Two ACC events you thought you would never see:

Tommy Bowden finally winning the conference in his father Bobby's last season coaching in it.

Neither of those is a certainty, but the mere possibility is why this tale of two Bowdens is the most compelling storyline in an otherwise underwhelming conference.

Clemson's Cullen Harper: 'It's time ... to step up and win a championship.' (US Presswire)

That's another way of saying Clemson has the talent to win its first ACC title in 17 years. Florida State, meanwhile, is just trying to become relevant again. Clemson was picked by the ACC media to win it for the first time since 1991, the year before Florida State joined the league.

"If it can't be me, naturally I'd like it to be him," Bobby Bowden said. "I hope he's successful. I also hope I beat him. I would pick him. ... If they get any coaching at all, they ought to win it."

Ought is the key word. In previous years, Tommy Bowden has done a pretty good job of putting his own employment in question with unfulfilled expectations and saving his neck with late-season rallies. All in all it has meant a fine record at Clemson (69-42), but no ACC titles.

In his nine years, Tommy's Tigers have been just good enough at not being good enough. Examples:

• In 2000, Clemson started 8-0 but finished at 9-3 after losing three of the final four, including a 54-7 downer to daddy.

• A four-game losing streak in 2004 was followed by a three-game losing streak the next season. Tommy saved his job (arguably) by closing a combined 11-2 in those two seasons.

• In 2006, there was a 7-1 start and a top 10 ranking. Clemson finished 1-4, losing to Kentucky in the Music City Bowl.

• Last season, all the Tigers needed was a win over Boston College to get to the ACC championship game. But some guy named Matt Ryan helped BC score 17 fourth-quarter points for a 20-17 Eagles win.

"I heard last year. I heard it the year before," quarterback Cullen Harper told reporters last month. "And now this is a year when we have to quit talking about it and just do it. It's time for Clemson to step up and win a championship."

Clemson certainly is loaded but ... the conjunction has to be added because of the program's recent history. Harper leads perhaps the nation's best backfield. Senior James Davis has averaged more than 1,000 yards per season in his career while C.J. Spiller is more of a scatback in the "Thunder and Lightning" attack.

Any sustained success will come only if the offensive line meshes together. Tommy has to replace four starters. That's never a good thing when you're being picked to win the conference. On defense, star defensive end Phillip Merling is gone but Clemson honks are falling all over themselves waiting to get a look at super freshman Da'Quan Bowers.

"It's a position I'm not accustomed to, and our team is not accustomed to," Tommy said. "Every head coach internalizes that question. That's the million-dollar question: 'How is your team going to respond to the expectations?'"

If Tommy is going to fulfill those expectations, it almost certainly will come at the expense of his father. The teams meet Nov. 8 in Tallahassee with Clemson having won four of the past five Bowden Bowls.

Things look much bleaker for the Seminoles, who are a couple of steps (at least) below the FSU programs that finished in the top four for 14 consecutive seasons. Bobby hinted before the season that a third consecutive 7-6 season would have previously fawning FSU fans ready to run him out of town.

"Our recruiting is not bad," said Bobby, who has a reported 18 commitments for 2009. "We need a couple of more big-time players playing for us. We used to have Warrick Dunn and Charlie Ward. We used to have Peter Warrick and Chris Weinke and Derrick Brooks and Marvin Jones. We've got to get back to that."

There is a succession plan in place for 78-year-old Bobby, but what will be there for Jimbo Fisher? FSU faces an NCAA investigation involving academic fraud discovered last year. Approximately 10 players will be held out of the first three games as part of a self-imposed penalty. It shouldn't make any difference against Western Carolina and Chattanooga but the ACC opener against Wake Forest could put the Seminoles behind right away in the Atlantic Division.

How far has FSU fallen? Jim Grobe's Demon Deacons have beaten the once-mighty 'Noles twice in a row -- for the first time.

"I had several ADs call me last year to ask me about coaches and ask me who I'd recommend," Bobby said. "Jim Grobe, get him out of the conference."

That might the only way Papa Bowden outlasts his son and the rest of the ACC up and comers.

Offensive Player of the Year

Cullen Harper, QB, Clemson: Tommy Bowden has coached up a few quarterbacks in his day -- Shaun King, Woody Dantzler, Charlie Whitehurst and now Harper. All of them have been different and, at times, great. Harper turned down a shot at the NFL to guide this Tigers team for the ages. His 27 touchdowns last season set a school record.

Defensive Player of the Year

Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech: A pass rushing specialist last year, Johnson is predicted by some to have an All-American season. He is the defensive equivalent of an all-purpose guy on offense. Last year, he had four sacks and blocked two kicks. New coach Paul Johnson would be wise to use him all over the front.

Predicted order of finish (Atlantic Division)

1. Clemson: The biggest tease since Heather Locklear. There are no excuses for the Tigers and Tommy Bowden. Clemson has perhaps the nation's best backfield. The world is waiting for freshman all-everything defensive end Bowers to debut. The mood will be set if Clemson beats Alabama in the opener at the Georgia Dome.

2. Wake Forest: Could the Deacons become a national power? Grobe has rejected overtures from other programs and now seems to be a lifer in Winston-Salem. Wake should be 6-0 when it goes to Miami on Oct. 25.

3. Boston College: Chris Crane is no Matt Ryan and these aren't the Eagles of 2007. BC won't win the division but will stay in the hunt. Clemson had better watch out when it visits on Nov. 1.

4. Florida State: The offense continues to sputter. The season starts out with those suspensions due to the academic scandal and thankfully, Myron Rolle isn't one of them. The junior safety is one of the conference's best players (and persons).

5. N.C. State: The second year of the Tom O'Brien Experience starts with only four returning starters on defense. A repeat of last season's 5-7 seems likely.

6. Maryland: New offensive coordinator James Franklin takes over the play-calling duties and something has to change. Maryland has finished with a losing record in three of the past four years -- it ended 2-5 last season.

Predicted order of finish (Coastal Division)

1. Virginia Tech: Only 11 starters return but we're not exactly asking Frank Beamer to win the SEC here. There is enough talent left to allow the Hokies to defend their ACC title. You know the special teams are going to be good.

2. Georgia Tech: Paul Johnson is pissed off enough and the option will be confusing enough for the Yellow Jackets to be the surprise of the ACC. Critics keep asking if P.J.'s option will work in a major conference. His answer in 2008: Why wouldn't it?

3. Miami: Still can't get that 48-0 loss to Virginia out of my head. My God, guys, it was the last game in the Orange Bowl. If the 'Canes can't get fired up for that, how are we supposed to buy in? Watch out for early road trips to Florida and Texas A&M.

4. North Carolina: We'll know about the Tar Heels early -- they play Virginia Tech to open the ACC schedule. This is a program on the upswing, having lost six games by seven points or less.

5. Virginia: Take away two first-round draft choices (Chris Long, Branden Albert) and add Southern California for the opener. Not the recipe to back up a 9-4 season. With only 11 returning starters, the Cavaliers will struggle.

6. Duke: David Cutcliffe has added class and accountability to this program. The Devils won't go bowling but they will win their first game since the ACC switched to divisions after the 2004 season (0-24 since). The Sept. 27 Virginia game could be the Coastal battle for the basement.