During ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday, legendary former Alabama coach and current ESPN college football analyst Nick Saban weighed in on who’s had the more disappointing season: Clemson or Florida State?

“Clemson, because they were ranked higher to start with,” Saban said. “Florida State was ranked. Both teams are having a disappointing season. But I talked to Dabo this week, and I think he really has the right approach. Because every obstacle has an opportunity to learn and people can grow from it. And he really wants to see how his team finishes the season, responds, learns from all the adversity they’ve had to overcome this year.”

Of course, the Tigers and Seminoles are set to square off tonight at Memorial Stadium (7 p.m., ACC Network). Clemson enters the contest as 1.5-point favorite.

Florida State upset Alabama in the season opener and started 3-0 but now sits at 4-4 overall and 1-4 in ACC play. Clemson was ranked No. 4 in the preseason AP Poll but is now 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the ACC.

Saban was asked by fellow ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit if Swinney – who’s in his 18th season (and 17th full season) as Clemson’s head coach – would ever leave Clemson to go start fresh at another school.

“He’s been there so long. Would he take one of these jobs, you think?” Herbstreit asked.

“It would surprise me,” Saban answered. “In my conversation with him, he never mentioned that. He was totally focused on what his team needs to do to have success.”

Swinney’s team is coming off a 46-45 home loss to Duke last Saturday, while Mike Norvell’s Florida State squad rolled to a 42-7 home win over Wake Forest last Saturday. It marked the Noles’ first ACC win since beating Cal last season on Sept. 21, 2024.

Tonight against FSU, Clemson will try to win its first game against a Power 4 team at Memorial Stadium since Oct. 19, 2024 against Virginia.