Clemson Tigers News

With births to conference championship games and outright claims to the top spots in other conferences on the line, Week 12 looks like a winner. So, let?s skip the preamble and get right to the games.

CLEMSON, S.C.-Clemson's offense has become much more than speedy stars C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford.

CLEMSON, S.C.-When C.J. Spiller stands beside Howard's Rock for his solo, Senior Day run down Clemson's famed hill on Saturday, he won't think about the friends he's made, the highlight reels he's filled or the nearly four miles he's run since picking the Tigers four seasons ago.

Virginia @ Clemson game preview

Sporting News staff reports North Carolina State coach Tom O'Brien has been told by Doug Rhoads, head of ACC football officials, that a replay official should have overturned a call O'Brien challenged in Saturday's 43-23 loss to Clemson. Clemson running back C.J. Spiller was stripped of the ball on the play—N.C. State recovered it—but was ruled down by officials on the field. Clemson was leading 24-14. Two plays later, Spiller scored on... a 16-yard run to give the Tigers a 30-14 lead with 7:56 left in the third quarter.more>>

Sporting News' Dave Curtis analyzes what Wednesday's buzz means to college football.  And the award goes to... C.J. Spiller? Through 11 weeks, the only quarterback in America who deserves Heisman Trophy hype is Boise State's Kellen Moore. In a perfect world, the debate would center around the best defensive players—try balancing Rolando McClain's role in Alabama's national championship run against Ndamukong Suh's defensive and special teams dominance at Nebraska. But most of the voters have set... their thinking on autopilot, eliminating any non-quarterback or running back around Labor Day.  If Heisman voters thought about, C.J. Spiller would be in the running. So let's look at Spiller, who's carrying Clemson toward its first ACC championship game appearance. He ran for 100 yards against TCU. He racked up 100 yards receiving against Miami. He returned a punt for a touchdown against Boston College, a kickoff for a touchdown against Maryland. And he received the ultimate endorsement from Florida State. "He might be," coach Bobby Bowden said on a teleconference, "the most dangerous player in the country. … I don't get a (Heisman) vote, but if I did, I'd vote for him." Memo to Mangino: Call Tony Dungy, college football's supreme problem solver. In a season short on story lines, Dungy's role as Consultant to the Troubled in this sport continues to emerge. Got a player who clocked an opponent and nearly tried to fight some fans in the end zone? Make Dungy one of his mentors. How about a head coach who turned a New Mexico staff meeting into UFC 174? See above.   He even counseled Louisville's entire team through the abyss (although that situation hasn't exactly improved).   At least from a public relations standpoint, Dungy's cross-trained reputation as competitive coach and peaceful man have made any situation with his name attached seem less dire. Well, Dungy's on board. That situation will get better. So who's next in the "Help Needed" line?   Kansas coach Mark Mangino sure needs a buoy to which to cling. The head Jayhawk spent his second straight day under attack from former players, most anonymous, who have come forward with tales of what they consider mistreatment. The more the evidence mounts, the less likely Mangino figures to keep his job. Perhaps no one can help, not even the man who solves everything in college football. Mediocre SEC Here's a note from some friends in the desert—Ole Miss is a midweek four-point favorite over visiting LSU on Saturday. OK, these are the Rebels that beat Tennessee, which beat Georgia, which beat Arkansas, which beat South Carolina, which beat Kentucky, which beat Auburn, which beat ... Ole Miss. When did the biggest, baddest conference in the land turn into the ACC? Related Links Samson: Gameball for Ole Miss' McCluster WWL: Mangino, other coaches losing pull Conference Call: Making sense of the SEC What's the difference between LSU, the consensus No. 3 team in the league, and Kentucky at No. 10. A conference replay official probably couldn't tell the difference. The parity makes things especially tricky for the league's bowl partners, which must figure out how to fill out their games with these so-so teams. Tennessee, likely set for a 7-5 finish, might back into the Outback Bowl. Look for big interest in an 8-4 Mississippi team back in the Cotton Bowl. Nobody's better than Florida and Alabama (though some teams are probably neck-and-neck). But after that, the SEC loses its annual label as undisputed best league in the land. This story appears in Nov. 19's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Emotions in Clemson will be running high this Saturday when the Virginia Cavaliers come to town. The intensely loyal Clemson fan base has been waiting 18 years for a shot at the ACC title. On Saturday, the Tigers can punch their ticket to their first ever ACC championship game.

Saturday is Clemson's last home game of the season, against the University of Virginia.? The game will celebrate Military Appreciation Day.