Ball State (1-0, 1-0 MAC) at No. 12 Clemson (1-0, 0-0 ACC)

Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network)

Spread: Clemson by 27

Watchability: Both teams have offensive star power, but everything will have to break Ball State’s way to keep this watchable into the second half.

Shining stars: Ball State: RB Jahwan Edwards had 202 yards rushing on just 20 carries and scored three touchdowns. “When he gets downhill, he very rarely doesn’t finish forward,” coach Dabo Swinney said. “We’ll have our hands full with him.” Clemson: RB Andre Ellington was the Maxwell Award national player of the week after rushing for more than 200 yards, breaking a 60-year-old school record for yards in an opener.

Who could steal the show: Ball State: LB Travis Freeman is in his fourth year as a starter. He was ninth in the nation in tackles last year and led the team with nine in the opener. Clemson: WR DeAndre “Nuke” Hopkins had 119 yards on a school-record 13 catches against Auburn, helping to make up for the loss of Sammy Watkins, suspended for the first two games of the season. “Everybody talks about Sammy, but nobody ever talks about Nuke Hopkins,” Swinney said. “He’s one of the best wide receivers I’ve coached, but he lives in the shadows.”

You going? Ranking the road trip: Death Valley is one of the top venues in college football. “It’s awesome,” Swinney said. “It never gets old. It’s a privilege that I don’t take for granted to be able to lead the team here at Clemson, but in particular, here at home. It’s just an unbelievable opportunity every time you get to do it.” They’ve upgraded their scoreboards since last season, which should help improve the experience.

Magic number for Ball State: 596. The Cardinals put up nearly 600 yards last week, including 320 yards rushing. They also ran 96 plays, which is a 50% increase over Auburn, Clemson’s opponent last week. Brent Venables will have to have his defense ready to match the pace (see video at top). Venables faced Ball State last year, when he was at Oklahoma, so he should be familiar with the personnel.

Magic number for Clemson: 12. K Chandler Catanzaro has made 12 field goals in a row over the last six games. The school record is 14, set by Obed Ariri in 1980.

The game comes down to: Ellington, Hopkins, and QB Tajh Boyd. Ball State will need to find an answer to Clemson’s three-headed monster on offense to avoid getting blown out.

Prediction: Clemson 41, Ball State 21

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from ACC bloggers Shawn Krest and Sean Bielawski, follow @CBSSportsACC.