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Clemson opens ACC play vs. NC State

Sep 13, 2008 - 10:03 AM NC State (1-1) at No. 23 Clemson (1-1), 12:00 pm EDT

CLEMSON, South Carolina (Ticker) -- Clemson began the 2008 season with aspirations to win the Atlantic Coast Conference and possibly contend for a national title. Despite falling flat on their faces in the season opener, the Tigers still have a chance to accomplish at least one of those goals.

Tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the ACC, the 23rd-ranked Tigers open league play Saturday afternoon when they host North Carolina State.

Clemson (1-1) was picked to win the ACC for the first time in coach Tommy Bowden's 10-year tenure at the school. The Tigers also were deemed a potential national title contender, as evidenced by their preseason No. 9 ranking in the USA Today coaches' poll.

But the Tigers were completely throttled by then-unranked Alabama, 34-10, in their season-opening game at the Georgia Dome - a loss that likely dashed Clemson's bid for a national championship.

However, the Tigers still can win their first ACC title since 1991 and reach a BCS bowl for the first time in school history. They begin that pursuit Saturday against North Carolina State (1-1) in a rivalry that is more than 100 years old.

Clemson owns a 48-27-1 record against the Wolfpack and has won the last four meetings between the schools, including last year's 42-20 victory in Raleigh.

James Davis rushed for 166 yards while C.J. Spiller ran for 114 - including a 44-yard touchdown scamper - for the Tigers, who finished with a school-record 608 yards of total offense.

North Carolina State has not won in this series - which began in 1899 - since 2003, when Phillip Rivers led the Wolfpack to a 17-15 victory. Clemson has not won five straight games against the Wolfpack since 1981-85.

Seven days after losing to Alabama, Clemson bounced back with a 45-17 triumph over The Citadel. Davis rushed for 107 yards while Spiller ran for three TDs, as Clemson racked up 252 yards on the ground.

NC State, which also suffered an embarrassing season-opening loss, rebounded last Saturday with a 34-24 triumph over William & Mary.

Harrison Beck threw two TD passes for the Wolfpack, who were shut out, 34-0, by South Carolina in their season opener.