"We were in a tough spot with four good teams left to play, and they knew that we had to win two games to have a chance to play in a bowl game, so we've got one out of the way," Grobe said. "Our guys know what's at stake. They know that we've got to win another game to get bowl eligible. ... They know how important this game is, but I think if you focus too much on being bowl-eligible and you look at all that pie-in-the-sky stuff, what might happen, you don't play very good football."

A decision by Miami to remove itself from postseason consideration would weaken the ACC's pool.

At 4-2 in ACC games, Miami leads the Coastal Division. The Hurricanes could clinch their spot in the ACC championship game with wins over Virginia Saturday and Duke on Nov. 24.

The winner of the Dec. 1 ACC championship game in Charlotte goes to the Orange Bowl. The BCS could take a second ACC team if it is ranked in the top 14 of the final BCS standings.

The ACC normally is well-represented in the postseason. Since 2005, the conference has sent 58 teams to bowls, the second-highest total behind the SEC's 61.

It's crunch time for the ACC's bowl-hopeful teams.

"The teams that can bring their best these final (three) weeks are the teams that are going to be playing in bowl games," Grobe said.

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AP Sports Writer Joedy McCreary in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Associated Press Writer George Henry in Atlanta contributed to this report.