GREENVILLE — The ACC's champion, or maybe that should be survivor, is all but guaranteed an Orange Bowl bid. The opponent on Jan. 1 could be none other than East Carolina.

After clearing the hurdles of West Virginia and Virginia Tech, who's going to stop ECU from an unbeaten regular season?

The smart answer would be ECU, given the Pirates' propensity for firing a cannon off its big toe the past two Novembers, losing at Rice in 2006 and Marshall in 2007, keeping them out of the Conference USA title game each time.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Virginia's Chase Minnifield stopped a late Richmond threat with an interception, and Vic Hall returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown to seal the Cavaliers' 16-0 victory Saturday.

Richmond kept it close until Mikell Simpson's 1-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter finally gave Virginia (1-1) a little breathing room at 10-0, and the defense did the rest.

There's been a Harrison Beck sighting at Carter-Finley Stadium.

After quarterback Daniel Evans failed to direct N.C. State to a first down over almost two full quarters, coach Tom O'Brien sent Beck, the backup, into the game.

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — C.J. Spiller ran for three touchdowns and Clemson took its first steps back from last week's loss to Alabama with a 45-17 victory over Citadel on Saturday.

The Tigers (1-1) started the season ranked ninth in the county, but were thoroughly embarrassed, 34-10, by the Crimson Tide on national TV. Spiller and backfield partner James Davis accounted for only 20 yards a week ago, while the Tigers finished with zero yards on the ground.

In front of a wait-and-see crowd, the Atlantic Coast Conference favorites found their stride early on against the Championship Subdivision opponent.

Staff photo by Chris Seward

• Box score

• Extended photo gallery

GREENVILLE — West Virginia was no match for East Carolina, neither was history.

ECU notched the biggest win in program history, at least according to the national rankings, with a 24-3 victory over No. 8 West Virginia on Saturday at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

AP photo

WINSTON-SALEM — Mississippi scored with 1:01 left in the game, forcing Wake Forest's Sam Swank to nail a 41-yard field goal for a 30-28 victory.

Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead hooked up with Cordera Eason for a 5-yard touchdown to tie the game at 27. The extra point gave the Rebels a one-point lead to set up the Deacons' final scramble.

Wake quarterback Riley Skinner calmly marched his squad downfield and got Ole Miss to commit a crucial error — a defensive pass interference on Josh Adams to bring the Deacons within Swank's reach.

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Kenny Lewis Jr. caught a touchdown pass and ran for a score, and Virginia Tech went back to its two-quarterback system in a 24-7 victory against Furman on Saturday.

Darren Evans scored the third touchdown on a 3-yard run as the Hokies (1-1) made good on their plan to get their running game going. They accumulated 261 yards on the ground, including 112 by quarterback Tyrod Taylor, against the overmatched and outclassed Paladins (1-1).

BOSTON (AP) — Jonathan Dwyer ran for 108 yards, scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a 43-yard run midway through the fourth quarter on Saturday and Georgia Tech beat Boston College 19-16.

Getting the game in before the remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna swept through New England, BC took a 16-10 lead when Chris Crane hit Ifeanyi Momah on a tug-of-war touchdown pass with 3:03 left in the third. But Crane was sacked in the end zone for a safety, and four plays after the free kick Dwyer broke free on a pitch around the right side for the touchdown.

The silver lining in N.C. State’s otherwise thoroughly disgusting performance at South Carolina was defense.

The final score, 34-0 Gamecocks, in no way accurately reflected the effort and execution of State’s defenders for the majority of the game. Assuming the unit can be equally successful again, the Wolfpack should get a win over William & Mary.

But there’s no question that offensive progress is the overriding issue in this game.

State simply has to start developing an offensive identity while gaining some confidence.

If that can’t be accomplished against W&M, there’s little chance to believe it’ll happen next week at Clemson. Pack, 24-7.

The ACC’s new injury policy is doing exactly what it was designed to do.

Which is why it’s failing.