First look: Top storylines, betting odds for Clemson vs. Florida State football game

After months of waiting, the football game that coach Dabo Swinney has called Clemson’s “biggest challenge yet” is finally here.

No. 4 Florida State is coming to Death Valley on Saturday for a highly anticipated ACC matchup with massive implications for the conference and the Clemson program.

Thanks to a season-opening loss at Duke, Clemson is unranked in the AP Top 25 and essentially one slip-up away from College Football Playoff elimination a month into the season.

And FSU — billed all offseason as the top challenger to Clemson’s years-long run of ACC dominance — has been as good as advertised in 2023.

Here’s your first look at the game.

Clemson vs. FSU game, TV info

Who: No. 4 Florida State (3-0, 1-0 ACC) at Clemson (2-1, 0-1 ACC)

When: noon Saturday

Where: Memorial Stadium in Clemson

TV: ABC

Vegas odds: Clemson FSU point spread

Florida State opened as a 2.5-point betting favorite against Clemson on Sunday, according to the VegasInsider.com consensus line. Assuming that line holds, Clemson will be a home underdog in Death Valley for the first time since 2016 against Louisville.

Clemson vs. FSU last meeting, trends

Clemson trails the all-time series against Florida State 15-20 but has won seven straight games against Florida State dating back to 2015. Last year’s game — a 34-28 Clemson win in Tallahassee — was the closest in the series since 2016.

Before Clemson’s seven-game series winning streak started, FSU won three straight games against the Tigers from 2012-14 and five of seven from 2008-14. During the former stretch, FSU won the 2013 BCS national championship game with coach Jimbo Fisher and star quarterback Jameis Winston.

Last week for Clemson

Clemson left no room for doubt in a 48-14 win over Florida Atlantic on Saturday that marked the Tigers’ most complete game to date — albeit against a Group of Five opponent.

Quarterback Cade Klubnik had four total touchdowns and zero turnovers — the first time he’s gone turnover-free in four career starts — and Clemson, as a team, won the turnover margin (+3) for the first time this season.

The Tigers also allowed zero sacks, forced a season-high four turnovers and got a career performance from Tyler Brown, the first Clemson freshman wide receiver with two receiving touchdowns in a single game since Justyn Ross in the 2018 Cotton Bowl.

But the win wasn’t enough to bump Clemson into the AP Top 25 poll. With voters still heavily weighing Clemson’s 21-point loss at Duke, the Tigers finished second among teams receiving votes – essentially No. 26 – for a second straight week.

Last week for FSU

The Seminoles were the talk of the town after routing then-No. 5 LSU by 21 points in a primetime Week 1 game, but they came back down to earth a little in their first conference game of the season.

FSU beat Boston College 31-29 on the road to move to 3-0, but not before struggling mightily against the Eagles and almost blowing a 21-point lead.

The Seminoles got out to a 31-10 lead before closing the game with three punts and a fumble. Boston College appeared to stop FSU on a third and 7 with 1:08 remaining, but a face mask penalty gave Florida State an automatic first down and allowed them to run out the clock.

Quarterback Jordan Travis briefly left the game with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder but finished with 212 passing yards and two touchdowns. Star receiver Johnny Wilson and South Carolina transfer Jaheim Bell each caught touchdown passes, while the FSU defense struggled to contain BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos (400 total yards, two touchdowns).

Clemson vs. FSU players to watch

Clemson RB Phil Mafah: Clemson lists Mafah as a co-starter at running back with Will Shipley, and he’s being used as such. The bruising junior is averaging 6.6 yards per carry and has a team-high three rushing touchdowns.

Clemson LB Wade Woodaz: Woodaz on Saturday became the first Clemson linebacker to record interceptions in back-to-back games since Isaiah Simmons in 2019. He’s a versatile chess piece for the Tigers defense who can also play nickel and safety.

FSU QB Jordan Travis: Florida State has produced a number of iconic quarterbacks, and Travis is proving to be one of the best ones. He’s No. 7 nationally in QB rating and remains one of the country’s top dual-threat guys at that position.

FSU LB Kalen DeLoach: DeLoach, a redshirt senior linebacker, leads FSU with 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He’s also second on the team with 10 total tackles.