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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Clemson has gained six straight video games over Florida State, together with the final 4 by double figures.
There had been lopsided wins in 2018 (59-10) and 2019 (45-14), however the Seminoles had a late lead at Death Valley a yr in the past earlier than squandering the chance.
“I wanted to vomit watching the Florida State game last year,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney mentioned. “We won. But we were so bad.”
Clemson might have been unhealthy however Florida State wasn’t adequate. Both groups seem like improved this time round as No. 4 Clemson (6-0, 4-0 ACC) travels to Florida State (4-2, 2-2) on Saturday with loads on the road.
The Tigers have already knocked off a pair of Top 25 divisional foes in Wake Forest and NC State, so a win over Florida State would dispatch but another contender and provides the Tigers a tenth 7-0 begin in faculty historical past in addition to the sixth beneath Swinney since 2015.
For the Seminoles, there are now not any ethical victories as they search to get again on monitor after consecutive losses to the Demon Deacons and Wolfpack.
“It’s a team that’s a few plays from being undefeated,” Swinney mentioned of the Seminoles. “It really is.”
The Tigers haven’t been as environment friendly as Swinney would really like, however they’ve scored not less than 30 factors in all six video games in 2022 for simply the third time in faculty historical past. While Clemson averages 39 factors per sport, the Tigers are extremely environment friendly in the crimson zone with scores on all 32 drives contained in the 20-yard line. Tthey have touchdowns on 24 of these drives.
Clemson would be the hardest matchup but for a Florida State go protection that’s permitting simply 170.3 yards per sport, tops in the ACC and 14th in the FBS.
FIRST TIMERS
This shall be Clemson’s first journey to Florida State since 2018. The Tigers had been alleged to play there two years in the past, however the sport was known as off when Clemson had a participant take a look at optimistic for COVID-19 and it was an indignant Swinney who charged that struggling Florida State used that growth to get out of dealing with the undefeated Tigers.
Swinney is keen for his gamers to expertise the ambiance of a full, noisy stadium at evening between the ACC rivals. Clemson defensive finish Xavier Thomas remembers the ambiance and relishes the possibility for another alternative to win at Florida State.
“Can’t wait for us to get down there,” he mentioned.
GETTING CLOSER
Clemson middle Will Putnam mentioned his staff’s undefeated begin has occurred with out all phases of the staff clicking on the identical time. Putnam has seen the offense shine in wins like a 51-45 time beyond regulation shootout at Wake Forest final month or the protection stand out as in the Tigers’ 31-3 win at Boston College per week in the past.
“We still haven’t played complementary football,” Putnam mentioned. (*4*)
REBUILT RUSH
Florida State had 33 sacks a yr in the past as Jermaine Johnson led the best way with 11.5. With Johnson and Keir Thomas gone, the Seminoles have nonetheless generated an impactful go rush with 16 sacks (twentieth in the FBS).
DE Jared Verse, who has 4 sacks and seven.5 tackles for loss, leads Florida State.
“This is what I’ve been working for, this is what I dreamed of,” mentioned Verse, who transferred from Albany in the offseason.
FULL STRENGTH
Clemson’s protection is near getting everybody wholesome and again on the sphere.
Defensive finish Xavier Thomas had two sacks and a quarterback hurry in simply six snaps final week towards Boston College whereas defensive deal with Bryan Bresee is anticipated to return this week after lacking the previous two video games coping with a kidney an infection. Swinney mentioned gamers injured in the secondary who missed the video games like cornerback Sheridan Jones and security Tyler Venables are additionally anticipated to return.
STARS QUESTIONABLE
Florida State’s high defensive deal with, Fabien Lovett, missed a fourth straight sport and his standing for the Clemson sport is unsure. The Seminoles’ main tailback, Treshaun Ward, had his arm in a sling late in the sport at NC State per week in the past. While Florida State has had some gamers return from harm, notably Verse and beginning LT Robert Scott, accidents have restricted each strains.
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AP Sports Writer Pete Iacobelli contributed.
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More AP faculty soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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