"At this time of the year, it's not about what you're record is," Virginia coach Al Groh said.
Simple as that.
This is the dilemma a seemingly weak N.C. State (2-5, 0-3 ACC) presents for No. 21 Virginia (7-1, 4-0 ACC) this weekend in Raleigh. Despite losing running backs Tony Baker and Andre Brown to injury and falling to the bottom of the ACC's Coastal Division, the Wolfpack has performed well in its last two games, putting N.C. State on Groh's radar.
"There are teams that maybe nobody's watching very closely," Groh said. "But they're playing some of their best ball right now."
Oct. 6, N.C. State held a first-quarter lead at Florida State, then went into half time tied 10-10. The Wolfpack lost that game 27-10. But Groh still liked what he saw.
"You can really begin to see the difference against Florida State," Groh said. "They played very well early, got out to a good lead. They looked much more explosive offensively ... This is a developing trend we've been able to see. It's been impressive how their team has improved."
After using a bye week to build on its first-half performance against FSU, the Wolfpack went to East Carolina and ravaged the Pirates, passing for 335 yards and sacking ECU six times en route to a 34-20 victory.
Senior wide receiver/returner Darrell Blackman, perhaps N.C. State's greatest threat, made little impact on the outcome of that game. Nevertheless, Blackman has the second-highest kickoff return rate in the history of the ACC at 27.3 yards per return.
"Just right on the surface there are three elements of great concern to us," Groh said of passing, sacks and kick returns. "All of those are areas that can change the game on one play ... It's a much more challenging concern than if it were a grind-it-out circumstance."
While N.C. State may currently be playing above its record, the Cavaliers understand that the most important games are still ahead of them, no matter what their record.
"We definitely have to have a surge [this week]," sophomore Mikell Simpson said. "It's a road game, which is always tough, and it's an ACC opponent, which counts for an ACC win or loss."
Known as the Cardiac Cavs for their late-game heroics, Virginia has now won five games by five points or less while amassing a seven-game winning streak. If the Cavaliers can make it eight tomorrow, they will have their longest winning streak in program history.
Coming off its most dramatic win of the season last week, Virginia defeated Maryland 18-17, riding Simpson's unprecedented success. He picked up 271 total yards and scored both of Virginia's touchdowns of the night.
Both Simpson and senior defensive end Chris Long were named ACC Players of the Week. Long picked up 10 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks and a safety Saturday night.
The victory has ranked Virginia in every poll and put the Cavaliers on the national scene. Consequently, Virginia's final four games just got harder.
"It's more now than 'just your natural rivals,'" Groh said. "It really didn't change 'til Saturday night. The teams that we're playing, their perception of us is going to be different than it was before ... We've only played four of our eight conference games. We're really just getting started as to how this is going to turn out"
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