So much of Virginia Tech's production has come from its freshmen. Just look at Saturday's 35-17 win over Western Michigan.
All four Hokies touchdowns were scored by first-year players. Fifteen of the team's 19 touchdowns on the season have been scored by freshmen.
So the news that came down Sunday about freshman running back Shai McKenzie had to be discouraging. McKenzie suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, as our Jared Shanker wrote. This is the same knee that McKenzie injured in September of his senior year of high school last season. He had enrolled at Virginia Tech in the winter to help rehabilitate the knee.
McKenzie rushed for 87 yards Saturday before suffering the injury, helping a Hokies rushing attack as good as any in the last four years: Their 308 rushing yards were the most in a game since 2010, when they rushed for 317 yards against N.C. State.
Fellow freshman Marshawn Williams led the effort, tallying 119 yards on just 14 carries. He is also the team's leading rusher on the season, just edging McKenzie, 290-269, so Virginia Tech is not without weapons in the backfield.
Still, you have to feel for McKenzie after all the work he put in, and after all the early success he experienced in Blacksburg.
As for the rest of your ACC links ...
BC laments missed opportunities against Colorado State, Kyle Brasseur writes on ESPNBoston.com.
Clemson's aerial attack shadowed its ground game, Aaron Brenner writes in the (Charleston) Post and Courier.
Duke was sloppy in its loss at Miami, Laura Keeley writes in the (Raleigh) News & Observer.
Brandon Radcliff spent all week gearing up for his start, Jeff Greer writes in the (Louisville) Courier-Journal.
Pitt tops USA Today's Dan Wolken's Misery Index following its home loss to Akron.
Scott Shafer says the luck of the Irish went Notre Dame's way again, Nate Mink writes in the (Syracuse) Post-Standard.
The (Newport News) Daily Press' David Teel says it's now time to see if Virginia's progress is authentic.