Though the traditional polls may continue to disagree, Clemson did nothing to jeopardize its seat atop the College Football Playoff rankings.  Some that vote in the AP media and coaches polls may rethink their feelings about Clemson after the 23-13 win Saturday night over No. 16 Florida State.

Admittedly this wasn’t the Jameis Winston team that embarrassed Clemson in Death Valley two years ago, nor some of the other legendary FSU juggernauts. But until that bizarre loss to Georgia Tech, this was a top 10 team and FSU was another significant test for a team in a conference screaming for respect. Clemson took a punch then didn’t wilt.

When Dalvin Cook ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run on Florida State’s second play from scrimmage, there was a fleeting thought that perhaps again Clemson wasn’t as good as it seemed in winning the first eight games.

This still remained the biggest concern on defense, the ability to withstand a premium ground attack, and Clemson responded. Cook’s rate of production dropped precipitously after 128 yards in the first quarter. Clemson made a defensive tweak and Cook totaled 66 yards on 15 carries the final three quarters.

“All of us have a faith, and to stick together it means something great,” said middle linebacker B.J. Goodson, a key run stopper with six tackles, three tackles for loss, including two sacks and recovered a fumble.

“Honestly, it was something picked up by one of our guys. It was an easy fix, after that, just tackling.”

As the third Clemson team to win its first nine games, the Tigers weren’t returning to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game without quarterback Deshaun Watson “dialed in,” as Dabo Swinney said. “We don’t win these games if the best player (doesn’t) play well.”

In baseball, great pitchers are best when they don’t have the crackle or pop and still find a way to get outs on wits and guile. If they’ve been around a while they’re “crafty.” Every once in a while a kid who doesn’t know he’s supposed to be intimidated by the moment discovers the magic.

Watson wasn’t himself in the first half, and Clemson trailed, 10-6. Three times he missed wide-open receivers, three other passes were knockdown at the line of scrimmage and he spiked the ball in the final seconds of the second quarter rather than take another shot or two at the end zone. “It’s one thing to miss three pointers,” Swinney said. “It’s another to miss layups.”

Watson owned the mistake and a lot of people were in his ear at halftime concerned with how he might respond.

“I told him just to be him,” said senior guard Eric Mac Lain. “He was maybe a little agitated at himself. And it didn’t look like he was having fun.

“Surprise, he’s human.”

Swinney took him to a corner for a pep talk, too, and Watson responded. Suddenly his fastball was untouchable and his breaking stuff was sick. Patient and poised everything began to click with the Clemson offensive line dominating scrimmage.

Watson completed 28 of 42 passes for 297 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 107 yards. “You’ve just got to be patient for what you want,” he said, “don’t be discouraged.

“Coach Swinney looked in my eye and gave me that smile and told me it was going to be a great second half.”

Running back Wayne Gallman said Florida State didn’t do anything exotic to trouble Watson or interrupt the rhythm.

“To be honest it looked a lot like what Boston College did,” he said. Gallman trumped Cook by providing a pad in the late stages with a 25-yard touchdown run to cap another 100-yard performance. “I was just being me, being Wayne, trying to be myself.”

Swinney said he was proud of how the team maintained its poise and composure. “It was good to see us settle in and be who we are.”

Early last week, Swinney prepared the team for the media tornado that was about to hit. He had voted the team No. 1 in three successive ballots and anticipated the CFP committee ranking. During a meeting he showed the team pictures of venues they would and could visit over the next two months including Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia and those in Charlotte, Miami, Dallas and Glendale, Ariz.

He also showed them a picture of the White House, where national championships are feted.

Games with Syracuse, Wake Forest and South Carolina remain on the schedule and the ACC title game. Gallman said he wasn’t taking anything for granted.

“No,” he said. “We’ve got a lot more games to play. Anything can happen, so we’ve got to stay on our toes.”

True, but Swinney prefers this after nine games to the alternative.

“It’s good to be in control of our destiny,” he said. “Good to have two hands on the wheel.”