Even as an ACC fan and writer, I’ll be the first to admit — on such a jam-packed Saturday of games across the country in college football, not many had eyes on the conference. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t have important games happening all up and down the Eastern seaboard on a beautiful fall football day. Let’s get into what you may have missed from this week in the ACC.

Miami 20, Virginia Tech 14

Well, it may not have been the prettiest outing, but Mario Cristobal finally gets his first conference win as the Hurricanes head coach. After Miami jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead that eventually became 17, it appeared that the team would be able to run away with a victory. But the second half was not nearly as smooth, as the Hurricanes offense became stagnant, allowing Virginia Tech to make the game somewhat close. But make no mistake — Miami was clearly the better team, outgaining the Hokies by over 200 yards and making Virginia Tech 2-5 for the first time since 1988. It was always going to be a rebuilding year for Brent Pry, but things aren’t looking up in Blacksburg.

Syracuse 24, NC State 9

The bad news for NC State came before this game even started, as it was announced early Saturday morning that quarterback Devin Leary would undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season. With that in mind, the Wolfpack actually gave a valiant effort in Syracuse, albeit with the Orange making things closer than they needed to be. Syracuse led 10-3 at halftime, although the game felt like the margin should have been much larger. Costly penalties and turnovers from the Orange kept NC State within striking distance, and although the home team was able to seal the victory with a Sean Tucker touchdown, it’s clear that Syracuse needs to capitalize on drives more often if it wants to defeat Clemson on the road next week.

Clemson 34, Florida State 28

What football analysts refer to as the middle eight — that is, the last four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half — simply won this game for the Tigers. Four straight scoring drives for Clemson, aided by a turnover from Florida State, turned a tie game into a 34-14 advantage in the blink of an eye. And it was a good thing Clemson did all its damage there, too, because the offense went MIA in the second half, being held scoreless after a first goal early in the third quarter. The Seminoles actually outgained the Tigers in this matchup, but three turnovers on downs stopped the team from finding the end zone. At the end of the day, though, this was a key win for Clemson, who now only has to beat Syracuse at home to all but ensure a spot in the ACC Championship Game.

North Carolina 38, Duke 35

The nightcap game for the conference certainly included fireworks, as the two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense in a barnburner that has become typical of North Carolina’s season. Duke destroyed the Tar Heels on the ground, rushing for over seven yards per carry, but the Blue Devils found themselves in a 31-21 hole entering the fourth quarter. No problem — two straight touchdowns gave Duke a four-point advantage in the blink of an eye. But a crucial missed field goal gave North Carolina the chance to take the lead, and the Tar Heels took advantage, with Drake Maye finding Antoine Greene in the end zone with just 16 seconds remaining. Duke couldn’t advance the ball on a last-second drive, and North Carolina escaped Durham with its undefeated record in conference play intact.