Clemson a heavy favorite to give Dabo Swinney record-breaking win in rivalry game with Florida St.
California defensive lineman Stanley Saole-McKenzie brings down Florida State running back Lawrance Toafili in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. Credit: AP/Mark Wallheiser
No. 15 Clemson (3-1, 2-0 ACC) at Florida State (1-4, 1-3), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Clemson by 14 1/2.
Series record: Florida State 21-15.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Clemson seeks a fourth straight win and third consecutive in ACC play while giving coach Dabo Swinney his 174th career win, which would surpass Florida State legend Bobby Bowden for the league record for career wins (173 of Bowden’s wins came when the Seminoles joined the ACC in 1992 through his retirement in 2009). The Seminoles won the ACC title in 2023 but have been a major disappointment and struggled in a 42-16 road loss to SMU.
KEY MATCHUP
Redshirt freshman Brock Glenn will make his third career start and all three have come against top-20 opponents (Louisville in the 2023 ACC title game, Georgia in the Orange Bowl). Glenn and the Seminoles’ offensive line will face a talented Clemson front, although the Tigers have generated just eight sacks. Clemson is 82nd in the FBS allowing 25.8 points, but that’s deceiving considering the Tigers jumped in front of NC State 45-7 at halftime before putting backups into the game and still cruising to a 59-35 win.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik drops back to pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Clemson, S.C. Credit: AP/Artie Walker Jr.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Florida State: RB Lawrance Toafili has 214 of Florida State’s 326 yards rushing in 2024. The redshirt senior has carried the load, especially in the absence of injured Alabama transfer Roydell Williams. Toafili has 1,653 career rushing yards.
Clemson: QB Cade Klubnik is completing a career-best 66.4% of his passes for 984 yards, 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Klubnik has 43 career touchdowns (33 passing and 10 rushing).
FACTS & FIGURES
Clemson had won seven straight in the series before Florida State’s 31-24 overtime win at Death Valley in September 2023 … Clemson is looking to surpass 400 offensive yards in four straight games, but Florida State hasn’t hit 300 offensive yards in its first five games … Warrick Dunn, who accumulated 3,959 rushing yards from 1993-96, will be honored during Saturday’s game. Dunn will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
