For one Saturday night, the ACC will be the center of the college football universe.

ESPN is bringing its "GameDay" crew to Florida State, for the No. 4 Seminoles matchup with No. 10 Clemson on Saturday, and ABC is rolling out the red carpet with the 8 p.m. primetime slot.

Even the ACC coaches, besides the two involved in the game, understand the opportunity at hand for the conference.

"I think this is going to really highlight our conference," Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said. "I think that this might be the year that we’ve got a team that can make a run at the whole thing."

The "whole thing" would be the Bowl Championship Series title, which an ACC team hasn’t played for since 2000 and hasn’t won since 1999.

Grobe said the ACC’s image has taken a hit because has it hasn’t had a strong national contender since expansion in ’04.

Florida State used to be that program, with national titles in ’93 and ’99, but it hasn’t won so much as a conference title in seven years.

With a 3-0 start, by outscoring their opponents 176-3, the Seminoles appear to be poised for a return to the national scene.

Brent Musburger, who will call the game for ABC, said FSU has been playing defense this season "like they were in the glory years" of former coach Bobby Bowden.

But Musburger was still skeptical, after years of pump-fakes and pratfalls on the national stage by FSU, Virginia Tech and Clemson.

"When the ACC gets an opportunity, they haven’t made the most of it recently," Musburger said.

But Musburger added: "The winner of this game is going to come out of this with a lot of positive attention; whether or not they can keep it going, could be another question."

In only the ninth game between two ACC teams ranked in the top 10 (by comparison, the SEC had four last season), Florida State already has a fan in Clemson coach Dabo Swinney.

Swinney noted FSU’s national rankings in defense – No. 1 in yardage, scoring, against the run and against the pass – and even noted the relative weakness of their opponents, two FCS teams and Wake Forest.

"Giving up three points in three games, I don’t care who you play, that is hard to do," Swinney said.

Swinney lamented the Tigers’ chances, despite their recent success against FSU – they have won four of the past six meetings, including last year’s 35-30 decision at home.

"Heck, I hope we can cross the 50 and get a first down after watching the tape," Swinney said. "I’m telling you, these guys have played really, really good defense."

Perhaps still stung by last year’s 10-4 finish, after opening No. 6 in the preseason AP poll, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher is proceeding with caution.

"We still have a lot of growing to do," Fisher said. "I still think there’s a ton of room for improvement."

Fisher reciprocated Swinney’s admiration by pointing out that Clemson, not FSU, is the defending ACC champion, and that the Tigers have a "phenomenal ball club."

"Dabo has done a tremendous job with their program, and it should be an exciting weekend," Fisher said.

An exciting weekend and a big weekend for the ACC. On that, both coaches can agree.

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