Thanks as always to the sports information directors throughout the league, and ESPN's Stats & Information department for this week's notes.
BOSTON COLLEGE: Chase Rettig stands 58 yards away from becoming the fourth BC quarterback to pass for 3,000 yards in a season. He would join Matt Ryan, Doug Flutie and Glenn Foley on that list.
CLEMSON: Clemson’s offense already has a number of school records this year and is getting close to many others. The Tigers set the single-season scoring record last week and now have 491 points for the season, 21 more
than last year’s team had. The Tigers already have 63 touchdowns for the year, five more than last year’s record-setting total of 58.
DUKE: Conner Vernon (64), Jamison Crowder (62) and Desmond Scott (57) have combined for 183 catches to establish a new school record for receptions in a season by three teammates.
FLORIDA STATE: FSU is the only team in the country to rank in the top 14 in 10 statistical categories nationally and the only team to rank in the top 14 in both total offense and total defense. The FSU defense leads the nation in total defense (236.3) while ranking in the top four in five statistical categories: rushing defense (70.6 ypg, first), scoring defense (13.1 ppg, fifth), pass defense (165.6, fifth) and pass efficiency defense (96.6, third).
GEORGIA TECH: In each of the the past five meetings between Georgia Tech and Georgia, the winning team has scored at least 30 points.
MARYLAND: Despite missing a game with an injury, Maryland true freshman receiver Stefon Diggs has already recorded the fourth-best season by a freshman receiver in league history in reception yardage. Diggs has 766 receiving yards on 46 catches. Clemson’s Sammy Watkins set the freshman record last year with 1,219 receiving yards in 14 games. Diggs ranks seventh nationally in all-purpose yardage.
MIAMI: In the first 23 games of the Al Golden era, Miami has used 21 different defensive starting lineups, including a different lineup in all 11 games this season.
NORTH CAROLINA: The Tar Heels are saying goodbye to some pretty outstanding seniors. OG Jonathan Cooper (46), LB Kevin Reddick (42) and WR Erik Highsmith (41) have started more than 40 games in their careers. Sylvester Williams has started all 24 games since he arrived as a junior college transfer; and kicker Casey Barth is Carolina’s all-time leading scorer with 358 points.
NC STATE: Lost in some of the record-setting performances for the Wolfpack last week was running back Shadrach Thornton, who had 114 yards on 21 carries. He went over 100 yards for the second straight game and third time this season.
VIRGINIA: Since the bye week, UVa has amassed 1,278 total yards over last three games for a 426.0 yards per game average. UVa also has scored 11 offensive TDs.
VIRGINIA TECH: The Hokies have led at the half just three times this season.
WAKE FOREST: Even if the Deacs lose, they have an outside shot of making a bowl game thanks to their APR score. A new set of bowl game tiebreakers are in effect this year should there not be 70 bowl-eligible teams. The last tiebreaker involves 5-7 teams with a top-five score in APR.