No. 2 Clemson poised for another title run

CLEMSON, S.C. — No. 2 Clemson made it through its difficult start unblemished and now the defending Atlantic Coast Conference and national champs look poised for another title run.

Not that the Tigers are all that interested in talking much about it.

Clemson co-offense coordinator Tony Elliott said the team is focused on next week, not the next three months.

“I don’t expect that to change. It’s the quality of the young men that we have, the character we have, the fundamentals of our program that everything’s earned,” Elliott said Monday. “That we earn everything every day.”

And that means not looking past the next opponent, which for the Tigers (3-0, 1-0 ACC) is Boston College (1-2, 0-1) at home Saturday.

Elliott said his offense had so many questions entering the season with seven new starters, including quarterback Kelly Bryant who was taking over for two-time Heisman Trophy finalist Deshaun Watson, that coaches were eager to see them in action. They knew they would get answers against top-15 opponents in Auburn and Louisville.

Clemson’s defense was dominant with 11 sacks in defeating Auburn 14-6. Then this past week, Bryant led a dynamic offense and outplayed Heisman winner Lamar Jackson in the Tigers’ 47-21 dismantling of the Cardinals.

“These guys like each other,” coach Dabo Swinney said. “They’re hungry. They pull for each other and practice the right way. We have the type of depth you dream of as a coach.”

Clemson’s depth might not get tested much the next couple of months, but a lot of players are expected to get playing time. The Tigers will be favored to win — many by sizeable margins — the rest of their regular season games. The biggest challenges should be at No. 13 Virginia Tech in two weeks and No. 12 Florida State at Death Valley on Nov. 11.