ESPN ACC Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

	Doug Benc/Getty Images
	FSU quarterback Christian Ponder scrambled for 144 yards against Miami.

In a game that featured two talented but young quarterbacks, the team that had the better running game -- Florida State -- won. Barely.

The surprise was that the Seminoles' quarterback was so much a part of it.

Christian Ponder ran for 144 yards in FSU's 41-39 win over Miami. Antone Smith rushed for a career-best four touchdowns.

If you must compare quarterbacks, go ahead, but it's still too early in their careers to make that call. Ponder had the better day today, but until both he and Robert Marve become more seasoned, inconsistency should be expected. One might eventually distance himself from the other, or they both might just turn out to be two pretty good quarterbacks, the latter being the more likely.

Of all the young talent on the field today at Dolphin Stadium, the difference in the game was a veteran -- Smith. The one thing we learned from this game: He can be a leader on Florida State's offense and the player the staff had expected and needed him to be.

This was a bizzare, mistake-laden, rain-drenched game that revealed little about both teams other than Florida State held on to win the bragging rights and Miami sunk further into the hole it's been trying to climb out of since last season. The two programs are in such similar situations right now that they need to play everyone else in the ACC to find out where they truly stand.

In Miami's case, it's behind North Carolina. In Florida State's case, it's behind Wake Forest.

How much better is Florida State than Miami, Ponder than Marve? Apparently, just two points.