Focus on Miami

Location: Miami, Fla.Record: 5-3 (2-2 ACC)Leading Passer: Kyle Wright (177.1 yards per game)Leading Rusher: Graig Cooper (70.5 yards per game)Leading Receiver: Darnell Jenkins (58.2 yards per game)Fun Fact: Miami has produced more NFL first-round draft picks than any other school in the nation with 47 players chosen in the opening round.

Source: Miami

Past Games against Miami

1. Miami 46, N.C. State 23, Dec. 29, 1998

In the only bowl game of All-American receiver Torry Holt’s career, N.C. State fell to Miami in the Micron PC Bowl. It was the Wolfpack’s first bowl game since 1994. The Miami defense held Holt to 52 yards receiving, his second lowest total of the season. Pack running back Rahshon Spikes rushed for 176 yards on 24 carries. But Hurricanes junior running back Edgerrin James ran all over State, collecting 156 yards on 20 carries.

2. Miami 41, N.C. State 3, Nov. 20, 1982

In the season finale for N.C. State, the Hurricanes blew the Wolfpack away by 38 points. Senior quarterback Tol Avery was 13-of-25 passing for 79 yards. Hurricanes backup quarterback Vinny Testaverde entered in the third quarter of the blowout and was 5-of-11 passing for 79 yards.

Last time N.C. State played Miami

Miami dismantled N.C. State 45-31 on Oct. 23, 2004. In a much-hyped game, ESPN analyst Lee Corso picked the Wolfpack to win with ESPN’s College GameDay on site at Carter-Finley. No. 4 Miami put that notion to rest early when Devin Hester returned the game’s opening kick-off 100 yards for a touchdown. The Hurricanes never trailed in the game and led by as many as 28 points. State quarterback Jay Davis went 20-of-38 passing for 260 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.

Ernest Jones on…

His aspirations to be a rapper

That’s a means of ways to get money today or whatever. I feel as if I have a pretty good talent as far as writing lyrics as well as rap songs and R&B songs from different genres. It’s a little thing I do on the side though.

Compiled by Emily Seck

Following the ACC race

Did you know?Coach Tom O’Brien is 0-8 in his career against Miami.

Standings

AtlanticTeam ACC Overall Boston College 4-0 8-0 Wake Forest 4-1 6-2 Clemson 3-2 6-2 Florida State 2-3 5-3 Maryland 1-3 4-4 N.C. State 1-3 3-5

CoastalTeam ACC Overall Virginia 4-1 7-2 Virginia Tech 3-1 6-2 Miami 2-2 5-3 Georgia Tech 2-3 5-3 North Carolina 1-3 2-6 Duke 0-5 1-7 Source: ACC

Schedule

Clemson @ Duke, Noon, ESPN GameplanWake Forest @ Virginia, Noon, Raycom/Lincoln FinancialMaryland @ North Carolina, 3:45 p.m., ESPNUFlorida State @ Boston College, 8 p.m., ABC

Where State stands

N.C. State still finds itself in last place in the Atlantic division, but the Wolfpack also has a two-game winning streak to its favor. While winning the division and the conference went out the window for State a while back, it’s still not too late for the Pack to talk about bowl games. As hard as it may be to believe after a 1-5 start to the season, bowl eligibility for State is still a mathematic possibility, although the Pack needs to win three of its final four games to get there.

On the road to Jacksonville

The tops of the divisions are getting tight. Boston College is in front in the Atlantic at 4-0. Wake Forest is only a half-game back at 4-1, but the Eagles hold the tiebreaker over the Deacons after beating Wake in the season opener. Virginia’s loss to State last week was a setback. The Cavaliers now sit at 4-1 in the Coastal division. Virginia Tech is only a half game back at 3-1. Virginia and Virginia Tech square off on Nov. 24 for what could be a spot in the ACC title game.