The fourth-ranked Clemson Tigers can clinch the ACC’s Atlantic Division with a win or an NC State loss on Saturday.
Clemson has won two straight in the series and is looking to win three straight for just the second time in the 31-year history of the rivalry.
Game information:
Where: Clemson Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C.
Records: Clemson 8-1, 6-1 ACC; Florida State 3-5, 3-4 ACC
When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Radio: 105.5 in the Upstate (Clemson Tigers Radio Network); SiriusXM Radio Ch. 81
Latest Line: Clemson favored by 16 points
Series: FSU leads the series 20-10
First meeting: FSU won 38-13 in 1970
Last year: Clemson won 37-34 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Injury Report: Out for Season: Richard Yeargin, DE, Neck; Logan Rudolph, DE, Shoulder; Cole Renfrow, TE, Knee; Greg Huegel, PK, Knee. Out this Game: Mark Fields, CB, foot. Questionable: Dexter Lawrence, DT, ankle; Kendall Joseph, LB, knee; Marcus Edmond, CB, foot.
Three story lines
Clemson can win the ACC’s Atlantic Division with a victory or a NC State loss at Boston College. If Clemson wins the division, it will advance to next month’s ACC Championship Game in Charlotte where they will play for their third straight ACC Championship. It will also mark the Tigers’ sixth Atlantic Division title under head coach Dabo Swinney.
Florida State has to win three of its remaining four games to qualify for a bowl game.
The Tigers needs a win to stay alive in the College Football Playoff race. Right now, they sit fourth in the CFP Committee Rankings.
Florida State players to watch
Cam Akers, RB: The freshman running back rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win over Syracuse. He leads the Seminoles with 695 yards and three touchdowns. He is averaging 5.5 yards per carry.
James Blackman, QB: Also a freshman, Blackman is completing 58.5 percent of his passes for 1,285 yards and 8 touchdowns. He also has thrown seven interceptions and has been sacked over 20 times.
Auden Tate, WR: He has 26 receptions for 386 yards, but leads the team with 5 touchdown receptions.
Josh Sweat, DE: Sweat leads the team with 4.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. He is also third on the team with 43 tackles.
Matthew Thomas, LB: Thomas leads the defense with 56 tackles. He has two sacks and 4.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Florida State Scouting Report
The Seminoles are first in the ACC and tied for 3rd in the NCAA with four blocked kicks this season. They have a punt block and a field goal block in the same season for the first time since 2010, and the four total blocks are the most in a season under Jimbo Fisher. FSU blocked two field goals in last week’s win over Syracuse.
Florida State scored three offensive touchdowns of longer than 50 yards in the 27-24 win vs. Syracuse, courtesy of a 51-yard pass from Blackman to Nyqwan Murray and touchdown runs of 54 and 63 yards from Akers, marking the first time since Nov. 20, 1976—a span of 510 games—FSU registered three 50-plus yard touchdowns on offense in the same game. The 1976 season is also the last year the Seminoles had a losing season.
FSU is 1-11 all-time against the reigning national champion, beating Miami 38-3 in 1984.