The ACC struggled again in week 2, with an out-of-conference loss to Middle Tennessee State, and three wins against 1-AA teams, all by less than 20 points. Paul Johnson got his first ACC win at Georgia Tech, while Wake Forest continues to get it done.

Boston College faced their first test of the season on Saturday, and fell to Georgia Tech 19-16 in a defensive war on Chestnut Hill. The BC offense was completely shut down by the Yellow Jacket defense. BC averaged just 2.9 yards per carry, and Chris Crane had just 142 passing yards on 35 attempts. He also threw two interceptions.

The BC defense came up with three fumble recoveries and limited the Georgia Tech offense to just 235 yards, 43 of which came on one run by Jonathan Dwyer. However, the BC offense also turned the ball over three times and just couldn't come away with enough points.

At this point, it appears that BC is very limited in the passing game. The simply aren't hitting any big plays like they did last year with Matt Ryan.

• Offensive MVP: Ryan Purvis. 3 catches, 38 yards
• Defensive MVP: Mark Herzlich. 11 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 forced fumble

Up Next: Bye, then UCF on September 20

Clemson got their first win of the season with a 45-17 win over The Citadel on Saturday. However, it was hardly an impressive win. The Tigers led just 21-7 midway through the third quarter before blowing up late in the game.

The Clemson offense exploded for 525 total yards. Cullen Harper and Willy Korn combined for 273 yards through the air, while the Clemson running game totaled 252 yards while averaging 7.4 yards per carry. This was a typical offensive game for Clemson against an overmatched team. When they face a team with a competent front seven, they'll have issues.

Clemson's defense did not play so well, allowing 427 yards of total offense to a 1-AA team. The Citadel threw for 338 yards on the Tigers, though Clemson did grab three interceptions.

• Offensive MVP: C.J. Spiller. 6 carries, 75 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 catches for 32 yards
• Defensive MVP: Michael Hamlin. 10 tackles, 3 interceptions

Up Next: NC State, Saturday, September 13, Noon, Raycom

Duke suffered a heartbreaking loss to Northwestern on Saturday night in Durham, falling 24-20. The Blue Devils scored the game winning touchdown late in the game, but it was called back for holding.

Duke dominated the game statistically, gaining 472 yards of total offense, while limiting Northwestern to just 328. Northwestern star running back Tyrell Sutton had just 66 yards on the ground. However, the Wildcats didn't turn the ball over, while Duke coughed up one fumble. That could have been the difference.

Duke seems to have improved their running game quite a bit this year. They ran for 178 yards on Northwestern, averaging four yards per carry.

• Offensive MVP: Johnny Williams. 11 catches, 135 yards.
• Defensive MVP: Michael Tauiliili. 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hurry

Up Next: Navy, Saturday, September 13, Noon, ESPNU

Florida State played their first game of the season on Saturday evening, easily dispatching 1-AA Western Carolina 69-0. The Seminoles obviously dominated the game on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

The 'Noles had a very balanced attack, running for 290 yards and passing for 271. Defensively, they limited Western Carolina to 176 yards of total offense. We won't find out much about Florida State until they take on Wake Forest in two weeks.

• Offensive MVP: Christian Ponder. 11-of-17, 196 yards, 3 touchdowns, 3 carries for 39 yards
• Defensive MVP: Kenddrick Stewart. 4.5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack.

Up Next: Chattanooga, Saturday, September 13, 3:45 pm

Georgia Tech is still offensively challenged under new head coach Paul Johnson, but they managed to come away from Chestnut Hill with a big ACC victory on Saturday afternoon. If they can knock off Virginia Tech in Blacksburg on Saturday, they'll be a player in the Coastal Division race.

Georgia Tech does have one of the top running backs in the ACC. Jonathan Dwyer had another 100-yard performance on Saturday, and his 43-yard touchdown run halfway through the third quarter clinched the victory for the Yellow Jackets.

• Offensive MVP: Jonathan Dwyer. 18 carries, 108 yards, 1 touchdown
• Defensive MVP: Darryl Richard. 5 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 fumble recovery

Up Next: at Virginia Tech, Saturday, September 13, 3:30pm, ABC

It looks like NC State could have a real war on their hands in the battle for last place in the Atlantic Division. After barely beating 1-AA Delaware 14-7 in their opening game, the Terps got smacked 24-14 by Middle Tennessee State on Saturday night.

Maryland is simply a bad overall football team with no quarterback. Chris Turner, subbing for the also-ineffective Jordan Steffy, threw three interceptions. Tailback Da'Rel Scott had 123 yards, but 63 of them came on one run. The Terps are completely wasting the talents of outstanding receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Defensively, Maryland allowed over 400 yards of total offense. It looks like a long year for the Fridge.

• Offensive MVP: Da'Rel Scott. 11 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD
• Defensive MVP: Alex Wujciak. 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery

Up Next: California, Saturday, September 13, Noon, ESPN

Miami lost to Florida 26-3 in The Swamp on Saturday night, though they looked better than many expected. The 'Cane defense harassed Tim Tebow all night before running out of gas in the fourth quarter.

The Miami offense couldn't get anything going, gaining just 140 yards of total offense and averaging just 1.6 yards per carry. Robert Marve got his first career start at quarterback. He only threw for 69 yards, but he did not turn the ball over. Unfortunately, Miami tailback Javarris James left the game early with an injury, and did not return.

Defensively Miami held Florida to just 345 yards of total offense, and just 89 yards on the ground. Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns, but the Miami defensive front was harassing him for much of the night.

• Offensive MVP: none
• Defensive MVP: Sean Spence. 5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack

Up Next: Bye, then at Texas A&M on September 20

UNC was off this week.

Up Next: At Rutgers, Thursday, September 11, 7:30pm, ESPN

NC State struggled to knock off William & Mary 34-24 on Saturday night. Starting quarterback Daniel Evans struggled, and Harrison Beck came off the bench to ignite the offense for the win.

However, the Wolfpack ground game was shut down by the Tribe. State gained just 67 yards on the ground and averaged just 2.2 yards per carry. Tom O'Brien is still in major rebuilding mode in Raleigh.

• Offensive MVP: Harrison Beck. 17-of-25, 246 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception
• Defensive MVP: Nate Irving. 13 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 fumble recover, 1 interception

Up Next: at Clemson, Saturday, September 13, noon, Raycom

Virginia struggled to knock off 1-AA Richmond 16-0 on Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville. The Hoos running game was shut down by the Spiders. Virginia ran for just 91 yards and averaged just 2.4 yards per carry. Peter Lalich put up 204 yards through the air, but he was intercepted twice.

The Virginia defense dominated, holding Richmond to under 200 yards on the day. Vic Hall returned an interception for a touchdown late in the game to extend the margin of victory.

• Offensive MVP: Kevin Ogletree. 8 catches, 103 yards
• Defensive MVP: Matt Conrath. 7 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 pass broken up

Up Next: at UConn, Saturday, September 13, 7:30pm, ESPNU

Virginia Tech struggled in the first half, but then blew the game open in the third quarter in their 24-7 victory over Furman on Saturday. As usual, it was the defense which came up with two turnovers in Furman territory, both of which led to Hokie touchdowns.

Tyrod Taylor ran for 112 yards, and the Tech ground attack that totaled 261 yards on the ground. Darren Evans added 72 rushing yards on just 11 carries. However, the passing game struggled, gaining just 68 yards through the air as Taylor and Sean Glennon split time.

Defensively, the Hokies dominated the game. Furman didn't sniff the end zone until Bud Foster had his backups in late in the fourth quarter.

• Offensive MVP: Tyrod Taylor. 4-of-5, 26 yards, 14 carries, 112 yards
• Defensive MVP: Stephan Virgil. 5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 interception, 1 pass broken up

Up Next: Georgia Tech, Saturday, September 13, 3:30pm, ABC

Good football teams get it done in the clutch, and that's exactly what Wake Forest did on Saturday against Ole Miss. The Rebels scored what appeared to be the game winning touchdown with 1:01 left in the fourth quarter, but Riley Skinner engineered a great drive that led to a 41 yard Sam Swank field goal with just two seconds left in the game.

This was a big game for Wake Forest, not only because they got the win, but because they appear to have found a legit receiving target. Wide receiver D.J. Boldin, brother of Arizona Cardinal All-Pro receiver Anquan Boldin, had 11 catches for 123 yards.

With two out-of-conference wins against BCS conference teams, the Demon Deacons are holding up the struggling ACC right now.

• Offensive MVP: Riley Skinner. 32-of-43, 267 yards, 2 touchdowns
• Defensive MVP: Brandon Ghee. 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception

Up Next: Bye, then at Florida State on September 20