Florida State almost pulled off an upset of the top-ranked Miami Hurricanes two weeks ago, but they fell short in double overtime. This Saturday, they have another rival on deck, and it's the Clemson Tigers, a team they've lost two consecutive games to.
The Tigers are 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the ACC, and they need to keep winning to have a chance at playing in Charlotte for the conference title. They've lost their last two games in the ACC, which makes this a huge matchup for them on the road versus FSU.
For FSU, their chances at competing for the ACC crown are pretty much done with a 1-3 conference record, but they need to get at least three more wins in their final five games to make a bowl game. So, here are five things to know about Clemson
before Florida State attempts to end their losing streak against them.
Their passing game is shaky
It hasn't mattered if it was Christopher Vizzina, who started the season as the Tigers' starting quarterback before he got injured in their second game against the Georgia Southern Eagles, or Tait Reynolds whose taken over since, Clemson has struggled to pass the football. Reynolds has thrown for under 160 yards in three of his five starts, and they have just two passing touchdowns to seven interceptions on the year between the four quarterbacks that have taken snaps.
Their offense is one of the worst in the nation
Clemson ranks dead last in the ACC in total offense (333.1), scoring (21.4), and passing yards per game (182.6). Those totals rank 115th, 111th, and 115th nationally. If Florida State is to win this game, they can't allow this offense to get in any kind of rhythm with Clemson having such a good defense.
Their defense is good
Clemson has its ups and downs offensively, but their defense is a very good unit. They're 32nd overall in total defense in the nation at 317 yards a game and 35th versus the pass at 185.7 yards, and both rank fourth in the ACC. Also, they're seventh in the country in adjusted EPA per play at -0.22 for the year. It will be a challenge for FSU's offense to move the ball.
Horrible third-down efficiency on offense
A huge reason why Clemson doesn't score a lot offensively is that they are not good at all on third down. They've only converted 32 out of 101 attempts on third down, which is only 31.68%. It will be crucial for Florida State's defense to get off the field quickly and not let Clemson's offense get any momentum.
Blocking Will Heldt needs to be a huge priority
Heldt has six sacks on the year for Clemson, with three games of two sacks each. He's also racked up 8.5 tackles for loss. Neutralizing him will help FSU's offense and their ability to move the ball up and down the field.
Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience.
This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Five things about Clemson Tigers before matchup with FSU
