Oct 43 min read

Surging Tigers Seek Revenge Against Seminoles in Rivalry

On Oct. 5, the 15th-ranked Clemson Tigers (3-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to battle the Florida State Seminoles (1-4, 1-3 ACC) at 7 p.m. EST in the 37th rivalry game between the two schools. While the Seminoles own the overall series lead 21-15 and won last season's game 31-24, the two teams couldn't be further apart.

While the Tigers enter riding a three-game win streak, the Seminoles have lost three of four games on the season and have looked lost as they search for their identity. As the Tigers look to reclaim the ACC, the next rung in the ladder is the Florida State Seminoles.

What's at Stake in the Game?

For the Seminoles, they are playing for their season. With the wheels having fallen off the proverbial bus, head coach Mike Norvell and his staff decided to switch quarterbacks. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei had started and struggled to find consistency in leading this offense. This week, QB Brock Glenn will start while Uiagalelei deals with a broken finger. The Seminoles have appeared as a shell of the 2023 team and have yet to find their identity. Will the change at quarterback help kickstart an offense that is averaging 15 points per game?

For the Tigers, it's a continued climb. After losing 34-3 to No. 5 Georgia to start this season, Clemson has woken up and been playing piling up points like they are playing in an arcade. The Tigers are outscoring their opponents 165-69. The defense, while playing well, has allowed 402 yards of offense. That ranks 16th in the ACC and the Tigers allow 25.8 points per game. Can the Tigers' defense establish themselves against the defending ACC champion Seminoles? Will linebacker Wade Woodaz and the defense turn in a lights-out type of performance to solidify themselves as the team to beat?

Seminoles to Watch

All eyes will be on QB Brock Glenn. The redshirt freshman saw limited snaps in the 2023 season, notably being the winning quarterback in last season's ACC title game. Can his familiarity with the offense, along with an ability to be more mobile, provide the much-needed spark the Seminoles offense has lacked this season? Will the offensive line be able to establish itself and play with the physicality needed to establish a pocket for Glenn and running lanes for running backs Lawrance Toafili and Kam Davis? The line surrendered 12 sacks while protecting Uiagalelei this season.

Who to Watch for the Tigers

QB Cade Klubnik has quickly turned the offense around, accounting for 16 touchdowns over the past three games. While receiver Antonio Williams leads the team in receptions, freshman Bryant Wesco Jr. has emerged as a yardage monster and leads the Tigers with 238 yards. Running back Phil Mafah has run for over 100 yards in two of the team's four games. Defensively, the linebacking trio of Wade Woodaz, Barrett Carter and Sammy Brown have been a force with 66 tackles, 3 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble between them. While the Tigers' offense has been able to sprint past opposing defenses during their three-game win streak, the defense has yet to deliver a truly dominating performance.

Key Matchup to Watch in the Tigers' Rivalry

Quarterback Brock Glenn vs. Safety RJ Mickens

While Glenn has had his struggles in limited snaps, he provides a more athletic quarterback for the Seminoles' offense and Norvell. While accomplished in high school with 4,582 total yards and 68 total TDs, he is still an unknown in college. Will his familiarity with the offense spark the Seminoles and will Glenn be able to keep Mickens guessing? Mickens is a rangy defender who has the football IQ to read and react quickly and will be a reference point for Glenn to be aware of on every play.