CLEMSON — One of the things Dabo Swinney always preaches to his Clemson team is that the next game is always the biggest game of the year.

“If you do not have that mindset on this side of the microphone, then you are not going to be very consistent or very good,” the Clemson coach said. “You win this game, well, guess what? You go to Syracuse next week and lay an egg then no one cares.

“Every game is the biggest game of the year, but there are those games along the way that you have along your path that just got a little more juice to them.”

The Florida State-Clemson matchup is one of those games, as the fourth-ranked Seminoles come to Memorial Stadium Saturday to face the unranked Tigers.

This year’s matchup is huge for both programs. FSU is trying to end a seven-game losing streak to the Tigers and regain control of the conference.

Clemson, after its Labor Day loss to Duke, desperately needs a win to keep its ACC title game hopes in good shape. A loss could seriously jeopardize the Tigers’ chances of competing for an ACC Championship.

“This is game you better show up. You better show up and be ready,” Swinney said. “It is certainly great for the ACC when you have the competitive balance that we have. Our league is really good. We have a lot of good players and a bunch of great quarterbacks, and we play about every one of them.”

The Tigers have already faced Duke’s Riley Leonard, and on Saturday they face FSU’s Jordan Travis. The senior has thrown for 739 yards with 10 touchdowns and one interception already this year, while completing 53-of-84 passes. He is averaging 8.8 yards per attempt.

“He is a great football player, but he is a great kid,” Swinney said. “He is a winner. He is a guy that makes everyone else around him better. He has ton of football character and character in general, and that just shines through him.”

No. 4 Florida State (3-0, 0-0 ACC) at Clemson (2-1, 0-1 ACC)

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 23, Noon ET

Location: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C.

TV: ABC

Spread: FSU -2.0

Over/Under: 55

WHY CLEMSON WILL WIN

Clemson will win this game if quarterback Cade Klubnik continues to progress in the passing game and shows the cool and calmness he displayed in last week’s win over Florida Atlantic. The Tigers must also take care of the football and win the turnover margin. It will also be important for the defense to shut down the Seminoles’ rushing attack and make them one dimensional.

WHY FSU WILL WIN

If the Tigers turn the football over and give FSU shorter fields to work with. Also, if the Tigers allow the Seminoles running game to get going, then they could be in for a long afternoon.

OTHER STARS TO WATCH

Clemson will have Will Shipley and Phil Mafah to give the Seminoles headaches and with the emergence of wide receiver Tyler Brown, it could be big news for the passing game. FSU is loaded at the skill positions with Keon Coleman (6-4, 215) and Johnny Wilson (6-7, 237) at wide receiver, along with South Carolina transfer Jahiem Bell (6-3, 239) at tight end. The Tigers also have to watch out for running backs Trey Benson and Lawrence Toafili.

THIS AND THAT

Swinney enters the game with a 99-20 all-time record in ACC regular season play. With a win on Saturday, he would join — fittingly — Florida State’s Bobby Bowden as the only head coaches in conference history to win 100 regular season conference games as ACC head coaches. Bowden won 117 regular season conference games with the Seminoles after Florida State joined the ACC in 1992.

FINAL ANALYSIS

There are many, even some Clemson fans, who think the Tigers cannot stay on the field with the Seminoles. However, Clemson’s defense is the difference in this game. The Tigers have an elite defense that I think will get after Travis and force the turnovers he dodged against LSU. Look for Clemson to capitalize off those turnovers and cash them in for points, while Shipley and Mafah have big gains up the middle of the Seminoles’ defense.

PREDICTION

Clemson 31, Florida State 17

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