson has three interceptions and 15 breakups.
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