Notes: Tigers will open competition at kicker

Jackson apologizes for misses; Clemson will face N.C. State at noon Saturday

CLEMSON - Junior kicker Richard Jackson addressed Clemson teammates in the locker room Saturday night, apologizing for four missed kicks against Florida State.

Whether Jackson will have the chance to atone for his miscues Saturday at North Carolina State remains to be seen.

Dabo Swinney said Sunday an open competition will be held this week between Jackson and redshirt freshman Spencer Benton.

"We'll try to make it competitive this week, see who can be most consistent, and that's who'll start the game," Swinney said. "We have to get back on track."

Jackson missed two extra points and pushed field goals of 26 and 38 yards wide right, although poor snaps from redshirt freshman snapper Matt Skinner might have contributed to the misses.

Benton also missed his lone point-after try.

Benton was the preseason front-runner for the starting job until a groin injury hampered him throughout August camp.

After connecting on 11-of-13 field goals through the first three games - including 52- and 53-yarders - Jackson's reliability has dipped. He has made 6-of-12 field goals since, with four misses inside of 41 yards.

Early to rise. Clemson's long-awaited return to night games was short-lived. The N.C. State contest will kick off at noon on Raycom, the ACC announced. ABC and ESPN had exercised a six-day option to hold off setting start times on four ACC games until after last weekend's games.

Rank and file. Winners of four in a row, the Tigers inched into the AP Top 25 poll at No. 24, the first time they have been ranked since they started 3-1 in September 2008.

Those aren't purple uniforms. Swinney described Clemson as "pretty bumped and bruised" after its 40-24 victory against FSU.

He listed six regulars among the injured, although he said all should play at N.C. State: cornerback Chris Chancellor (sprained ankle), linebacker Brandon Maye (mild knee sprain), tight end Michael Palmer (hamstring strain), corner Crezdon Butler (hip flexor), fullback Chad Diehl (bruised shoulder) and running back Jamie Harper (deep thigh bruise).

"They realize what's at stake," Swinney said. "They have 13 days left of ACC play. This is just grind-it-out time."

Chancellor did not return after his second-quarter injury and was seen on crutches later, but Swinney said Chancellor looked much better Sunday.

As for sophomore end Da'Quan Bowers, who sat out with a sprained MCL, Swinney said he is day-to-day and questionable for the contest.

Also, senior running back C.J. Spiller is "dinged up," but Swinney did not think Spiller suffered any injuries additional to his lingering turf toe.

Side trip. Swinney, tight ends coach Danny Pearman and associate athletics director for football administration Woody McCorvey flew to Texas on Sunday afternoon for the funeral of Gerald Jack, whom former Alabama coach Gene Stallings considered his right-hand man and best friend. All three coached alongside Jack.