Thank goodness the Matt Ryan-for-Heisman talk has died down. Sure, Ryan will be a high selection in the NFL Draft this spring and the senior had the Boston College Eagles on the brink of a No. 1 ranking a few weeks ago. But Ryan isn’t even the best quarterback in the ACC, let alone the nation.

That distinction belongs to Clemson’s Cullen Harper, who has dazzled defenses by throwing 26 TDs with just four interceptions heading into this weekend’s showdown with Ryan and the now-slumping Eagles in Death Valley. I haven’t heard anybody mention Harper for Heisman. Has a nice ring to it anyway, doesn’t it? 

Tommy Bowden was as smug as ever during ACC Operation Football at Pinehurst back in July – and with good reasons. Bowden knew he had the best running back combo in the ACC in James Davis and C.J. Spiller, and a top-notch defense. Both have produced with flying colors with the Tigers ranked fifth in the nation in total defense and Davis second in the league in rushing. And remember, a solid ground attack and great defenses usually win championships.

But Bowden knew little about how Harper would produce, let alone shine in big-time games. Harper has two remarkable streaks sandwiched around Clemson’s two losses. In the opening four wins, he threw 11 TDs with no interceptions. Over his last four wins. He’s tossed one interception and 12 TDs. That’s 23 touchdown passes and just one pick in Clemson’s eight victories. Those are some pretty heady numbers. And behind the junior from Alpharetta, Ga., the Tigers have scored 30 or more points in seven of their eight wins.

The good news for Harper and his ACC Player of the Year candidacy Saturday is he’ll be facing the 109th-ranked passing defense in the nation. The bad news for Ryan is he’ll be matched up against the third-ranked pass defense, and a pass rush that will be even better than recent opponents Virginia Tech and Florida State.

A Clemson win and the Tigers will be off to Jacksonville as yet another surprise winner of the Atlantic Division. Wake Forest stole the thunder a season ago, but couldn’t get by Clemson last week  Now, the Tigers and Harper are on center stage, and appear ready to take that “next step” Clemson fans have been waiting for Bowden and Co. to make for close to a decade.

Interesting fact: Clemson has lost the ball just 10 times in 10 games, three less than any ACC team.