CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Virginia Tech forced North Carolina into mistakes and punished the Tar Heels for their missed scoring chances. Now the Hokies (No. 20 BCS, No. 16 AP) are a win away from returning to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

Tyrod Taylor hit Marcus Davis with a pair of third-quarter touchdown passes to help the Hokies beat the Tar Heels 26-10 on Saturday for their eighth straight win.

Taylor threw for 249 yards while the defense locked down the Tar Heels after halftime, helping the Hokies (8-2, 6-0 ACC) improve to 4-0 in Chapel Hill since joining the league in 2004. Chris Hazley added four field goals, including a 52-yarder in the first half, that helped the Hokies while their offense failed to finish drives early.

Virginia Tech entered Saturday with a chance to wrap up the ACC's Coastal Division title for the fourth time in six seasons, but Miami's easy win at Georgia Tech earlier in the day delayed the Hokies' coronation. Virginia Tech travels to Miami next weekend and needs to win either of its final two games to reach the league title game in Charlotte on Dec. 4.

The Hokies, who opened the season with losses to Boise State and James Madison, have won five of their six league games by at least 11 points.

"I think we're playing at a high level right now, and as long as we continue to play it, I think people will eventually respect us," Taylor said. "Some people don't and some people won't, but all we've got to do is go out there and win games every week."

Virginia Tech trailed 10-9 at halftime after Hazley kicked three field goals, two when drives stalled after reaching the UNC 15 and 8. But Taylor found Davis for a 43-yard gain on the opening drive of the second half, then connected with him again for the go-ahead 11-yard score with 10:38 left in the period.

Taylor threw another touchdown to Davis later in the period, with Davis slipping behind defenders Deunta Williams and Kendric Burney for a 13-yard score that made it 26-10.