• We should have ditched the QB years ago. Virginia Tech's atrocious offense has been badly in need of some kind of identity all season, and never more so than Thursday, with starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor on the sideline and the battered ghost of Sean Glennon limping his way through a familiar round of "Don't screw this up." The Hokies solved their problems in part with a little innovation -- All-Everything cornerback Macho Harris rotating in at receiver, massive quarterback-turned-tight-end Greg Boone throwing his weight around all over the field, most notably in Wildcat-esque looks from the shotgun -- but mainly by unleashing impressive redshirt freshman Darren Evans for a school-record 253 yards on the ground, most of them of the punishing, shoulder-first sort, the kind that turn Craig James into even more of a giggling idiot in ESPN's booth than usual. Add Evans' 20 receiving yards, and he personally gained more against the Terps than the entire Tech offense in any of its previous four ACC games.

So much for a November miracle: with Evans' coming-out party and liberation from any hope of dependence on the passing game, the Hokies are the favorite to take the Coastal again by old-fashioned brawn.

• Rumor Alert: Tennessee. A very reliable source close to the Tennessee program told a Knoxville television station that potential hire Lane Kiffin was spotted playing golf with a UT booster Wednesday. So that means ... Kiffin is a candidate. Wait, we already knew that. But perhaps he was a candidate before the axe fell on Phil Fulmer Monday.

Expect more Kiffin sightings soon in Seattle, Clemson and Syracuse, and Will Muschamp sightings to follow closely once Texas' season is done. There's going to be a lot of winter golf reported over the next month.

Quickly ... The knee Charlie Weis injured during the Michigan game has been causing him more pain and might require surgery, if he can find the time as recruiting season hits the stretch. . . . Breaking down Tommy Tuberville's $6 million buyout, which Auburn trustees will certainly be doing Saturday from their position on the Tiger sideline. . . . Florida State has suspended three players for Saturday's game against Clemson, including receiver Bert Reed, who was suspended two weeks ago against Virginia Tech. . . . UCLA has suspended three players for its game with Oregon State, and might face Sean Canfield at quarterback instead of usual OSU starter Lyle Moevao. . . . Tailback Bobby Wallace and quarterback Tommy Beecher, who started South Carolina's opener against NC State, will go out with the seniors at the Gamecocks' Senior Day, even though they each have a year of eligibility left. . . . Bowling over the little kid in the stands last week was the best thing Marshawn Gilyard ever did, PR-wise. . . . Joe McKnight made it through a week of practice with no problems and should play Saturday against Cal. . . . Michigan quarterback Steven Threet is "very, very questionable" to play against Minnesota. . . . Northwestern's Omar Conteh won't play against Ohio State. . . . And Jim Tressel is here to talk about Northwestern, guys, not the Ray Small Affair. So y'all can have a good day.