Clemson enjoying each step while eying national title

Clemson is eying the ultimate prize this college football season, its first national title since 1981. But that doesn’t mean Dabo Swinney’s club isn’t celebrating its accomplishments along the way.

The Tigers have a chance to check off another goal Saturday against Pitt. Clemson can clinch the ACC Atlantic Division for the second year in a row.

The victory would also give the second-ranked Tigers a 10-win season for the sixth straight year.

“That’s the level of consistency that we dreamed about and wanted to be known for,” Swinney said. “There’s a tremendous opportunity there. It’s another division title, but it’s a chance to go play for the ACC championship and work through our goals. It would be special.”

Saturday will also be Senior Day for a record-breaking class that has taken Clemson’s program to new heights.

The group has a record of 44-6, an .880 winning percentage, which is the best in school history. The class also has a 25-1 record at Death Valley.

“What this group has done over the last few years since they got here with Ben Boulware and even the young guys who have come in and jumped on board, it’s special,” Swinney said. “It would be a great way to send these guys out and be division champs and have an opportunity to play in the ACC championship game.”

Clemson senior cornerback Cordrea Tankersley expects future Tigers teams to continue to have success and raise the bar for what is expected at Clemson.

“This program is set basically forever,” he said. “People are going to want to come to Clemson now, one of the top power 5 programs in the country. We can play with the best of them, Alabama, Michigan, you name it.”

While Clemson’s program has taken massive strides over the past six years, Swinney said Clemson is nowhere near where it wants to be.

The Tigers haven’t won back-to-back ACC titles in 28 years but are the favorites to do so this season.

Clemson and Virginia Tech are each one win away from clinching their divisions and will be heavily favored in their final two conference games.

The Tigers would likely be picked by most to top the Hokies in the ACC title game.

This story was originally published November 11, 2016 at 8:58 PM with the headline "Clemson enjoying each step while eying national title."