Florida State will look for its signature victory through the early parts of the Willie Taggart era on Saturday as it hosts No. 2 Clemson. The Tigers come in with a perfect record and three straight ACC titles.
Clemson will aim to become the first ACC team to defeat FSU in four straight seasons since the Seminoles entered the conference in 1992. FSU won the first 11 meetings as conference foes.
The Match-Up
Who: No. 2 Clemson Tigers (7-0, 4-0 ACC) at Florida State Seminoles (4-3, 2-3 ACC)
Where: Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida
When: 12 p.m. EST
Network: ABC
Spread: Clemson -17.5*
Last Week: Clemson defeated NC State, 41-7; FSU topped Wake Forest, 38-17.
Key Players
For Clemson
Trevor Lawrence, QB (Fr.): 68% completions, 1,176 yards passing, 12 TD, 2 INT
Travis Etienne (So.): 800 rushing yards, 8.2 YPC, 14 rush TD, TD catch
Clelin Ferrell (R-Jr.): 27 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 6 sacks, FF
For Florida State
Deondre Francois, QB (R-Jr.): 62.9% completions, 1,859 yards passing, 13 TD, 6 INT, 2 rush TD
Nyqwan Murray, WR (Sr.): 35 catches, 487 yards receiving, 3 TD catches
Brian Burns, DE (Jr.): 27 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 9 sacks, 3 FF, FR
Series History
All-Time Series: Florida State leads 20-11
Last Meeting: Clemson won at home, 31-14 (Nov. 11, 2017)
Last Meeting in Tallahassee: Clemson won, 37-34 (Oct. 29, 2016)
First Meeting: FSU won in Tallahassee, 31-13 (Nov. 7, 1970)
Notable Contests
The 1988 contest at Clemson was a match-up of top-10 teams. With less than two minutes to play and the game tied at 21, FSU reached into its bag of tricks on fourth down on a play that would come to be known as “puntrooskie”. From the punt formation, the snap went to fullback Dayne Williams who handed the ball between his legs to safety LeRoy Butler who stood still while everyone else went one direction. Butler later took off the other way for 78 yards to set up Richie Andrews’ game-winning field goal in a 24-21 FSU victory.
The 1999 contest featured the first-ever match-up of father and son head coaches. Late in the third quarter, Bobby Bowden’s top-ranked Seminoles trailed Tommy Bowden’s Clemson Tigers 14-6. FSU drew even on a touchdown run by Travis Minor and a 2-point conversion. Florida State went ahead for good on a field goal by Sebastian Janikowski with 5:26 remaining. Clemson kicker Tony Lazzara had a chance to tie the game but missed from 42 yards away with less than two minutes to play.
The only top-5 match-up took place on Oct. 19, 2013. That night in Clemson, No. 5 FSU scored more points than any visitor ever in a 51-14 rout of the third-ranked Tigers. Eventual Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston passed for a career-high 444 yards and four total touchdowns. FSU cornerback Lamarcus Joyner was responsible for three forced turnovers. Mario Edwards Jr. returned a fumble for a score while tight end Nick O’Leary and receiver Rashad Greene combined for over 300 yards receiving and two scores.
What’s at Stake
For Clemson: Clemson will try to remain undefeated and in line for a berth in the College Football Playoff. The Tigers also look to become the first ACC team to beat the Seminoles in four straight seasons.
For Florida State: FSU will look to move to within one of bowl-eligibility, get to .500 in ACC play and beat a ranked opponent for the first time since Michigan in the Orange Bowl to close the 2016 season. FSU hasn’t beat a top-5 team since beating Notre Dame in 2014 by a 31-27 score.
Fun Fact
The winner of the annual FSU-Clemson game has won the ACC Atlantic in each season since 2009 and the conference every year since 2011.
*According to Bovada
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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