The Atlantic Coast Conference has been desperate to reclaim some national stature since the fadeout of Florida State. What the conference needed was a program with superior talent that could challenge Florida, Texas, Alabama, Southern California and the other college football behemoths, and get into the title game of the Bowl Championship Series. The ACC had such a team, a program with swagger and resources. Until Saturday. No. 9 Miami, which had impressive victories over nationally ranked FSU and Georgia Tech, was clobbered in drenching rain in Lane Stadium by No. 11 Virginia Tech, 31-7, before a crowd of 66,233. The Hurricanes, who play Oklahoma in their next game, their fourth against a ranked opponent, had their heralded passing game shut down by Virginia Tech's ferocious rush and quick-closing defenders. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris completed only nine of 25 passes for 150 yards and had one throw intercepted. Virginia Tech (3-1) has won three games in a row since losing its season opener to No. 3 Alabama, 34-24. The Hokies looked much better than they did against the Crimson Tide, displaying a furious defense, solid offense and, as usual, strong special-teams play that came up with a blocked punt, which resulted in a touchdown. The Hokies, who were rocked by a season-ending injury to the star tailback Darren Evans in the preseason, have a new star tailback in Ryan Williams, a redshirt freshman from Manassas, Va., who carried 35 times for 151 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed only four passes, but he made them count for 98 yards. A week after the Hokies beat Nebraska, a program with five national championships, they waxed Miami, another program with five national titles. Miami was starting to enter the picture as a national championship contender because of its passing game, which was successful because Harris had time to throw. He was sacked just once in two games. Virginia Tech got to him on the first series. The senior roverback Dorian Porch hit Harris from behind on a blitz, Harris fumbled, and Porch recovered at the Miami 11. Virginia Tech scored in three plays, with Williams going in from the 2. Harris, who completed 69 percent of his passes in the first two games of the season, was not going to be allowed to throw deep down the middle, which had become a signature play in the pro-style offense of Mark Whipple, the Hurricanes' offensive coordinator. The Hokies blitzed from either side or up the middle, and Harris was moved off his spot in the pocket. Harris completed only 2 of 9 passes for 38 yards in the first half. Miami had just 3 first downs in the first half and 54 yards of offense. Taylor threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Jarrett Boykin with 4 minutes 46 seconds left in the first quarter to make the score 14-0. Matt Reidy scored after picking up a blocked punt at the Miami 1 in the second quarter to give the Hokies a 21-0 lead. The joyous crowd paid no attention to the hammering rain. Miami could not generate a running game to make Virginia Tech pay for its aggressive rush. The Hokies came into the game ranked 107th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in run defense and were last in the ACC (200.3 yards allowed per game), but they rallied Saturday behind Porch and outside linebacker Cody Grimm. The Hurricanes had just 16 yards rushing in the first half and were outgained, 242 yards to 54. Miami finished with 59 rushing yards. Everything seemed to go against Miami. It lost the starting strong safety Randy Phillips in the first half with an undisclosed injury. The Hurricanes were already playing without defensive right end Andrew Smith and defensive right tackle Marcus Fortson. Even when Virginia Tech made a mistake in the first half, Miami could not capitalize. A high snap went off the hands of Virginia Tech punter Brent Bowden and was recovered at the Hokies' 23, but Miami had a penalty, then a sack, and wound up punting the ball back to the home team. Down by 21-0, the Hurricanes tried to make a game of it in the third quarter. They zipped down the field on a 46-yard drive, with Harris completing passes of 13 and 31 yards, and scored on Javarris James's 1-yard run. The Hurricanes forced a punt and started moving the ball again, but then the momentum abruptly disappeared. Tight end Jimmy Graham dropped a third-down pass that would have given Miami a first down at the Virginia Tech 30, and the Hurricanes were deflated. 