Richt’s Canes lose third in row

Virginia Tech sacks Kaaya eight times in its 37-16 victory.

Jerod Evans threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third, and Virginia Tech beat Miami 37-16 on Thursday night in Blacksburg, Va.

Evans hit Bucky Hodges with scoring throws of 7 and 12 yards, and Travon McMillian ran for 131 yards for the Hokies (5-2, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who kept pace with Coastal Division-leading North Carolina in the chase for a spot in the ACC title game.

Brad Kaaya threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns for the Hurricanes (4-3, 1-3), but he also was sacked eight times as they lost their third in a row.

The Hokies limited Miami to 42 rushing yards on 29 carries thanks to the sacks, which cost Kaaya 55 yards.

Woody Baron had three of the sacks for Virginia Tech, and fullback Sam Rogers threw his first career touchdown pass in the third quarter.

LSU: The No. 25 Tigers’ offense has discovered a knack for big plays even without Leonard Fournette, and just in time to run a gauntlet of ranked SEC opponents.

Now the Tigers are curious to see if they won’t fill up highlight shows even more if their fearsome running back returns from his ankle injury for Saturday night’s clash with No. 23 Mississippi.

Much of the credit for LSU’s newfound explosiveness through the air — and on the ground — has gone to new offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger, a former Tigers quarterback who was promoted to his current post when Ed Orgeron took over as interim coach after the firing of Les Miles in late September.

“Coach Ensminger is aggressive. We knew he was going to take his shots down the field,” said LSU receiver D.J. Chark, who had an 80-yard touchdown catch and 19-yard scoring run in a 45-10 victory over Southern Mississippi last weekend. “The wide receivers did something Saturday we’ve been waiting for. Coach gave us the opportunity to make plays. You never know when those opportunities are going to come. We didn’t fall on our faces. It really worked out for us.”

In the two games since LSU’s coaching change (the other was a 42-7 win over Missouri), LSU has scored seven touchdowns of 20 or more yards. Five of those came in the second half last week, and three of them went for more than 60 yards. Some of the big gains have come from running back Derrius Guice, a fast, elusive ball carrier who is finding bigger gaps in the defense because of the way LSU’s offense has begun to spread defenses out. He’s had touchdown runs of 61, 42 and 37 yards in the past two games.

“Offensively they are different right now,” Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said. “They are very multiple. They give you a lot of different sets, staying balanced, using the skill at receiver; whether it is through speed sweeps or quick throws or shots down the field. Their run game has always been good — and still is.”

It appears Fournette will join the mix after practicing this week, but chances are he won’t resume the workhorse role that saw him delivering or taking one pounding after another while often running into the teeth of defenses that were aligned primarily to stop him. Too many other skill players on LSU’s offense have emerged in recent weeks to stop spreading the ball around. “Given the success that everyone’s having, I’m pretty sure we’re going to work him in strategically,” senior receiver Travin Dural said. “We’re not going to overload him.”

Big Ten: Home-field advantage was nonexistent in the conference last weekend; all six visiting teams left town with victories for the first time since 2009.

The most impressive victory might have been Ohio State’s come-from-behind effort over then-No. 8 Wisconsin. The No. 2 Buckeyes (6-0) return to the road this week to play at Penn State.

A win over the 4-2 Nittany Lions would give the Buckeyes a Big Ten-record 18 consecutive conference road wins.

STEVE HELBER / ASSOCIATED PRESS Miami coach Mark Richt watches his players warm up before the Hurricanes were routed by Virginia Tech 37-16 on Thursday.