Jake McGee caught the game-winning touchdown with six seconds left to give Virginia a 41-40 win over Miami. (US Presswire) |
Virginia blew the ACC Coastal Division race wide open on Saturday, overcoming a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Miami 41-40. Cavaliers coach Mike London started Michael Rocco at quarterback but successfully rotated Phillip Sims into the lineup as well. The two quarterbacks completed 40 of 52 combined passes, but it was Rocco who threw for 300 yards and four touchdowns.
The game-winning touchdown pass from Rocco to tight end Jake McGee capped a 16-play drive executed with no timeouts in the final 2:38. When McGee reached up for Rocco's pass and gathered himself in bounds, there were just six seconds left on the clock. The Cavs' kickoff coverage team successfully bottled up Duke Johnson -- who totaled 376 all-purpose yards, including an 8-yard touchdown pass -- and Virginia students celebrated the first home win since knocking off Penn State on Sept. 8.
Miami (5-5, 4-3 ACC) faces South Florida next week, then wraps up the regular season at Duke. The Blue Devils (6-4, 3-3) face Georgia Tech (5-5, 4-3) next week, needing a win to knock Georgia Tech from ACC Coastal contention. If the Yellow Jackets win, they will claim the division if Miami loses to Duke. If Miami and Georgia Tech finish 5-3 in ACC play, the Hurricanes would have the edge thanks to their 42-36 overtime win over the Yellow Jackets this season.
There is the ongoing debate of whether Miami decides to self-impose another postseason ban in anticipation of future NCAA sanctions. That would potentially open up the race to Virginia Tech (2-4, 4-6), but only if Duke beat Georgia Tech then lost to Miami. The Hokies' two ACC wins to this point are against the Blue Devils and Yellow Jackets. In a three-way tie at 4-4, they would get the nod to return to Charlotte.
Meanwhile, Florida State and Clemson have pulled away from the rest of the Atlantic Division. With a win against Maryland next week in College Park, the Seminoles will lock up their third division title since the league expanded to 12 teams in 2005. It has just been that kind of season in the ACC this year.
Keep up with the latest college football news from around the country. From the opening kick of the year all the way through the offseason, CBSSports.com has you covered with this daily newsletter. View a preview.
Get CBSSports.com College Football updates on Facebook