By Carlos Pineda
SouthernPigskin.com

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The ACC finished just 4-7 in bowl competition, but that doesn’t mean that some individual teams didn’t turn in impressive performances.

Georgia Tech scored a major win for the ACC last Wednesday, after the Yellow Jackets knocked off seventh-ranked Mississippi State 49-34 in the Orange Bowl.

The victory not only gave No. 12 Georgia Tech its second win over an SEC school this season, but also debunked any notion that Tech’s “gimmick” offense doesn’t work when opponents are given enough time to prepare for it.

In Pasadena, league flag-bearer No. 3 Florida State sported a black eye, as Oregon took advantage of a turnover-prone Seminoles squad. Oregon’s 25-20 lead expanded quickly as the No. 2 Ducks scored 34 points off of five FSU turnovers, eliminating last year’s national champions in the inaugural College Football Playoff.

In total, the ACC had 11 teams play in a bowl game for the second straight year and finished 4-7. Miami, North Carolina and Pitt finished the season with identical 6-7 records after losing their respective bowl games.

Below is recap of each game and how they rank.

11. Armed Forces Bowl x94 Houston 35, Pitt 34

The Panthers led by as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter, but Pitt collapsed as the Cougars outscored the Panthers 29-3 in the final 11 minutes of the game. Down 34-27, Houston scored a touchdown and the two-point conversion with less than a minute to go to take its first lead of the game. Pitt took an early lead in the second quarter, after a scoreless first period, and appeared to have the game in hand with a balanced offensive attack, but had no answer in the fourth quarter.

10. Quick Lane Bowl x94 Rutgers 40, North Carolina 21

The Tar Heels arrived in Detroit having won four of their last six games, but coming off a deflating 35-7 loss to NC State in the season finale. Similar to its performance against the Wolfpack, North Carolina fell behind early against Rutgers, despite putting up 482 yards of total offense. The Heels turned the ball over twice and the Scarlet Knights took a commanding 40-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. UNC dropped to below .500, producing its first losing season since 2007.

9. Belk Bowl x94 Georgia 37, Louisville 14

The Cardinals strung together three straight wins to finish the regular season strong, but were denied 10 wins in Bobby Petrino’s first season back in Louisville. Louisville fell victim to Georgia freshman running back Nick Chubb, who put forth a Herschel Walker-type performance as he rushed for a career-high 266 yards x94 second highest rushing total in school history x94 and two touchdowns on 33 carries. The Cardinals saw a 7-7 tie in the first quarter become a 20-point deficit midway through the third quarter. Louisville quarterback Kyle Bolin threw for 300 yards and DeVante Parker hauled in eight catches for 120 yards.

8. Rose Bowl x94 Oregon 59, Florida State 20

Known for their slow starts and strong finishes this season, the Seminoles held close with Oregon’s explosive and quick offense through the first half. But things began to unravel in the third quarter as Florida State committed four turnovers and was outscored 27-7 during that span. There was no coming back. Jameis Winston threw for 348 yards and two touchdowns, and Dalvin Cook rushed for 103 yards, but turnovers were too costly to overcome. The Seminoles lost for the first time in 30 games.

7. Independence Bowl x94 South Carolina 24, Miami 21

The Hurricanes took an early 6-0 lead, and outgained South Carolina during the game, but it wasn’t enough. The Gamecocks went to the passing game midway through the second quarter and scored 17 straight points, including a Dylan Thompson 78-yard TD pass to Pharoh Cooper that gave them a 7-6 lead. South Carolina held Miami without a touchdown until late in the third quarter, and halted freshman Brad Kaaya’s quick start and Duke Johnson’s 132 rushing yards. The Hurricanes ended the season on a four-game losing and with their first losing season since 2007.

6. Pinstripe Bowl x94 Penn State 31, Boston College 30 (OT)

Steve Addazio took the Eagles bowling for the second straight year after ending a three-year postseason drought last season. But a missed extra point in overtime proved to be costly in a one-point loss to the Nittany Lions. Quarterback Tyler Murphy passed for 97 yards with two touchdowns, and rushed for 105 yards with a score, while Jon Hilliman rushed for a game-high 148 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles, who finished with back-to-back 7-6 records, led by as many three touchdowns before Penn State mounted a second-half comeback, tying the game twice in the fourth quarter.

5. Sun Bowl x94 Arizona State 36, Duke 31

It was a trend the Blue Devils could not bring to an end. For the third straight bowl game, Duke lost a close game, and missed out on a chance to make history x94 consecutive 10-win seasons. The Blue Devils fell behind 20-3 before outscoring Arizona State 28-16 the rest of the way. Anthony Boone passed for 193 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception at the Sun Devil14 with less than a minute left in the game seal their fate.

4. Military Bowl x94 Virginia Tech 33, Cincinnati 17

Its been a trying couple of years for Frank Beamer on the field. But the Hokies managed to keep several streaks intact. Virginia Tech played in its 22nd-straight bowl game and finished with 22 straight winning seasons after beating the Bearcats. The Hokies’ aerial attack struggled once again, but J.C. Coleman managed to set a Virginia Tech bowl record for rushing yards as he gained 157 yards on 25 carries and a score. The Hokies defense forced three turnovers and knocked Cincinnati gunslinger Gunner Kiel out of the game in the third quarter.

3. St. Petersburg Bowl x94 NC State 34, UCF 27

In only his second year at the helm, coach Dave Doeren finished the 2014 season on a winning note, producing five more wins than the year before. The Wolfpack won their final three games of the season for the first time since 2011, as quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw for 262 yards and a touchdown, and Shadrach Thornton and Matt Dayes combined to rush for 174 yards and two scores against UCF. NC State is moving in the right direction as the team recorded only its seventh eight-win season in the last 22 years.

2. Russell Athletic Bowl x94 Clemson 40, Oklahoma 6

Despite his struggles throughout the season, senior Cole Stoudt went out on top as the Tigers blasted the Sooners to finish with double-digit victories for the fourth consecutive season. Passing for a season-high 319 yards, Stoudt led an offense that jumped out to a 17-0 first quarter lead, and 27-0 lead at the half. The nation’s No. 1 defense held Oklahoma to 275 yards and forced five turnovers, including three interceptions by Trevor Knight. Knight finished the game with 103 yards on 17-of-37 passing.

1. Orange Bowl x94 Georgia Tech 49, Mississippi State 34

The Yellow Jackets won 11 games for only the fifth time in school history and did so by running over one of the hottest teams this year. Georgia Tech challenged the Bulldogs from the beginning and amassed over 450 rushing yards. Quarterback Justin Thomas dazzled as he rushed for 121 yards and three touchdowns, and passed for 125 yards with a score. Synjyn Days rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns, including a 69-yard score two plays into the third quarter to give Georgia Tech a 28-20 lead, breathing room and the momentum. The Jackets scored 21 unanswered points in the third to take a favorable lead.