The Florida State Seminoles and Clemson Tigers will meet Saturday night in Tallahassee, with both programs searching for answers after seasons that have fallen well short of expectations. That made the two ACC powers the subject of an interesting debate on the Cover 3 Podcast: Which fan base is more upset right now?
The answer was Florida State for former FSU quarterback Danny Kanell.
More Upset Fanbase: Clemson or Florida State? 😡 pic.twitter.com/gADIMcB4ye
— Cover 3 Podcast (@Cover3Podcast) October 28, 2026
“I think it’s Florida State,” Kanell said. “I don’t know if there’s anything Mike Norvell could get the Florida State fans. He could go 8-4, win out, and I still think Florida State fans, half the fan base is checked out.”
There is frustration at Clemson, too, but the argument centered on one
major difference between the programs. Dabo Swinney has two national championships on his résumé, and Kanell suggested that Clemson supporters could be won back if Swinney showed a greater willingness to adjust his roster-building philosophy to the modern era.
“If you could get him to change ... I think you could win back the fan base,” the podcast said. “This sport has changed a lot in five years. And Dabo is — the way that he does things is not what works in this new version of the sport.”
Florida State’s situation was viewed differently. The Seminoles enter Saturday 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the ACC, while Clemson arrives at 4-3 and 2-2 following a 20-16 home loss to Virginia Tech.
For Norvell, the criticism comes as FSU attempts to salvage a season that has already included four losses through seven games. The Seminoles still have five opportunities remaining to change the direction of the season, beginning with Clemson at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Saturday’s matchup therefore carries an unusual feel for two programs accustomed to competing near the top of the ACC. Someone will leave Tallahassee with a much-needed win. The other will have an already frustrated fan base with even more reason to be unhappy.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: College football podcast weighs which ACC fan base is more frustrated
