ERST LESEN! » A POINT:Six more pivotal players: Trey Edmu

ATLANTA -- With an ACC showdown looming, Clemson is still lacking the sort of performance that would show its capable of making another run at the national championship.The No. 5 Tigers get a chance to sharpen their credentials when they take on unbeaten Georgia Tech in a prime-time game Thursday.This would be a good time for Clemson (3-0) to step up its game, facing a team it hasnt beaten on the road since 2003 and with an even bigger contest coming up on the first day of October against third-ranked Louisville.All I know is weve been treating every game as if it was the national championship, running back Wayne Gallman said.It sure hasnt looked that way.Clemson went down to the final play at Auburn before holding on for a 19-13 victory, and the Tigers had a surprisingly tough time in a 30-24 win over Troy. Last week, they blew out lower-division and South Carolina State 59-0 in what looked more like a scrimmage.Georgia Tech (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) has yet to face a team of Clemsons caliber, but the Yellow Jackets should get a boost of confidence from their success at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Theyve won five straight over the Tigers in Atlanta, including a 28-6 victory two years ago when quarterback Deshaun Watson went down with a knee injury.We havent won down there in a while, Gallman said. Its time to change that.Watson, who grew up in the sprawling suburbs north of Atlanta, bounced back from his injury to become one of college footballs most dynamic players last season, leading Clemson to 14 straight wins before a heartbreaking 45-40 loss to Alabama in the national championship games.Then theres Georgia Tech, which struggled to a 3-9 mark a year ago.The Yellow Jackets are eager to show theyve turned things around. A victory over one of the nations top teams would certainly accomplish that.I look at this as a great opportunity, coach Paul Johnson said. If we play as hard as we can and execute, well be in the game. We can play with them. Weve played with them before.---Some other things to watch for when Clemson takes on Georgia Tech:FAST VS. SLOW: Clemson runs a hurry-up scheme that is designed to keep defenses off balance and get as many plays as possible for an offense with a plethora of dynamic weapons. The Tigers are averaging about 80 plays per game -- nearly 20 more than Georgia Techs run-oriented scheme. The Yellow Jackets will do their best to slow the game to a crawl. The offense needs to be able to run the ball consistently, control the clock and keep them off the field, Johnson said.NEW QUARTERBACK? If Clemson shuts down Georgia Techs triple-option offense, give credit to Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables -- and not just because of what he does on game day. Venables likes running the scout team and acting the part of Yellow Jackets quarterback Justin Thomas, no easy task given the uniqueness of the triple-option offense. Linebacker Ben Boulware said seeing Venables on the opposite side of the line usually means a couple of hard shoves. I think he likes when we do that, Boulware said.THURSDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Georgia Tech has struggled to sell out 55,000-seat Bobby Dodd Stadium, which often diminishes the teams home-field advantage. But the place comes alive under the lights, creating the sort of atmosphere that has produced some of the Yellow Jackets most memorable performances. None more so than last years stunning 22-16 upset of Florida State, which was Techs lone ACC win.HANDS ON THE BALL: Clemson will be without clutch receiver Hunter Renfrow, who had TD catches in the first two games. He is out for about a month with a broken hand. The receiving corps played well last Saturday, but there were eight drops the previous week against Troy. The Tigers cant afford that sort of sloppy play.BAD MEMORIES: Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott has his share of memories, good and bad, at Georgia Tech. He caught a 9-yard TD pass from Charlie Whitehurst in 2003 to put Clemson ahead 10-0 in a game it would go on to win 39-3 -- its last victory against the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta. Dont mention the 2001 game, though, even though it was also a Clemson win. Elliott went down with a broken wrist covering the opening kickoff.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.orgShannon Sharpe Womens Jersey .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. 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But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46.Ohio State reminded us all last season that sometimes what seems like a good problem is really just a problem.There is no doubt who the quarterback of the Buckeyes will be to start this season. Barring injury, J.T. Barrett is the man and considering all the retooling being done around him, he might just be the most important player in the conference.Unless its the new quarterbacks for Ohio States top two rivals. Defending conference champion Michigan State and Michigan will be breaking in starters. How quickly they bring stability to the position will have a major impact on the playoff hopes of both the Spartans and Wolverines.Those are the givens, but looking beyond the quarterbacks (in most cases) there are other players who will play pivotal roles for their Big Ten teams this season. Here are six:TOMMY ARMSTRONG, QB, NEBRASKAArmstrong has not been at Nebraska since Bill Callahan was coach, but it sure does feel that way for the senior who has been starting since midway through his redshirt freshman season. Armstrongs first season in Mike Rileys offense produced the expected ups and down. He passed for 3,030 yards and 22 touchdowns and ran 400 yards and seven scores. He also completed a substandard 55 percent and tossed 16 interceptions. Cut down on the picks and boost that percentage above 60 and the Cornhuskers could be back in the Big Ten title game.VINCE BIEGEL, LB, WISCONSINThe senior was one of the best linebackers in the country last season, teaming with Joe Schobert to form a devastating pass-rush combo. They combined for 17 1/2 sacks and 23 hurries. Schobert is gone, meaning offenses can pay more attention to Biegel. How will he respond?JALEEL JOHNSON, DT, IOWAThe 310-pound senior pprovides some pass rush in the middle and helps free up leading tackler Josey Jewell.dddddddddddd Even with an All-America at cornerback in Desmond King, Johnson has potential to be the best player on a solid defense.ANDREW NELSON, OT, PENN STATEThe Nittany Lions offensive line had more depth and talent last season, but still not enough production. A healthy Nelson locking down left tackle and providing protection for whoever plays quarterback is paramount. Penn State has some weapons at receiver and running back. The line has to give them a chance to flourish.R.J. SHELTON, WR, MICHIGAN STATEMichigan States new starting quarterback will be looking for a new No. 1 receiver to replace all-conference performer Aaron Burbridge, who had more catches and yards than the Spartans second- and third-leading receivers combined. Shelton was No. 3 with 43 catches for 503 yards. There are talented youngsters on the roster, but Shelton is the leader.MIKE WEBER, RB, OHIO STATEThe promising sophomore missed all of last season with a knee injury. He returns to find plenty of carries waiting for him now that Ezekiel Elliott is in the NFL and Brionte Dunn was dismissed from the team. Its probably too much to ask Weber to be the all-around player Elliott was for the Buckeyes, but he needs to be go-to No. 1 back.---EXTRA POINT:Six more pivotal players: Trey Edmunds, RB, Maryland; Darius Hamilton, DL, Rutgers; Austin Carr, WR, Northwestern; Shannon Brooks, RB, Minnesota; Hardy Nickerson, LB, Illinois; Jonathan Crawford, S, Indiana.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP[url=http://www.authenticwholesalejerseys.net/]ChA POINT:Six more pivotal players: Trey Edmu