RALEIGH, N.C. -- Ranked No. 9 nationally for the first time in almost 30 years, off to the best start in school history, N.C. State still has much to prove -- to the computer that will determine the national championship matchup, to Clemson coach Tommy Bowden, and to itself.

Thursday night at Clemson, in front of a national television audience, the Wolfpack (8-0, 3-0 ACC) can show just how good it is. Or how good it is not.

"This is our chance nationally," said Wolfpack quarterback Philip Rivers. "If anyone wants to watch a football game, this is the only one. Clemson is also nationally well known -- they've lost some tough games, but they're still a big-time team. It's going to be a big opportunity for us to show, 'Are we deserving of our Top 10 ranking?'"

After N.C. State survived a 24-22 scare Saturday against visiting Duke, Wolfpack receiver Jerricho Cotchery knew how some would answer that question.

"We're going to hear talk we're overrated," he said.

Bingo.

The Los Angeles Times mentioned the N.C. State-Duke game under the headline, "Attention: Ignore this team." The article suggested Duke proved the Wolfpack "is no contender."

That came two weeks after the Chicago Tribune opined N.C. State had "the aroma of a fraud."

Getting their chance

More noses than ever will be in the air Thursday, and one will belong to Bowden, who took a subtle poke Sunday when he said the Wolfpack will be more fresh than his team.

"We've had a lot more 60-minute games than they have because of strength of schedule," Bowden said, conveying his thoughts on an N.C. State non-conference schedule with Division I-AA teams East Tennessee State and Massachusetts, as well as Navy and New Mexico. The Wolfpack also won at Texas Tech.

Clemson (4-3, 2-2 ACC) has beaten one non-conference creampuff, Ball State, to go with a victory against Louisiana Tech and a loss to No.5 Georgia.

The Bowl Championship Series computations apparently side with Bowden. The first BCS poll released Monday had N.C. State at No.11 -- compared to its rankings of No.9 in the coaches' poll and No.12 in the AP poll.

The BCS poll, which weighs a team's ranking, win-loss record and strength of schedule, will determine the national championship contenders in the Fiesta Bowl.

N.C. State wants to be there. It always has. Before the 2000 season, Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato's first year at his alma mater, linebacker Levar Fisher drew chuckles when he said the team's goal was a national championship.

Entertaining hopes

Although laughter remains in some quarters, N.C. State is as close as it has been to a national title since 1967, when Amato was a senior linebacker and the Wolfpack was No.3 after an 8-0 start.

"We talk about it all the time," Amato said. "We talk about how hard they need to practice for it. These kids may never have a situation in their life where after eight games they're undefeated. That's not easy. It's here. This is what you dream about."

The reality is Clemson, Thursday, with the country watching.

Amato wants his players to have a huge dream, but a narrow focus.

"We're thinking Clemson," he said, "because of our dream."