Since 2011, the winner of this annual matchup has gone on to win the ACC. The past five years, that has been Clemson.
Mike Norvell is in year number one in what is going to be a complete rebuild. Considering the Seminoles just won a national title in 2013, that is something that is a little hard to fathom.
Clemson gets Trevor Lawrence back this week. That is bad news for a reeling Florida State team that has lost three straight and whose roster has taken one big hit after another with injuries and opt outs.
This Seminoles team is the perfect opponent for Lawrence to get his Heisman campaign back on track and even more importantly, for this Clemson offense to get its stagnant running game going.
There is no nice way to put it, but the Tigers offensive line has struggled. Yes, teams come in intent on slowing down Travis Etienne, but that is not something that just started this season. This group has got to find a way to open up some lanes on the interior, and this FSU defense is the perfect opponent to do that against.
Florida State’s defense has been terrible this season. Coming in, most thought they would have one of the better defensive fronts in the ACC but they have not lived up to expectations, ranking dead last in the league with just 10 sacks. To make matters worse, big defensive tackle Marvin Wilson is now done for the season.
The Noles also have problems on offense. It is assumed that Jordan Travis will start at quarterback but he has been hurt. If he can’t go, Tate Rodemaker is the only other scholarship quarterback on the roster.
How this Florida State offense is going to put up points against a Clemson defense that is finally starting to get healthy is anyone’s guess. Their biggest playmakers are their young running backs and with Tyler Davis expected to be back, that isn’t the best recipe for success against the Tigers.
It’s going to be another long day for this Florida State team in Tallahassee on Saturday afternoon. The talent gap between these two programs is still growing and that will once again be on full display for the Seminole fan base.
Clemson 49 Florida State 10
