Tag: Florida State Seminoles

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Clemson used a late surge to take a 24-14 halftime lead on Florida State on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium, though how the teams got to that score was unconventional in some ways.

The Tigers scored the last 10 points of the half, their final touchdown coming three plays after an FSU turnover. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei’s 5-yard keeper with 19 seconds left in the second quarter gave Clemson its first two-possession lead of the night.

That came after B.T. Potter’s 47-yard field goal on the Tigers’ previous possession, but FSU has used a running game that’s been more productive than any against the Tigers so far this season to stay close.

Uiagalelei added two more touchdowns through the air as part of a 10-of-15, 149-yard passing performance in the first two quarters. But FSU already has 139 rushing yards against the nation’s No. 2-ranked run defense. The Tigers came in yielding less than 63 yards per game on the ground, a number FSU surpassed in the first quarter alone (72). The Seminoles ripped off five runs of at least 16 yards in the first 30 minutes.

One of those was a 20-yard scoring scamper by quarterback Jordan Travis, who capped a nine-play, 75-yard opening possession for the Seminoles. But Clemson answered on its second possession when Uiagalelei sidestepped a blitzing Kevin Knowles II and found freshman Antonio Williams behind the defense for a 59-yard touchdown.

FSU immediately responded with a 15-play, 93-yard drive to take the lead on fullback DJ Lundy’s fourth-down scoring plunge from inside the 1-yard line, a call that stood after review. The Tigers answered again on Uiagalelei’s 7-yard scoring toss to Jake Bringingstool and got a fourth-down stop on the Seminoles’ ensuing possession deep in Clemson territory to ignite its late charge.

Clemson, averaging 6.9 yards per play, has 247 total yards. FSU isn’t far behind at 237. The Tigers will get the ball to start the third quarter.

Clemson will look to stay atop the ACC’s Atlantic Division standings Saturday when the Tigers travel to Doak Campbell Stadium to do battle with Florida State. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised by ABC.

Clemson’s defense vs. Florida State’s offense: Jordan Travis is always a threat with his legs,  but Florida State’s dual-threat quarterback is a different player this season.

Travis is more of a passing threat than he was a season ago when he was the Seminoles’ second-leading rusher. It’s part of the natural development of being in his second year as the full-time starter. FSU enters this game with the ACC’s fourth-best passing attack, averaging more than 261 yards per game through the air.

An improved receiving corps has played a part in that, too. Transfers Johnny Wilson and Mycah Pittman are two of the Seminoles’ top three pass-catchers, and they do it in different ways. While Pittman uses speed and technique to threaten defenses, the 6-foot-7 Wilson is a matchup nightmare on the outside and figures to be the latest test for a Clemson secondary that’s had its struggles this season.

The Tigers rank 94th nationally in passing yards allowed (256 per game), but word is Clemson’s secondary should get at least some of their injured defensive backs back this week, which should give a boost to the back end. And with Xavier Thomas returning last week and Bryan Bresee set to return this week, Clemson is also getting whole again along its deep and talented defensive front.

FSU’s offensive line has done a good job keeping Travis upright, allowing just 1.1 sacks per game. But this Clemson defensive front, at full strength, will be the biggest test for the group both in protection and trying to open up running lanes. Even without some of its stars up front, Clemson has still allowed the second-fewest rushing yards in the country (62.2 per game).

Can that group get consistent pressure on Travis? If not, FSU will have chances to hit some big plays through the air. Advantage: Draw

Clemson’s offense vs. Florida State’s defense: Clemson’s improved passing game will be tested by the nation’s No. 14 passing defense, though the Tigers have one of the best the Seminoles have seen this season.

Clemson ranks 58th nationally in passing (254.8 yards per game), one of two top-60 passing offenses the Seminoles have faced so far. The other one? Wake Forest, which averaged more than 10 yards per completion in its win over FSU.

Teams also haven’t felt the need to throw the ball as much against the Seminoles given the success they’ve had on the ground. FSU is allowing more than 155 rushing yards on average, which ranks in the bottom third of the ACC.

But is a Clemson team that’s averaging less than 150 yards on the ground against Power Five competition one that can exploit that weakness? Maybe. 

One particular area that could give Clemson’s offense an edge is the quarterback run game, something FSU has struggled to contain when facing true dual-threat signal callers. LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Louisville’s Malik Cunningham each ran for at least 114 yards against the Seminoles. While D.J. Uiagalelei isn’t as dynamic in the open field as those two, he’s been a fixture of the Tigers’ running game with offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter dialing up plenty of designed quarterback runs. Uiagalelei led the Tigers in rushing last week and is the team’s second-leading rusher on the season.

Another is Clemson’s efficiency in the red zone. After going 4-for-4 last week, the Tigers have come away with points on all 32 of their trips inside an opponents’ 20-yard line and have scored touchdowns on 75% of those possessions. Meanwhile, FSU’s defense has allowed 19 scores on 21 opponent red-zone trips with 13 of those ending in the end zone. Advantage: Clemson

Special teams: B.T. Potter (11 of 13) has been more consistent than FSU’s Ryan Fitzgerald (5 of 10) on field goals. But FSU has been more explosive in the return game.

The Seminoles rank second in the ACC and 14th nationally in punt return yardage (14.8 per return), making it important for Clemson punter Aidan Swanson to get some hang time and force some fair catches. As for the Tigers’ return game, freshman receiver Antonio Williams is becoming more involved. Will Taylor has been the primary punt returner for most of the season but is averaging just 2.3 yards per return and muffed a couple in last week’s game against Boston College.

But the Tigers continue to have a knack for blocking kicks that swing momentum in their direction. Clemson did it again last week and now have four blocked kicks on the season, tied for third-most in the country. Advantage: Clemson

Bottom line: This will easily be the most hostile environment Clemson has experienced on the road this season. A fast start would certainly help if you’re the Tigers, but both teams figure to make their share of big plays. But Clemson’s defensive front seven makes the difference in a close one, forcing FSU into more field goals and punts than Clemson.

Prediction: Clemson 27, Florida State 19

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Clemson will stay on the road Saturday for another ACC Atlantic Division clash with Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium. A win would help the Tigers take a commanding lead atop the division standings with more than half of their conference slate in the books.

What does Clemson need to do to ensure that happens? Here are three keys:

Keep Jordan Travis contained

FSU’s offense is operating differently in Travis’ second season as the Seminoles’ quarterback. Last year, Travis was FSU’s second-leading rusher. This season, Travis is averaging less than five carries per game.

Still, while FSU’s junior signal caller has developed to the point that he’s looking to throw more often than run, the ability for the speedy Travis to make things happen when the play breaks down always exists. It’s Clemson’s job to make sure Travis isn’t able to make something out of nothing with his legs.

Clemson did that as well as anybody a season ago when the Tigers held FSU to just 1.9 yards per carry in a win at Memorial Stadium. Travis had 16 rushing attempts in the game, but five of those were sacks as the Tigers rarely let him break contain. His longest run against Clemson a season ago was 12 yards.

It goes without saying that keeping Travis in the pocket also increases the chances of him having to throw the ball. FSU’s passing offense ranks in the top 50 nationally, so he’s been better at that this season. The key to the Seminoles’ offensive success, though, has been balancing it out with a running game that helps take some of the pressure off Travis and his receivers.

Travis is averaging 26 pass attempts this season and hasn’t attempted more than 35 in any game so far. He’s still thrown six interceptions, so if Clemson can take away the running game and force FSU to throw more than it’s accustomed to, that would bode well for the Tigers and their chances of forcing the Seminoles’ offense into some mistakes. Just like week, Travis was intercepted twice on 30 pass attempts in a loss at NC State.

But that has to start with a repeat performance of bottling up FSU’s dynamic quarterback.

Play the ball

Another reason FSU’s offense has been better in the passing game is some new receivers who figure to be the latest test for Clemson’s patchwork secondary.

The Seminoles’ top three wideouts have already combined for 60 catches and eight touchdowns. Two of them, Johnny Wilson and Mycah Pittman, are newcomers who transferred in this offseason. When it comes to matchups, Wilson is quite literally the biggest problem for opposing defenses.

Wilson, who played last season at Arizona State, stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 230 pounds. He’s averaging 19.9 yards per reception. And knowing Clemson’s secondary has had its struggles in man coverage at times this season, it would be surprising if FSU doesn’t try to use its size and speed out wide to pick on a group of cornerbacks that’s still trying to get whole.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney continues to list senior Sheridan Jones (stinger) as day to day while another veteran corner, Malcolm Greene (undisclosed), dressed out against Boston College but didn’t play. If they’re out again Saturday, the onus falls on youngsters such as Nate Wiggins and true freshmen Toriano Pride and Jeadyn Lukus to help slow the Seminoles down through the air, which will require better technique and making more plays on the ball in one-on-one matchups.

The secondary has been better since that debacle against Wake Forest late last month, allowing less than 233 passing yards on average the last two weeks. But it will need to be even better this week against the best group of wideouts it’s seen since.

Find some running lanes

FSU is allowing the 14th-fewest passing yards in America, which, on the surface, is impressive. A closer look, though, shows some contributing factors to that.

Opposing offenses have only attempted 172 passes against the Seminoles, fourth-fewest in the ACC. Why? Because they’ve had success moving the ball on the ground. The Seminoles have had to defend 235 rushes to this point, third-most in the league.

FSU’s run defense hasn’t exactly gotten gouged on the ground (3.97 yards per carry allowed), but the Seminoles have had a difficult time offering consistent resistance to it without Fabien Lovett, one of FSU’s top interior defensive linemen who’s been hampered by a leg injury. It’s an area Clemson’s offense needs to exploit.

The question is can they?

The Tigers’ ground game has been a mixed bag so far. Clemson is slightly ahead of last year’s pace in the running game (170.5 yards per game) thanks in large part to more than 400 combined rushing yards against Louisiana Tech and Wake Forest. But Clemson has rushed for 145 or less the last two weeks. Will Shipley averaged just 3.3 yards per carry last week against Boston College.

Making matters worse is the loss of Kobe Pace, who will miss at least a few games with an ankle sprain. But D.J. Uiagalelei has been featured heavily in Clemson’s rushing attack all season and led the Tigers in rushing last week. Look for that to continue in Pace’s absence.

If Clemson can get the running game going, that would further open up shot plays in the passing game. But the Tigers have to give FSU’s defense a reason to creep closer to the line of scrimmage.

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

Clemson and Florida State are longtime ACC Atlantic Division foes who’ve seen their rivalry rev up in recent years. Yet Clemson coach Dabo Swinney doesn’t have many guys on his roster who’ve played at Doak Campbell Stadium.

“It’s kind of weird. Just like the BC game,” Swinney said in reference to the Tigers’ trip to Boston College last week. “We only had a couple of guys that had been there as well.”

With that in mind, Swinney said his team is pumping up the artificial crowd noise during practice this week as the Tigers prepare for what will undoubtedly be the most hostile environment they’ve played in so far this season. According to Vegas Insider, Clemson (6-0, 4-0 ACC) enters this weekend’s matchup with FSU (4-2, 1-2) as just a 3.5-point favorite at Doak Campbell Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 79,560.

Compare that to Clemson’s previous road trips – Wake Forest (32,903 in attendance) and Boston College (42,138) – and there really is no comparison. Even the Tigers’ season-opening win over Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta came in front of just 47,712 fans, most of which were cheering for the Tigers.

Clemson has a number of players who will be experiencing this kind of atmosphere away from home for the first time, including a handful of freshman contributors such as offensive lineman Blake Miller and receiver Antonio Williams. It will happen under the lights as part of a third straight primetime kickoff for the Tigers where the largest road crowd they will have played in front of to this point will have all day to marinate before a 7:30 p.m. start.

Add all those factors up, and Swinney said it’s important to go above and beyond in trying to simulate the noise that his team will have to deal with when trying to execute its assignments come Saturday night.

“That’s the best thing you can do is try to make it as unrealistic in practice as you can so that when they get there, they’re not overwhelmed by that,” Swinney said. “It will be loud and all of that. It will be a great environment. Just try to prepare them for the type of focus that they have to have to execute what they need to do.

“They’ve got good players, so make sure you get enough good-on-good type of work during the week so that they’re ready and they’re sharp.”

This will be Clemson’s first trip to FSU since notching a 58-10 win over the Seminoles in 2018. The teams were initially scheduled to play at Doak Campbell Stadium again during the 2020 season before that game was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

FSU has hired a new coach since then in Mike Norvell, who has a team bringing a top-30 offense and defense nationally into this matchup. For the first time in his tenure, the Seminoles will also have advantage of a home crowd against Clemson.

Swinney said his team, which has won five consecutive true road games dating back to last season, is embracing the challenge.

“I think anytime you’re in competition and you have an opportunity to go play in a great environment, that’s fun,” Swinney said. “You love a challenge like that.”

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!