Some things you know. For example, Clemson freshman Charlie Whitehurst set or tied 12 school records in his first start Nov. 2 at Duke, when he threw for 420 yards and four touchdowns. Another example: Whitehurst set or tied at least three more school records, and also broke the record for the longest pass play at North Carolina's Kenan Stadium, in his second start Saturday against the Tar Heels.

Some things you don't know, you could never know. For example, did Whitehurst, who replaced ineffective junior Willie Simmons, save Clemson's season? Did he save coach Tommy Bowden's job?

Pirates Back In Title Mix

In one of the truly weird seasons in Conference USA's seven-year history, a single football team stands in the way of anyone with any hope of winning the league title. Including itself. That team is East Carolina, which could finish 6-6 this season -- and still win the conference. The Pirates have won just three of their first eight games, but all three have been in league play, giving East Carolina a 3-1 C-USA record and equal standing in the loss column with TCU (8-1, 5-1) and Southern Miss (6-3, 4-1). "We're hanging around," Pirates coach Steve Logan said after his team outlasted Houston 54-48 in triple overtime Saturday. "We're kind of a like a bad habit. ... I don't see anyone (in the league) that is outstanding. I think TCU has a solid team, and I think we can play with them, too." Logan will find out Nov. 23, when the Horned Frogs come to Greenville. Before then, though, East Carolina must travel to UAB on Saturday. The Pirates could lose that game and still win the league -- with a 6-6 record -- if they win their final three games and UAB loses once more in league play. Two of East Carolina's final three foes are TCU and Southern Miss. If all three finish as the only two-loss teams in Conference USA, ECU could lay claim to the title -- if unofficially -- thanks to wins against the Eagles and Frogs. In that event, though, the Pirates probably wouldn't win a spot in the league's marquee bowl, the Liberty. Since Conference USA doesn't have a tiebreaker policy -- does this make sense to anyone? -- the Liberty would have its choice, and surely its choice would not be an ECU team with a 7-5 or 6-6 league mark. Regardless of what happens in late December, East Carolina remains Conference USA's most unpredictable team. The Pirates have been inspired this season, winning tough games against Tulane and Houston, but they also have been awful, losing at Duke and getting rolled by South Florida and Louisville. With tailback Art Brown averaging 110.6 rushing yards (22nd nationally) and two touchdowns (second nationally) per game, offense is not the Pirates' problem, though quarterback Paul Troth -- who is on pace to throw for more than 2,600 yards -- could stand to turn it over less. The other side of the ball has been the bane of the Pirates, who rank 101st in total defense (427.5 yards per game) and 96th in scoring defense (33.6 points). Turnovers, as mentioned earlier, have been a problem, too. East Carolina is 110th in turnover ratio. "We need to create some turnovers," Logan says. "The ball has been on the ground three and four times a game and we are only getting one of them." Another turnover in its favor here or there, and East Carolina could really make a mess of this C-USA season. -- Gregg Doyel

Those are hypotheticals and conjecture, things you will never know. But here's something you can be sure of:

This Charlie Whitehurst? He's good.

Really good.

"He improvises," says Bowden. "He makes plays."

That's potentially bad news for defending ACC champion Maryland, which visits Clemson on Saturday with an eye on winning a share of the league championship. For that to happen, unbeaten (in league play) Florida State must lose one of its final two games, against North Carolina and NC State, but also Maryland must avoid another ACC loss.

Clemson, which not long ago might have played right into Maryland's hands, now has another dimension in Whitehurst, who gives the Tigers the kind of balance they have lacked all season. Behind Simmons, the Tigers had the least productive offense in the ACC, averaging 339.3 yards per game, which put too much pressure on a Clemson defense that has been among league leaders all season. Maryland's defense, which has been even more successful than Clemson's of late, surely was licking its chops.

Not any more.

"He doesn't seem to be turning it over," Friedgen says. "That's the biggest difference I see (between Whitehurst and Simmons). He has a very strong arm, and he's mobile enough to avoid the rush. He's making some really tough throws and showing some poise."

Whitehurst has directed Clemson to more than 1,000 yards and 76 points in his two starts. While the defenses at Duke and North Carolina are ranked sixth and ninth, respectively, in the nine-team ACC, Whitehurst cannot be dismissed merely as the beneficiary of poor opposition. First college start: 34-for-52, 420 yards, four touchdowns. Second college start: 12-for-22, 274 yards, four touchdowns. Both games: no interceptions.

"He's for real," says UNC coach John Bunting.

Whether legitimate or toothless, there had been calls for Bowden's job among certain alumni after the Tigers' 38-6 loss to NC State on national television left them 4-4 and teetering on the edge of postseason ineligibility.

Those calls have abated, thanks in large part to Whitehurst, the son of former Green Bay Packers quarterback David Whitehurst. The younger Whitehurst threw a trio of touchdown passes in a four-minute span in the fourth quarter to rally Clemson past Duke, 34-31. After watching film of that game, the UNC defense backed into coverage schemes Saturday and watched two Clemson runners, Bernard Rambert and Tye Hill, run for more than 100 yards apiece.

"We thought he'd throw more," says UNC linebacker Malcolm Stewart. "He's good, and that's what we expected."

With opposing defenses spread out to defend the pass, opening running lanes, Clemson apparently won't have to throw it all day long to move the ball. The threat of Whitehurst does that.

Now the Tigers are eligible for a bowl game, and possibly could close the regular season with four straight wins and a spot in the Peach Bowl. Bowden's job appears safe again.

The promise of Whitehurst does that.

Around the ACC

Clemson
True freshman CB Justin Miller has five interceptions, the most by a Clemson first-year player since Robert O'Neal's eight in 1989. ... After not holding a single team below 300 yards of offense last season, the Tigers have done it to five foes this season, the latest North Carolina. ... Clemson has won 13 of 15 meetings with Maryland, but the Terps snapped an eight-game series losing streak last year.

Duke
The Blue Devils travel to Georgia Tech in an interesting matchup: Both teams are among conference leaders in rushing offense and rushing defense. ... Duke defensive coordinator Ted Roof held that position last season at Georgia Tech, and is a Georgia Tech alumnus.

Florida State
The Seminoles would clinch at least a share of the ACC title, with Maryland, if they beat North Carolina on Saturday. ... Backup TB Nick Maddox has two 100-yard games since Greg Jones (knee) went out with an injury.

Georgia Tech
The Jackets play host to Duke, the 67th series meeting. Georgia Tech has only played two SEC foes, Georgia (96) and Auburn (90), more times. ... The Jackets have averaged 482.7 yards and 38.4 points in their last nine games with Duke.

Maryland
The Terps, winners of seven straight, visit Clemson with hopes of an ACC title. The Terps need to win out and Florida State to lose once to tie the Seminoles for the title. ... Maryland had been outscored by Clemson 214-56 in the last eight meetings, all losses, before winning last season 37-20.

North Carolina
If record-setting safety Dexter Reid asks, coach John Bunting will advise him to return for his senior season. "He needs another year of maturity to get ready for the big time," Bunting said. ... Seven true freshmen have played, the most at UNC since 1990.

NC State
Guard Shane Riggs (knee) won't play Saturday against Virginia and might miss the regular-season finale next week against Florida State. Former walk-on Ashley Wingate takes his place. ... LB Avery Gibson (ankle) is out the rest of the season, while TB T.A. McLendon (shoulder) and WR Jerricho Cotchery (ankle) are doubtful for Saturday.

Virginia
The game with NC State, the Cavaliers' first at home in almost a month, has bowl ramifications, with the Wolfpack still hoping for the Gator Bowl, while the Cavs would do well to go to the Peach or Tangerine. ... The Cavs were shut out just once last season, 24-0 by the Wolfpack. ... TB Alvin Pearman (knee) probably is done for the season.

Wake Forest
The Deacons are off for the second week in a row. They could have scheduled Northern Illinois either this week or last week, but coach Jim Grobe said he preferred to play at Northern Illinois earlier in the year as opposed to November, for weather reasons. ... The extra week lets several Deacons heal while giving the defense more time to prepare for Navy's unconventional spread option.

Around Conference USA
Army still is looking for its first victory of the season, but there are two bits of good news: One, the Cadets continue to look better, as they did last week in their 49-30 loss to Air Force, and two, they have defeated Tulane the last two times they have played. On the other hand, both those games were at West Point, whereas this one will be at New Orleans. ... Cincinnati trails the all-time series with Houston 13-7, but the Bearcats have won six of the last eight meetings, including the last two in a row, and Cincinnati also has won its last two league games this season. ... Bearcats WR LaDaris Vann puts his 41-game reception streak, No. 3 in the country, on the line against Houston. ... Occasionally embattled East Carolina QB Paul Troth posted the No. 6 yardage total in ECU history with his 369 passing yards in the victory against Houston. ... ECU junior TB Art Brown needs 115 yards against UAB to become the 11th Pirate with 1,000 in a season. ... Houston RB Joffrey Reynolds' 41 carries for 300 yards against ECU were school records, and he became just the third Division I-A player with 300 in a game this season. ... With 382 tackles, DB Hanik Milligan is fourth all time at Houston. ... Louisville takes on Southern Miss for its second consecutive Thursday night game. Both teams have a shot at a piece of the league championship, and a spot in the Liberty Bowl. ... Their Nov. 4, 2000 game was something of a turning point. To that point, Louisville was 13-16 all time in league play, while Southern Miss was 24-2. Since the Cardinals won that game 49-28, they have gone 12-2 in league play while Southern Miss has slipped to 8-7. ... Southern Miss sophomore James Walley ran for a career high 100 yards in place of injured Derrick Nix in the 20-13 victory against UAB. Coach Jeff Bower said he doesn't know if Nix will play Thursday, but added Walley should get some carries regardless. ... Only a sophomore, Memphis QB Danny Wimprine already has set school season records for completions (201), passing yards (2,440) and touchdowns (20). ... Junior Greg Harper, a three-year starter at LB, is back in the Memphis lineup after missing more than two months with a broken leg. ... By holding Tulane to minus-53 yards rushing last week, TCU set a school record and posted the No. 2 total in league history. ... RB Lonta Hobbs is the Horned Frogs' first freshman with three 100-yard rushing games in the same season -- and he has done it in the past three games. ... If Tulane beats Army, it would assure the Green Wave of their fourth winning season in six years. ... After Green Wave QB J.P. Losman was pulled for his 8-for-29 start against TCU, senior Derrick Joseph threw for 119 yards and a touchdown. ... Coach Chris Scelfo says Losman (ribs), who has missed practice the past two weeks, remains the No. 1 guy if he can get enough reps this week. "There is no controversy," Scelfo said. ... UAB has beaten East Carolina in both meetings in league play. ... In 1999, the Blazers beat the No. 17 Pirates 36-17 for UAB's first-ever victory against a ranked team in Division I-A. ... This game will celebrate the 75th anniversary at Legion Field.

Gregg Doyel covers college football for The Charlotte Observer and can be reached at gdoyel@charlotteobserver.com.