No. 2 Clemson goes for 4th straight win vs Florida State

Posted October 25, 2018 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

No. 2 Clemson (7-0, 4-0 ACC) at Florida State (4-3, 1-2), noon ET (ABC)

Line: Clemson by 16ˆ½.

Series record: Florida State leads 20-11.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Clemson is looking for its third 8-0 start in the past four years and to keep on track for a fourth consecutive trip to the Atlantic Coast Conference title game. Florida State would like a signature victory in coach Willie Taggart's first season and beating the second-ranked Tigers would do it.

KEY MATCHUP

Clemson RB Travis Etienne vs. Florida State's run defense. Etienne leads the ACC with 800 yards and 14 TDs, gaining an eye-popping 8.2 yards on each handoff. The Seminoles lead the league in shutting down the run with just over 100 yards a game allowed on the ground. They've given up just five rushing touchdowns.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Clemson: QB Trevor Lawrence. The freshman looked right at home last week as he threw for a 308 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers' 41-7 pummeling of North Carolina State. Lawrence will face a stronger defensive line eager to make him uncomfortable.

Florida State: DE Brian Burns. In a game where Clemson has four NFL-caliber starters on its defensive line, the Seminoles junior might be the best of them all this season. Burns leads the ACC with nine sacks and is third with 11.5 tackles for loss.

FACTS & FIGURES

Clemson's past three wins in the series are already a program best. Florida State won 11 straight against the Tigers, a streak that ended with son Tommy Bowden's win by the Tigers over father Bobby Bowden's Seminoles. ... The programs have combined to win the last nine ACC Atlantic Division titles. ... Florida State has never lost four straight games to an ACC opponent. Miami accomplished that feat against the Seminoles before it joined the ACC. ... Clemson freshman FB Garrett Williams is the son of ex-Florida State fullback Dwayne Williams, who was part of the famed "Puntrooskie" play at Clemson in 1988. The elder Williams placed the ball between the legs of Leroy Butler on the fake punt. Butler ran 78 yards to set up FSU's winning field goal in a 24-21 win.

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