5 best ACC defensive performances of the year

Florida State held Wake Forest to 126 total yards on Sept. 15. (US Presswire)

1. Florida State's defense dominates Wake Forest on Sept. 15:

In a year full of impressive defensive performances by Florida State, this one stands out the most. Granted, the Demon Deacons were poor offensively this season, but Florida State held them to a season-low 126 yards in a 52-0 win on Sept. 15. Florida State had 11 tackles for loss and held the Demon Deacons to just 2.1 yards per play. Wake Forest got 75 of its yards on two plays and converted just one of 16 third downs.

2. Virginia Tech holds Florida State to minus-15 rushing yards in a 28-22 loss on Nov. 8:

The Seminoles average 203 rushing yards per game this season, which ranks No. 25 nationally, and have managed at least 112 rushing yards in 12 of their 13 games. On Nov. 8, Florida State went backwards on the ground in Blacksburg, and it wasn't just quarterback sacks that accounted for the negative yardage. RB Devonta Freeman had seven carries for minus-5 yards. Virginia Tech's front seven was dominant, playing the way many thought it would in the preseason.

3. Boston College LB Nick Clancy has 24 tackles against Northwestern on
Sept. 15:

As a team, the defensive performance left something to be desired at Northwestern. The Eagles were stout in the red zone but gave up 560 yards in a 22-13 loss on the road. However, Clancy had 24 tackles, which is tied for the second-highest single game total in the FBS this season. He finished the season with 145 tackles, tops in the ACC and third nationally.

4. Virginia holds NC State to season-lows of 216 yards and six points on Nov. 3:

The Cavaliers had lost six consecutive games and traveled to face NC State on its homecoming. Virginia forced five turnovers and had six sacks. To put that in perspective, the Cavaliers forced 12 turnovers and had 17 sacks all season. Virginia had four interceptions all year, and three came in this game. The longest play the Cavaliers surrendered to the Wolfpack went for 14 yards, and NC State QB Mike Glennon threw for 197 yards, the only time all season he was held under 200 passing yards. The Wolfpack also managed just 19 rushing yards.

5. Duke S Walt Canty has three tackles in a four-play stretch to turn the tide against Virginia on Oct. 6:

The Blue Devils had just taken a 21-17 lead early in the third quarter, and the Cavaliers had the ball with a first down on their own 38-yard line. On first-and-10, Canty tackled RB Clifton Richardson for a 3-yard loss. On third-and-8, he teamed with teammate Jordon Byas to stop Virginia WR Darius Jennings a yard short of the first down. The Cavaliers went for it on fourth-and-1, and Canty stuffed RB Kevin Parks for a 1-yard loss. The Blue Devils scored on their ensuing possession and cruised from there to their fifth win of the season.

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from ACC bloggers Shawn Krest and Sean Bielawski, follow @CBSSportsACC.