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A team-by-team look back at the week that was and at what lies ahead for the Carolinas' ACC and SEC teams:
Clemson
INSIDE THE GAME: The Tigers' 41-27 loss at No.24 Florida State looked all too familiar. The biggest problem, not surprisingly, was the offensive line which allowed six sacks. After a strong start, the Tigers' offense effectively shut down.
The Clemson defense wasn't much better, allowing 6.7 yards per play.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Having lost two of three games under interim coach Dabo Swinney, the Tigers must win out against Duke, Virginia and South Carolina to be bowl eligible. That's asking a lot from a team that has underachieved all season. If the Tigers struggle at home against Duke on Saturday, expect the coaching gossip to intensify. RON GREEN JR.
Duke
INSIDE THE GAME: To clear up some first-quarter confusion: Duke had second-and-15 from the N.C. State 39 when the Wolfpack was called for offsides. Accepting would nullify an 8-yard gain and give Duke second-and-10 from the 35.
But coach David Cutcliffe, misunderstanding his players, declined, and Duke had third-and-7 from the 31. Cutcliffe tried to change his mind. The officials “were nice enough to listen,” he said, “but I knew they wouldn't change it.” Duke made the first down.
SECONDARY ISSUES: N.C. State receiver Jarvis Williams said Duke's defensive backs didn't challenge receivers for the ball. Cutcliffe explained Duke is still working to improve the fundamentals of playing press man coverage.
PENALTY MARKERS: Two weeks ago Cutcliffe said Duke had a good special teams unit, but now they are struggling. On J.C. Neal's 89-yard kickoff return for a score, Cutcliffe said the backside of the coverage tentatively moved into position, which gave Neal the space he needed to get free. LUCIANA CHAVEZ
East Carolina
TITLE-MINDED: East Carolina is alone at the top of Conference USA's East Division and enjoying the view.
A month ago, East Carolina (6-3, 4-1) was dealing with defeats and doubts. With two straight overtime wins, coach Skip Holtz likes his players' mindset, saying “their attitudes are really positive now.”
The challenge is to sustain success at Southern Mississippi and Alabama-Birmingham and at home against Texas-El Paso.
AIRBORNE AGAIN: What the offense needed came to pass in the 19-16 overtime win against Marshall. It was a revived passing attack, with Patrick Pinkney going 26-for-37 for 287 yards and a touchdown. .
KNOCKING 'EM BACK: Kudos to East Carolina's defense, despite the loss of key players. In the three-game win streak, the Pirates have held each opponent to 286 yards or fewer.
NEXT UP: Southern Miss, long a nemesis, is 2-4 in C-USA but dangerous – especially at home. The Golden Eagles beat Central Florida 17-6 and controlled the ball an incredible 41 minutes, 56 seconds. A.J. CARR
North Carolina
LOOKING FOR A LITTLE HELP: Most Tar Heels were cheering for Miami to beat Virginia to give North Carolina a boost in the ACC's Coastal Division.
Thursday, they'll be cheering for the Hurricanes again – to beat Virginia Tech.
Saturday's 28-7 victory against No.22 Georgia Tech means North Carolina, Miami and the Hokies are the only teams in their division with two league losses. Virginia Tech holds the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Tar Heels, but North Carolina holds the head-to-head tiebreaker against Miami.
Thus, even if the No.17 Tar Heels win out, they need the Hokies to lose once to win the division.
PIANALTO FRACTURES LEG: Tight end Zack Pianalto fractured his left fibula during his first-quarter touchdown reception.
Coach Butch Davis didn't know when the sophomore would return.
SHADES OF WINNING: Carolina is 1-1 this season when it dons navy blue pants and 1-0 in its navy jersey. But don't expect it to wear its alternate top, as it did Saturday, too often.
“At this school, we will always be Carolina blue,” Davis said.
NEXT UP: The Tar Heels (7-2, 3-2) travel to Maryland (6-3, 3-2) on Saturday; kickoff will be at 3:30p.m. ROBBI PICKERAL
N.C. State
INSIDE THE GAME: When you're 2-6 with a four-game losing streak going into a week off, you have to find creative ways to motivate your team.
Coach Tom O'Brien apparently did. He has the Wolfpack talking about finishing with a four-game winning streak to become bowl eligible after Saturday's 27-17 win at Duke.
He also has N.C. State talking about winning the mythical state championship. The Wolfpack has wins against East Carolina and Duke with Wake Forest and North Carolina in the next two weeks.
GREAT CALL: For the second time this season, special teams coach Jerry Petercuskie used a trick play on a kickoff return. O'Brien said opponents' focus on stopping record-breaking returner T.J. Graham leaves them vulnerable. Graham received a kickoff on the 7, handed to J.C. Neal at the 11 and watched Neal sprint to the end zone without being touched.
LOOKING AHEAD: After losing three of four, Wake Forest has wins against Duke and Virginia and will have plenty of motivation Saturday in Raleigh. The Deacons (6-3, 4-2) share the ACC Atlantic Division lead with Florida State. KEN TYSIAC
South Carolina
INSIDE THE GAME: Coach Steve Spurrier went back to a familiar ploy when he decided to alternate quarterbacks Stephen Garcia and Chris Smelley, a tactic he used successfully during his Florida days.
Garcia completed four of seven passes for 71 yards and Smelley completed nine of 19 for 148 yards. Don't expect things to change this week.
WHAT'S AHEAD: The Gamecocks travel to Spurrier's old stomping grounds for a nationally televised game against a Florida team many feel is playing better than any team in the country. An upset would transform the Gamecocks' postseason plans, but they haven't beaten a ranked team this season. R.G.
Wake Forest
INSIDE THE GAME: If there was one player who epitomized the sheer enthusiasm Wake Forest's defensive players wanted and needed Saturday against Virginia, it was fifth-year senior linebacker Aaron Curry.
To use a phrase he is fond of, Curry pursued like a “mad dog.” His role was essential in helping the Deacons (6-3, 4-2) to a 28-17 win.
Curry, at 6-foor-3 and 247 pounds, punished quarterback Marc Verica and harassed tailback Cedric Peerman, who had just 43 yards.
“We started off with the energy that we needed,” Curry said. “… Every play was a big play.” EDWARD G. ROBINSON III
