CLEMSON — Every week for the Clemson Tigers is do or die now, and the mantra of the biggest game is the one this week cannot ring more true. With Florida State on the docket, a win in Death Valley would be a mouthwash from the taste the season opened with.

That said, how do the Tigers do it? It’s going to take the best effort Clemson’s put on the filed in 2023. Four quarters that look like the first quarter against FAU would work. While the Tigers staff has crafted a game-plan to take down the Seminoles, a few Clemson players can step up in the big moment and flip the script on the season.

TE Jake Briningstool

After two quiet weeks, we finally got to see Briningstool be a playmaker against the Owls. Quarterback Cade Klubnik saw him 1-on-1 in the endzone and put the ball where only his tight end could get it for a score with a defender draped on him.

Florida State’s calling card is speed, and Briningstool can challenge that with physicality and size. Match the energy of Johnny Wilson as a matchup nightmare, and the Seminoles will have to shade towards the junior tight end, opening up Garrett Riley’s offense.

S Jalyn Phillips

Mile Norvell’s offense is flashy. With vertical attack galore and the playmakers to match, the backend of Wes Goodwin’s defense will be Put to the test and then some. Enter the graduate senior Phillips, who secured his first career sack last week and has had a stellar start to the year.

He’s the gatekeeper for this defense and it’ll be on him to make sure the Tigers don’t get lumped with the big plays that became all too familiar last season.

It hasn’t been an issue so far in 2023, and Phillips will have to showcase his range and football IQ against a talented Seminole receiving core. If he can do so and allow Clemson’s pass rush to find momentum, the Tigers have their recipe for a win in Death Valley.