Miami Gardens, FL (Sports Network) - The eighth-ranked Miami-Florida Hurricanes head back to ACC play for the first time in nearly a month, as they host the Clemson Tigers this weekend at Land Shark Stadium.

After opening the season with three straight league games, the Hurricanes stepped out of the ACC for three consecutive bouts, going 3-0 during that stretch. The run of non-league contests started with a quality 21-20 win over Big 12 power Oklahoma and concluded last weekend with a 27-7 triumph of UCF. The wins improved the Hurricanes to 5-1, marking their best start under third- year head coach Randy Shannon, whose club ranks 10th in the initial BCS standings.

Miami now turns its focus back to the ACC, where it has gone 2-1, with its most recent outing resulting in 31-7 loss to Virginia Tech back on September 26th.

"We're back in conference play now, and conference games are more valuable than anything," said coach Shannon.

The Hurricanes have already faced the likes of Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Florida State, so their toughest games are behind them, setting the stage for a nice run at the Coastal Division title.

As for the Tigers, they returned from a bye last weekend and blasted Wake Forest by a 38-3 score.

"Great win today'" said head coach Dabo Swinney. "We are so proud of the team. We executed today on both sides of the ball, and I told the guys that if they execute, then they can win games."

Clemson snapped a two-game slide with the win and put itself right back in the thick of the Atlantic Division race with a 2-2 league record. Overall, the Tigers stand at a level 3-3, with each of their three losses coming by four points or fewer.

The all-time series between Miami and Clemson is led by the Hurricanes, 5-2, and they won 36-30 in triple overtime the last time the two teams met in 2005.

The Tigers used a balanced attack of 195 rushing yards and 187 passing to control the game against WF and cruise to a 38-3 victory after jumping out to a 31-3 halftime lead. C.J. Spiller to continued to roll and he paced the ground game with 106 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just nine carries. With a 66-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, Spiller became the first ACC player in history to go over 6,000 all-purpose yards.

"The game ball goes to C.J. Spiller today," said coach Swinney. "He gave 100 percent on every play, and he is the first ACC player to get over 6,000 all- purpose yards. We are very proud of C.J. and his efforts today."

Spiller, who has rushed for 466 yards this season, is one of the most explosive players in the nation and he is especially deadly on special teams, having already returned two kickoffs and one punt for touchdowns.

Quarterback Kyle Parker has struggled despite having Spiller to aid him, as he has completed just 49.7 percent of his tosses, with six touchdowns and five picks on the year. Last weekend, though, Parker showed signs of improvement and converted 10-of-17 throws for 132 yards and a score. He also added 31 yards and a score on the ground, and he will need too be on top of his game this weekend is Clemson is to spring an upset.

Jacoby Ford is Parker's main target through the air, as the speedy wideout heads the team with 26 catches for 358 yards and two scores.

Clemson turned in a stout effort on the defensive side of the ball last weekend, holding WF to a measly 178 total yards, including just 81 rushing on 44 attempts. The Tigers, who are allowing only 270.2 total ypg on the year, also picked off a pair of passes to bring their total to 10 in that category.

"The defense was relentless all day and dominated," said Swinney. "They played smart and made tackles."

The Tigers even had great success getting into the backfield and finished with a season-high five sacks. Kavell Conner led the way with eight stops and a sack, while DeAndre McDaniel recorded his team-best fifth interception of the campaign.

Quarterback Jacory Harris was sharp for the Hurricanes this past weekend, as he completed an efficient 20-of-26 pass attempts for 293 yards and a score in a victory over UCF. The sophomore sensation completed a pass to nine difference receivers and didn't throw a pick for just the second time this season despite being sacked six times.

"It was just a whole total offensive situation where the guys didn't get it done in giving up those six sacks," said coach Shannon, who was obviously upset with the pass protection.

Harris has done a nice job spreading out the ball all season long and he has completed 64.9 percent of his tosses for 1,518 yards, with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. LaRon Byrd, Leonard Hankerson and Travis Benjamin are the top threats in the passing attack and they have all recorded over 250 yards receiving on the season.

In the backfield, Javarris James heads the team with 362 yards and four scores and he went for 65 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries last weekend. Craig Cooper, the team's top rusher from a year ago, returned from injury last game, but didn't attempt a run. His return however, should help a ground attack that is averaging only 126.3 rushing ypg on the campaign.

Miami's defense did a terrific job shutting down UCF last weekend, with the unit holding the Knights to 229 total yards, including a mere 53 on the ground. The Hurricanes are only giving up 305.7 total ypg on the year, although they haven't been able to force many turnovers, generating just six thus far. The Hurricanes did come up with one pick against UCF and that is certainly a positive for a group that has managed only three interceptions through the first six games. Miami also added two sacks to its dominant performance last weekend, with both coming from Sean Spence, who also had seven stops.