The TCI staff of Ed McGranahan, Hale McGranahan, Will Vandervort, William Qualkinbush and Robert MacRae go Around the Horn to answer some of the questions surrounding Clemson athletics and college football.

How will playing in the ACC Championship game next week impact the South Carolina game for top-ranked Clemson?

Robert MacRae – It will have an impact how long the starters play if the game gets out of hand.  If the Tigers get the game under control early Dabo will likely call off the dogs a little earlier to help prevent any injuries and keep his team as fresh as possible for next week.  Winning the game if of course critical so if  the game is close it won’t have much impact.  It could also impact some of the play calling if they have plays they want to save for North Carolina.

Will Vandervort: It won’t.  This team has shown a great level of success when it comes to having a one-game at a time mentality. Also, considering what is at stake, I think they are focused on completing what they have started and putting themselves in position to win a national championship. It also helps that the seniors on this team are just one year removed from the five-game losing streak to South Carolina so they will keep the underclassmen focused on the task at hand.

Hale McGranahan – I don’t see it being a problem for Clemson. The matchup with South Carolina is too favorable for them to get caught looking ahead. Plus, all of the big picture stuff goes out the window with a loss. They’ve been good for a while now — not just this season — about taking a one game at a time approach.

William Qualkinbush – There’s no question that this is a different game this time around. Prior to both of Clemson’s ACC title game appearances, the Tigers have lost to South Carolina. Now, those Gamecock teams were significantly better than this one, but the entry of a 13th game into the mix widens the lens a bit on the season. Guys may be rested if the lead gets comfortable, much to the chagrin of fans who are out for blood. Make no mistake, though: The Tigers won’t look ahead. They won’t overlook this game in any way.