SUNSET — If preseason college football publications are to be believed, 2008 will be a season to remember for the Clemson Tigers.

Last year Tommy Bowden’s crew was the only Atlantic Coast Conference team to rank in the top five nationally in both passing and rushing. Quarterback Cullen Harper returns to run the show, with a bevy of outstanding wideouts — including Aaron Kelly, Tyler Grisham and Jacoby Ford — serving as his targets.

Harper established 21 school records in various single game and season categories in his first year as the starting QB in 2007. He threw for 27 touchdowns, besting the old Clemson mark by six.

When Clemson decides to stay grounded it’ll be the “Thunder & Lightning” backfield duo of C.J. Spiller and James Davis who’ll be called upon to tote the freight, with the pair bringing 3,957 rushing yards on 691 carries and 46 touchdowns to the attack.

Davis enters the 2008 season with 3,130 career rushing yards — second best in school history — and needs just 837 yards to break Raymond Priester’s career record. His 38 career touchdowns and 36 rushing touchdowns are also second best in school history.

Spiller paced Clemson in all-purpose running last year with 1,723 yards, and the sophomore already holds the school record for touchdown plays of over 50 yards in a career with 10.

But …

While all the big guns are in place at Death Valley, Bowden says Clemson’s coronation is premature because four starters are gone from the offensive line.

“We’ve got as much skill coming back as we ever have since I’ve been here,” said Bowden, who met with the media Tuesday following a round of golf at The Reserve. “But having to replace four starters on the line is the million dollar question. That means we’re not a veteran team.”

Clemson is ranked in the top 10 in most preseason polls, and the coach realizes expectations are high.

“The only thing we’re lacking is a championship,” Bowden said. “And that’s the important one. The fans are disappointed we haven’t won one and that’s what they want — that’s what I want. But the inexperience on the line is going to be an important factor.”

Offensive line and associate head coach Brad Scott understands the pressure his charges are under, but likes what he sees.

“I like the character of these kids and I like their work ethic,” Scott said. “They’re young, but they’re a really good bunch. The key is making the adjustments we need to make early on.”

Defensively Clemson has good depth at most positions, although the linebacker corps is a concern. When the Tigers open the season, they’ll be without four of their top six tacklers from a year ago.

All four starters in the secondary return however, and this was a unit that allowed just 188.5 passing yards per game last season, best in the ACC and 13th best in the nation. Clemson was the only ACC program ranked in the top 25 in the nation in pass defense.

All-ACC safety Michael Hamlin leads the way, and will be aided by Chris Chancellor, Chris Clemons and Crezdon Butler.

In all the Tigers have 14 of 22 starters and 51 lettermen returning from the nine-win squad of 2007 — a team that was one victory away from securing the school’s first ACC Championship Game berth.

“This is the best returning group I’ve had, and I’m pretty high on all our young guys,” Bowden said. “But it all comes back to the line. Cullen will be better because he has more experience, but how much pressure will be under? If the line protects him, he can do a lot of things. If they don’t, he’ll have to make some quick decisions.”

The line —and Clemson’s — first test comes Aug. 30 against Alabama in the Georgia Dome.

The Crimson Tide has some holes defensively, but Scott says Nick Saban will have a plan for his young linemen.

“Coach Saban is a defensive guy, and he’ll see we have a young bunch and throw a lot of different schemes at us,” he said. “You’d like to have a game where you could ease them into the season, but that’s not the case. But I think our kids will put us in a pretty good situation.”

In many respects Bowden’s 2007 club exceeded expectations (it was generally considered a rebuilding campaign), but anything short of a BCS bowl will be a disappointment for fans — as well as Tiger players.

“Until you win a championship, there’s always going to be that analogy that you lose games you’re supposed to win and that you fall short,” Bowden said. “And rightfully so. There’s always that frustration of not winning the championship.

“My dad went through it until he won one and Mack Brown went through it until he won one and I’ll carry it until I win one. It’s a legitimate question.”

Still, Bowden said Clemson is close.

“We don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “Last year if we contain Matt Ryan (in a loss to Boston College) we win that game and play for the championship. Or if we catch a pass or do some other things, we win the game. I feel comfortable in everything we’ve done except we’ve fallen short in number of wins.

“As I said, of all the goals we have, winning a championship is the important one.”