Tag: Clemson vs. Florida State

Clemson ranks several spots below Florida State in projected preseason AP Top 25

Here’s where Clemson ranks in this preseason AP Top 25 projection.

Clemson and Florida State rank 1-2 as the projected best teams in the ACC in most post-spring Top 25 rankings ahead of the 2024 college football season.

How wide is the gap between the Tigers and ‘Noles, and which team is ahead of which (and why)? The question yields varying answers, depending on who you ask.

A recent projection of the preseason AP Top 25 poll from the folks over at College Football News shows Florida State ahead of Clemson — by a few spots.

The Seminoles crack the top 10 at No. 9 while Dabo Swinney’s team checks in seven spots below at No. 16.

It doesn’t mean that’s where the AP will rank the teams come August when it releases its actual preseason Top 25, but College Football News explains the reasons behind their projections this way:

“The goal here in the early part of summer with the preseason AP Top 25 Poll is to try getting it close and think like the voters do. This might be way too loose, but over the years 1) AP voters tend to build off the trends and momentum of the year before. 2) They like to go with teams with a quarterback they sort of know, and 3) there’s always someone new in the mix late.

How close were we last year with our projection of what it might be? We got Georgia (1), Michigan (2), and Tulane (24) right on. We were one spot off on Ohio State (AP preseason 3), Alabama (4), LSU (5), USC (6), Penn State (7), Florida State (8), Utah (14), Kansas State (16), North Carolina (21), and Texas Tech (26).”

Clemson finished at No. 20 in the final AP Top 25 poll a season ago. Florida State finished at No. 8.

Georgia is the projected preseason No. 1 with Ohio State at No. 2 in College Football News’ rankings.

Clemson vs. Florida State is one of 2024’s most anticipated rematches

Where Clemson vs. Florida State ranks on this list of the most anticipated 2024 college football rematches.

There’s nothing in college football quite like a rematch.

Not when it involves two rivals the caliber of Clemson vs. Florida State. The Tigers and ‘Noles played to a 24-24 tie through four quarters last season in Clemson before FSU won in overtime on a perfect 24-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Travis to Keon Coleman.

Florida State’s defense held Clemson on the Tigers’ only possession in overtime to snap a seven-game losing streak in the rivalry en route to a perfect 12-0 regular season and the ACC championship. Clemson finished with four losses for the first time since 2011.

Heading into 2024, Clemson returns several keys starters on both sides of the ball while Florida State had to retool its roster after losing a lot of talent through the NFL Draft.

Sports Illustrated’s James Parks ranked Clemson vs. FSU at No. 7 in his list of college football’s biggest rematches in 2024.

Per SI:

“Florida State took this game at Death Valley in its undefeated ACC title chase a year ago, and though it hosts Clemson this time, it’ll be with a new-look roster full of top-flight transfers. This year’s game will play a big role in a more open ACC championship picture, and while the Seminoles debut several new contributors, Clemson returns its quarterback [Cade Klubnik] and key defensive prospects on the line and especially linebacker Barrett Carter.”

Clemson will visit Tallahassee on October 5 in the Tigers’ fifth game of the season, one week after hosting new ACC member Stanford on September 28 in Death Valley.

USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg and Erick Smith ranked Clemson at No. 10 in their post-spring Top 25 rankings. Florida State checked in at No. 15, one spot behind No. 14 NC State.

RELATED: College 12 Pack’s composite post-spring top 25 college football rankings

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.  

Clemson vs. Florida State on Joel Klatt’s list of most important 2024 college football games

College football analyst Joel Klatt lists Clemson vs. Florida State as one of the 10 most important games for the 2024 college football season.

The Clemson Tigers’ visit to Florida State on October 5 will be one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2024 college football season.

Clemson and Florida State are widely considered the two best teams in the ACC heading into 2024. And unlike years past, the conference is guaranteed to have one of the top four seeds with the debut of the 12-team College Football Playoff by season’s end.

On Tuesday, Fox Sports broadcaster and college football analyst Joel Klatt put the Tigers-Seminoles showdown at Doak Campbell Stadium on his list of the top 10 games that will shape the 2024 season.

There’s always a bit of spice when Clemson and Florida State take the field, and this year’s matchup figures to have no shortage of storylines.

The ‘Noles snapped a seven-game losing streak in the rivalry last season with a 31-24 overtime victory in Death Valley as coach Dabo Swinney’s team struggled to a 4-4 start and were eliminated from playoff contention before the end of September.

Add in the fact that former Tigers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is back in the ACC after a year at Oregon State, and the Clemson-FSU rivalry is poised to be as strong as ever.

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary. 

Clemson appears twice in ESPN list of top 10 games to watch in 2024

Clemson vs. Georgia and Clemson vs. Florida State are two of ESPN’s 10 games to watch for the 2024 season.

The Clemson Tigers have several marquee matchups on their 2024 schedule, and with exactly 100 days until college football officially kicks off, two of those showdowns made ESPN’s list of 10 games to watch for the upcoming season.

Florida State will face Georgia Tech in 100 days in Dublin, Ireland in what’s commonly known as “Week 0.” A week later, Clemson opens its season on August 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta against the Georgia Bulldogs in one of the most anticipated matchups of Week 1.

The Clemson-Georgia tilt ranked No. 8 in ESPN’s list of top 10 games to watch in the 2024 season. The Tigers will be big underdogs against a Georgia team that figures to be a consensus preseason No. 1.

Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs will be seeking their third national championship in four years, cementing themselves as the top dog (no pun intended) in the college football world. For its part, Clemson is hoping to improve on a 9-4 season that saw them win their final five games after a miserable 4-4 start.

Per the ESPN pool of reporters who made up the list:

“Want to identify the moment Georgia became the behemoth of college football and Clemson started its slow decline from perennial playoff contender? It might well be the opener in 2021, when the Bulldogs outlasted the Tigers 10-3 thanks to a pick-six of DJ Uiagalelei. If Clemson wants to reverse those trends, winning the 2024 opener would be an excellent start — not to mention a healthy dose of redemption.”

Speaking of redemption, Clemson-Florida State also cracked ESPN’s list at No. 5. The Tigers will head to Tallahassee on October 5 looking to avenge last year’s overtime loss to the Seminoles, who snapped a seven-game losing streak to Dabo Swinney teams.

Per ESPN:

“The 2023 season proved a return to normalcy in the ACC, with the FSU-Clemson showdown effectively determining who was top dog in the league. Both teams should be battling for a spot in the ACC championship game again this year, though the winner would probably prefer an exit from the ACC altogether.”

Putting aside whatever both schools’ hopes are pertaining to conference realignment, the Clemson-Florida State winner figures to have a direct path to the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte.

And coupled with a win over Georgia, if Clemson is able to pull off such an upset, the Tigers would be back in the running as a team to be reckoned with in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.

Kickoff time and broadcast info for Clemson-Florida State has yet to be announced.

Clemson-Georgia is scheduled to kick off at noon EDT in Atlanta. The game will be televised by ABC.

Clemson hands Florida State first loss in doubleheader

Clemson Baseball: The third-ranked Tigers defeated seventh-ranked Florida State in game one of a doubleheader Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, 15-5.

CLEMSON, S.C. – No. 3 Clemson overcame an early 4-0 deficit to defeat No. 7 Florida State 15-5 in seven innings in the first game of a doubleheader at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers, who took a 1-0 lead in the series, improved to 20-2 overall and 3-1 in the ACC, while the Seminoles dropped to 19-1 overall and 3-1 in ACC play. The game ended due to the 10-run rule.

Jaime Ferrer belted a grand slam in the top of the first inning, then Will Taylor grounded a two-out, run-scoring single in the bottom of the first inning. In the second inning, Cam Cannarella hit a three-run homer, his fourth of the year, to tie the score 4-4. The Tigers took the lead in the third inning on Andrew Ciufo’s fielder’s choice, then Cannarella lined a two-out, run-scoring single later in the frame.

Alex Lodise cut Clemson’s lead in half in the top of the fifth inning on a leadoff home run, then Jacob Hinderleider belted a two-run homer, his fifth of the season, in the bottom of the fifth inning. Later in the inning with two out, Blake Wright lined a three-run homer, his 11th of the season and seventh in the last eight games, to give Clemson an 11-5 lead. In the seventh inning, Alden Mathes ripped a two-run double and Nolan Nawrocki added a two-out, run-scoring single.

Starter Ethan Darden (4-0) earned the win, as he allowed seven hits, five runs (four earned) and one walk with four strikeouts in a career-long 6.1 innings pitched. Florida State starter Cam Leiter (4-1) suffered the loss, as he surrendered six hits, six runs and five walks with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched.

The series continues Saturday with the second game of the doubleheader at approximately 4:45 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

–Courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications

NCAA Baseball: Where to Watch/Stream/Listen to No. 3 Clemson vs. No. 7 Florida State

Clemson Baseball: Here’s s a look at where Tigers fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s series against Florida State.

Clemson and Florida State are two names that go together a lot these days.

The Tigers and Seminoles are the ACC’s most dominant football programs with the most amount of value to a conference. That’s why they’re both suing the ACC in open court to challenge the league’s Grant-of-Rights clause.

Separate of that, Clemson and Florida State also represent the two teams atop the ACC’s baseball standings through six weeks.

The Tigers (19-2) are ranked No. 5 in the latest USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll, seven spots ahead of No. 12 Florida State. Coach Link Jarrett’s Seminoles have started their season a perfect 19-0 and are ranked No. 7 by Baseball America, which has the Tigers at No. 3 in its Top 25 rankings.

The start of this weekend’s series was pushed back to Saturday due to the threat of inclement weather Friday. Because of that, the two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday before Sunday’s series finale.

Florida State has three talented weekend starters in its rotation. Sophomore left-hander Jamie Arnold has been FSU’s best starter this season with a 5-0 record and a minuscule 0.33 ERA in five outings. Arnold has a 9/1 strikeout to walk ratio in 27 2/3 innings pitched. He struck out 12 without allowing a walk over 5 2/3 innings in his most recent outing against Notre Dame last Saturday.

Cam Leiter, a UCF transfer, is 4-0 with a 3.37 ERA in five starts, and Sunday’s scheduled starter Conner Whitaker is 3-0 with a 3.75 mark in five starts.

Austin Gordon, Tristan Smith, and Aidan Knaak are scheduled to pitch for Clemson. Smith has been the Tigers’ ace this season through five starts with a 2-0 record and 2.55 ERA. Knaak, a freshman from Fort Myers, Fla., is 1-0 with a 3.42 ERA in four outings as the Tigers’ Sunday starter.

At the plate, Blake Wright has been on a tear for Clemson. Wright totaled seven hits in the Tigers’ two non-conference victories (vs. Winthrop and Presbyterian) earlier this week. He became the 17th player in Clemson history to record three home runs in one game in the Tigers’ victory over Presbyterian Wednesday. Wright leads the team with 10 home runs and 28 RBIs.

As a team, Clemson is averaging 8.3 runs per game while batting .297 with a .420 on-base percentage. Tigers pitching has a staff ERA of 3.81. Florida State is averaging 10.4 runs per game and hitting .356 with a staff ERA of 2.79.

Series History

Florida State leads the all time head to head series with Clemson, 83-74-1. The series dates back to 1958. Clemson took two of three in last year’s regular season series at Dick Howser Stadium.

Where to Watch/Stream/Listen

Here’s s a look at where Clemson fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s series.

Dates: March 23-24

Start Times (ET):

Saturday (Game 1), 1 p.m.

Saturday (Game 2), 4:45 p.m.

Sunday: 1 p.m.

Where: Doug Kingsmore Stadium

Broadcast Info

TV/Live Stream: ACC Network Extra (ACCNX), ESPN+

Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | ClemsonTigers.com

Schedule Change: Clemson-Florida State series opener pushed back to Saturday

Clemson Baseball: With the threat of inclement weather, Friday’s schedule series opener between the Tigers and Florida State has been pushed back to Saturday. Both teams will play a doubleheader Saturday before the series wraps Sunday.

CLEMSON, S.C. – Due to forecasted inclement weather on Friday evening, the series opener between Florida State and Clemson on Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium is postponed. The new series schedule is as follows…

• Game 1 – Saturday at 1 p.m.
• Game 2 – Saturday approximately one hour after Game 1 ends
• Game 3 – Sunday at 1 p.m. (as previously scheduled)

Live video for all three games of the series is available on ACC Network Extra. All three contests are also still scheduled as nine-inning games.

Tickets for Friday’s originally scheduled game are valid for the second game of the doubleheader, while tickets for Saturday’s originally scheduled game are valid for the first game of the doubleheader. The stadium will be cleared in between games.

–Courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications

Clemson vs. Florida State: Where to Watch/Stream/Listen

Here’s a look at how and where Clemson fans can watch, listen, and stream Saturday’s game against Florida State.

Clemson enters the weekend having won four of its last five games after a rough start to the ACC schedule. The Tigers are hoping to continue their march toward March when they host Florida State Saturday night at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Clemson (18-8 overall, 8-7 ACC) is coming off its most lopsided conference victory of the season after routing Georgia Tech, 81-57, on Wednesday night in Atlanta. In that game, the Tigers made a season-high 14 3-pointers and converted over 50 percent of their shots from the field. Ian Schieffelin had 19 points, Chase Hunter added 18, and Clemson finished with four players in double figures.

Saturday’s contest will mark the second meeting between the Tigers and Seminoles (14-12, 8-7) this season. In their first matchup back on Jan. 20, Clemson used a second-half surge to down Florida State, 78-67, in Tallahassee.

FSU defeated Boston College, 84-76, earlier this week to snap a three-game losing stream that had seen the team fall to just a game over .500. Jamir Watkins scored 22 points and finished with 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Watkins leads the Seminoles with 15 points per game and almost six rebounds per game, both team highs.

Series Notes and Recent History

According to the statistical website sports-reference.com, Florida State leads the all-time head to head series, 46-36. The Tigers have won the last three meetings between the schools dating back to last season.

Where to Watch/Stream/Listen

Here’s a look at how and where Clemson fans can watch, listen, and stream Saturday’s game against Florida State.

Date: Saturday, Feb. 24

Time: 7:45 p.m. EST

Where: Littlejohn Coliseum

TV Channel: CW Network

Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | TuneIn App | SiriusXM (Channel 193)

Broadcast Teams

CW Network: Tom Werme, Brian Oliver

Clemson Radio: Don Munson, Tim Bourret

Clemson vs. Florida State is one of the 10 most anticipated rematches of the 2024 college football season

Clemson vs. Florida State is one of the most highly anticipated games for the 2024 season.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program will look for revenge against Florida State in the 2024 season, with the game adding even more intensity this offseason. 

When Clemson and FSU face off, you know it’s a big game. However, the addition of former Clemson starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei as the Seminoles’ new starting quarterback has made things much more interesting. According to Bleacher Report, the game is one of the 10 most anticipated rematches of the 2024 college football season.

With 1:45 left in the fourth quarter, Clemson had a chance for a 29-yard field goal. But former backup Tigers kicker Jonathan Weitz, who joined the team just earlier that week to help with the Tigers’ kicking woes, missed it, forcing overtime. FSU scored a touchdown in overtime, and Clemson was stuffed on fourth down on its ensuing possession. FSU finally beat Clemson, and the Tigers were knocked out of playoff contention before September was over.

This game is just as important in 2024. Dabo Swinney likely can’t miss the playoff for a fourth consecutive season if he wants to stay at Clemson. The Tigers return quarterback Cade Klubnik and 79 percent of their production on offense overall.

Florida State, meanwhile, has to massively reload to replace quarterback Jordan Travis, running back Trey Benson, wide receiver Johnny Wilson and defensive end Jared Verse. SP+ predicts FSU as a team most likely to regress next season.

The 2024 edition of this ACC rivalry should be a good one.

The ACC is wide open next season, with these two powerhouses as the favorites to win the conference. Neither feels like they’ll be a powerhouse in 2024, but that doesn’t mean one of these teams won’t be, especially for a team like Clemson, where the potential is there.

Like last season, it likely comes down to Clemson’s offense and how they progress throughout the season. If offensive coordinator Garrett Riley can get Cade Klubnik and this offense on track, the Tigers will be the favorites to win the conference.

Clemson Tigers vs. Florida State Seminoles: How to Watch/Stream/Listen

A look at how and where Clemson fans can stream Saturday’s ACC contest against Florida State.

Clemson is hoping to keep its once-promising basketball season from slipping any further. Since ACC play resumed at the start of January, the Tigers have dropped four of their first five contests in 2024.

The team’s next challenge, a road trip to Tallahassee to take on a streaking Florida State team, won’t make things any easier.

The Seminoles (11-6 overall, 5-1 conference) have won all five games against ACC competition since conference play resumed on Jan. 3.

Florida State beat Miami, 84-75, on the road Wednesday night to. further state its case as one of the ACC’s best teams. Heading into the weekend, only No. 4 North Carolina is ahead of the Seminoles in conference standings.

FSU forward-guard Jamir Watkins is atop the team’s leaderboard, averaging 13.1 points per game. Primo Spears and Cam Cohen, two reserves, each had 16 points off the bench in the Seminoles’ win at Miami.

Meanwhile, Clemson is headed in the opposite direction.

The Tigers (12-5 overall, 2-4 conference) suffered their worst loss of the season on Tuesday night when they coughed up a nine-point lead in the final 1:33 of regulation against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets went on to win in double overtime.

PJ Hall had a career-high 31 points in the loss, three nights after he turned in 26 points in the Tigers’ win over Boston College.

Series Notes and Recent History

Florida State leads the all-time series, 46-35. The Tigers won both contests a year ago, 82-81, in Tallahassee and 94-54 at Littlejohn Coliseum.

How To Watch

Here’s a look at how and where Clemson fans can watch, listen, and stream Saturday’s game.

Date: Saturday, Jan. 20

Time: 4 p.m. EST

Where: Donald L. Tucker Center

TV Channel: ACC Network

Live Stream: ESPN+

Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | TuneIn App | SiriusXM (Channel 194)

Broadcast Teams

ACC Network: Mike Monaco, Randolph Childress

Clemson Radio Network: Don Munson, Tim Bourret