BCS Rankings 2011: Why Clemson Still Has a Shot at a National Championship

No. 8 Clemson had the scare of a lifetime when star QB Tajh Boyd crumbled into a heap in the middle of Clemson’s 36-14 romp over Boston College.

The sophomore was hit on the hip by a defender and didn’t get up. Coaches and trainers rushed to his side and he was taken out of the game. The Clemson faithful were terrified.

The season is over, right?

Not even close.

The news out of Death Valley is extremely positive and Boyd is probable for this Saturday’s important game at Maryland. Next time Boyd won’t forget to put on his hip pad.

A QB that has already thrown for 1,742 yards, 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions has single-handedly turned the Tiger football program into a powerhouse.

Is he the next Cam Newton?

The 6'1", 230-pound Boyd isn’t as big as Newton and doesn’t tuck the ball and run as much, but he has come from nowhere to put his team in a very favorable spot in the ACC.

Freshman wide receiver Sammy Watkins had seven catches for 152 yards against BC, his third game with 100 or more yards receiving. He is quickly emerging as one of the top playmakers in college football and has yet to be shutdown in his collegiate career.

The offense is averaging 35 points a game, which ranks in the top 30 in the nation.

Clemson is 6-0, with impressive wins over Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech already in the books.

With games at No. 12 Georgia Tech and No. 15 South Carolina still on deck, the Tigers are far from a shoe-in to go undefeated. Yet the strength of their remaining schedule will really come in handy when it comes to the BCS computers.

With the killer combination of Boyd and Watkins, combined with an opportunistic defense that is 23rd in the nation in points allowed and is improving every week, the Tigers are the hands-down favorites to win the ACC.

With Alabama-LSU and Oklahoma-Oklahoma State still on tap, along with other big games for the seven teams in front of them…the Tigers are going to be a contender for the right to go to the BCS championship game by the time snow begins to fall.

Don’t sleep on Clemson.