2007 record: 9-4, 5-3 (2nd-tie in ACC Atlantic)
2007 bowl: Lost to Auburn 23-20 in Chick-fil-A Bowl
2007 final AP/coaches' ranking: 21/22
Coach: Tommy Bowden (69-42, 9 years)
Offensive coordinator: Vic Koenning (3rd year)
Defensive coordinator: Rob Spence (4th year)
Returning offensive starters: 8
Returning defensive starters: 8
Location: Clemson, S.C.
Stadium: Clemson Memorial Stadium (grass, 80,301)
Last league title: 1991
2008 Schedule: [view]
2007 Statistics: [view]

Offensive: Clemson has the nation’s best assortment of skill-position players. The Tigers have not one, but two players who are capable of leading the ACC in rushing. Senior James Davis is a proven commodity (1,064 yards). Then there’s junior C.J. Spiller, who has averaged 6.2 yards per carry in two seasons while already scoring 10 touchdowns of 50-plus yards. It’s difficult to deploy such backs — only one football, you know — but the Tigers also possess an above-average passing game. Senior quarterback Cullen Harper surpassed everyone’s expectations (27 touchdown passes, just six interceptions). And his targets — seniors Aaron Kelly (school-record 88 receptions) and Tyler Grisham (60 catches) — are superb. There’s so much firepower, it’s sometimes easy to forget Clemson must replace four starters on the offensive line.

Defensive: Clemson has the best secondary in the ACC — and one of the nation’s top units — with senior safeties Chris Clemons and Michael Hamlin leading the way. The defensive line has solid interior play with senior Rashaad Jackson and Dorell Scott, but there’s also huge upside with junior defensive end Ricky Sapp and freshman DaQuan Bowers, a future superstar. The question marks are at linebacker, where senior Cortney Vincent was kicked off the team during spring practice. That made things even more tenous in a corps that already needed to replace Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie, who had combined for 65 career starts.

Specialists: The Tigers need better production from senior place-kicker Mark Buchholz, who made just 61.1 percent of his field-goal attempt and went just 1-for-5 from beyond 50 yards. Spiller is a dangerous return man who could become one of the nation’s best.

Coaching: Tommy Bowden and “hot seat’’ have been synonymous terms, almost since he took the helm at Clemson in 1999. Although never winning a league title or getting to a major bowl game, Bowden has methodically pulled Clemson’s program back to the brink of an elite level. It appears he has the Tigers ready to turn the corner. And after a brief reported flirtation with the Arkansas job, Bowden was rewarded with a four-year contract extension.

Game of the year Aug. 30 vs. Alabama at Atlanta Clemson’s priority is winning its first ACC title since 1991. But the non-conference, neutral-site game against Alabama will be an early indicator of Clemson’s intentions on making a national-title run.

Heisman Hopefuls: Ordinarily, Davis would have a shot at Heisman notice, but Spiller’s presence probably means he won’t get the opportunity to roll up huge numbers.

Overview: Historically, Bowden’s Clemson teams have teased and tantalized, sometimes jumping to a quick start, but usually deflating when it mattered most, often against inferior competition. In the ACC’s expansion era, Clemson never has had a better opportunity at capturing the league title and earning a BCS bowl bid. If not now, when?

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