Just as it was in the Coastal Division when Georgia Tech clinched the division title by beating Duke before Miami even took the field at North Carolina, Clemson may know its conference fate before the Tigers take on Virginia.
Earlier in the day, Boston College will be playing host to North Carolina, one of the hottest teams in the league (besides the Tigers and Yellow Jackets).
If the Eagles lose to the Tar Heels, who have won their last three games, the Atlantic Division goes right to Clemson.
"Don't matter," coach Dabo Swinney, said. "It just really doesn't matter. If that happens, hey, that's great. But there won't be any celebrating on this football team till after we take care of business on the field.
"We have a job to do. We'd like to win it outright. You're not going to see any letdown."
The good thing for the Tigers is that even if Boston College does win, the Tigers can clinch the berth in the ACC championship game by beating the Cavaliers, who have lost four in a row.
The Tigers are 5-2 in ACC play and hold a tie-breaker over Boston College if the two teams end up with identical 6-2 league records. The Tigers finish up the regular season with their traditional finale against South Carolina, this one at Columbia.
For now, though, the Tigers are thinking just about Virginia, Swinney said. He warns the Tigers to ignore statistics that show the Tigers with an overwhelming advantage in statistics, averaging 371 yards in total offense to Virginia's meager 267-yard output.
"We've got to stop the run and try to make them a one-dimensional team," Swinney said. "I think that will be a big advantage for us if they have to throw the football to win the game if they can't run it."