Clemson hasn't won an ACC championship since 1991, but the Tigers have a great chance at ending that drought this season.

Few teams can match the firepower the Tigers can muster offensively, and seven starters return on defense, including the entire secondary.

They have an explosive one-two punch in the offensive backfield, among the best in the country it could be argued, in James Davis and C.J. Spiller; outstanding receivers in Aaron Kelly, Jacoby Ford and Tyler Grisham; and a record-setting quarterback in Cullen Harper.

Defensively, the line has talent and experience, and the secondary is among the best in the country. Chris Chancellor and "CAT" safety Michael Hamlin had four interceptions each to lead the team last year.

Questions?

The big one offensively is whether the line will develop. Only one starter, center Thomas Austin, returns, though another, Barry Humphries, has starting experience. It didn't help that redshirt freshman David Smith, expected to compete for a starting slot at guard, missed the first week because of a toe injury sustained during summer workouts.

"We have good, talented players on our offensive line, but they are inexperienced," coach Tommy Bowden says. "It is a position where you need repetition. These preseason practices will tell us how complicated we will make the assignments on offense. We don't want to put our players in a position where they are indecisive and hesitant."

Defensively, the question is at linebacker. All three starters from last year -- Cortney Vincent, Nick Watkins and Tremaine Billie -- departed. In addition, Antonio Clay left campus in the spring and is looking to transfer while defensive tackle Rashaad Jackson tore a quadriceps tendon and will miss roughly two months.

Of the returnees, junior Kavell Conner and sophomore Scotty Cooper have two starts each. Redshirt freshman Brandon Maye is considered a top prospect.

Even with those questions, however, Clemson looks on paper to be the conference favorite. To solidify that status and turn potential into reality, the Tigers face one final question: Will they be able to avoid the kind of pratfall they've had in big games in recent seasons?

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