Preview: FSU Welcomes Clemson for Biggest Game of Season

Who: No. 3 Clemson Tigers at No. 12 Florida State Seminoles
Where: Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida
When: Saturday, Oct. 29 at 8:00 p.m. EST (ABC)
Last Week: Both teams had bye weeks.

A potentially season-defining match-up comes to Tallahassee on Saturday night, with the No. 3 Clemson Tigers coming into Doak Campbell Stadium for a contest with the No. 12 Florida State Seminoles.

Clemson enters the game undefeated with multiple top 25 wins, having proven itself as one of the most resilient teams in the country. The offense has struggled to finish drives at the pace it did in 2015, but the defense has battled injuries and became another top unit in the country. Star players like quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Wayne Gallman will be healthy and ready to go, presenting two more unique challenges for an FSU defense that has struggled to find consistency.

Florida State understands the magnitude of this game and what a win at home would mean. The defense is hoping to carry over back-to-back stellar performances against Miami and Wake Forest, while the offense tries to solve its first half scoring woes. Neither objectives will come easy against perhaps the best team on the schedule for 2016. FSU’s Deondre Francois will have his toughest test yet as a quarterback, and Dalvin Cook looks to repeat another great performance against the Tigers after going for 194 yards rushing and a touchdown last season.

Lead writer Clint Eiland and editor Mike Ferguson break down the match-up.

All-Time Series

The Seminoles hold a slightly surprising 20-9 advantage in the overall series. Despite joining the ACC in 1992, Florida State did not lose to Clemson until 2003. Current FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher is 4-2 against the Tigers in his career, with his last win coming in 2014 at home in overtime. The largest margin of victory in the series was the 1993 match-up where FSU won 57-0 in Tallahassee on its way to the national championship.

Key Players for FSU

Clint: Tarvarus McFadden — It seems odd to pinpoint the No. 2 cornerback as a key player for Florida State, but if there was ever a game for McFadden to become a shutdown defender, it would be this one. Clemson has one of the most talented receiver corps in the country, headlined by future NFL player Mike Williams and followed by star recruits Ray-Ray McLoud, Deon Cain, and Artavis Scott. Marquez White will likely handle Williams, leaving McFadden to try and take away Watson’s next option and slow down the Tigers’ offense. If McFadden, who leads the nation with five, were able to get another interception, it would help even more.

Mike: Travis Rudolph — Coming off a career-game with 13 catches for 238 yards receiving, Travis Rudolph will look to have another solid effort for the Seminoles. The Tigers are good in the secondary, but will likely focus on stopping running back Dalvin Cook and forcing quarterback Deondre Francois to make throws to win the game. At his best, Rudolph is by far FSU’s most talented and most complete receiver. For FSU to win Saturday night, the junior will need to be at his best.

Key Players for Clemson

Clint: Deshaun Watson — The scariest part of playing Clemson is this: FSU could shut down almost all of Clemson’s receivers, prevent Wayne Gallman from breaking out, and get great push at the offensive line. Yet, Watson might still be able to move the ball on the defense. He is a dynamic playmaker near the level of former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and former FSU Heisman winner Jameis Winston. If the FSU defense reverts back to its old form, Watson will gash the Noles through the air. Even if they have one of their best games of the season, victory is not guaranteed.

Mike: Jordan Leggett — Florida State dodged a bullet last week with Wake Forest’s Cam Serigne out, but the Seminoles will see a very good tight end this week in Clemson’s Jordan Leggett. Leggett has been a reliable safety valve for Deshaun Watson all season long and he’ll force FSU’s inconsistent group of linebackers to play well in pass coverage. Last season, Leggett finished with 101 yards receiving on six catches against the Seminoles. Averaging 15.5 yards per catch this season, Leggett could again be a match-up nightmare for Charles Kelly’s defense.

Game Breaker

Clint: Can the Defense Hold? — The Clemson defense is simply going to be hard to move the ball on. Even before the season, few would have argued that the FSU offense was comparatively better. This means that the FSU defense will need to hold the Tigers below their season averages and give the offense enough opportunities to succeed. If the Seminoles can prevent Clemson from scoring 30-plus points, it’ll be a good sign. Miami and Wake Forest are simply not on the level of Clemson when it comes to both results and talent. FSU will need to play its best game of the season if it wants to have a chance at a win.

Mike: Can FSU Win on Third Down? — For Florida State to have a chance in this one, the Seminoles will need to be able to keep drives alive on third down and get off the field when they have a chance on defense. In wins this season, FSU has converted 51 percent (36-for-70) as compared to 25 percent (6-for-24) in losses. In wins this season, FSU has given up just 32 percent of third down conversion attempts (20-for-63) and in losses, that number rises to 61 percent (14-for-23).