Climbing out of the Valley

CLEMSON -- No ranked teams, three missed extra-point attempts by the winner and only one Bowden involved in the Clemson-Florida State game Saturday night at Death Valley.

It wasn't a sellout.

But the soon-to-be-ranked Tigers' 40-24 Atlantic Coast Conference victory came with lots of solid answers.

To these questions:

--Did Clemson separate itself in the race for the Atlantic Division title?

Absolutely, and suddenly the climb out of Death Valley to an ACC Championship Game berth looks less like the annual trek up the side of the Grand Canyon in sleet and more like a gimme putt.

A dropped touchdown pass, the missed extra points, missed field goal tries, a pick six and all.

"We never got down on each other," quarterback Kyle Parker said, "even after the mistakes."

These Tigers, playing better as the season gets longer, are a dogged and focused group.

"The defense came up with so many big plays," guard Thomas Austin said. "And then we were just very resilient all-around and on both sides of the ball."

Heisman pose

--Can Clemson do more than get to Tampa? Can the Tigers win their first ACC title since 1991?