Clemson Football: Q&A with FSU Experts previewing Tigers vs. ‘Noles

3. What do most Florida State fans think about Clemson football as a whole? Are the Tigers considered a rival, especially with the past half-decade of match ups, or is it still just a conference game to most Seminole fans?

Jason: To most FSU football fans, the word rival is almost exclusively reserved for the two in-state teams we cannot stand – Miami and Florida. We have been trained to hate them since birth and it will always be that way.

With the teams splitting their last 10 meetings, the Tigers have by far become a game that fans of the Seminoles pay attention to and want to win. The last six seasons, with each winner taking home the ACC, has made this a must win for both teams and increased the dislike.

This week, I wrote a story about how the 2015 game between these teams made it a rivalry. I think that we can finally say the Noles and Tigers are complete rivals because of all this means now, even in a down year for one team.

Kelvin: I consider Clemson a rival as they are the only team that have been to compete with the ‘Noles on the recruiting trails and on the field as of late. I have a lot of respect for Dabo Swinney and his story, and he’s done a great job of building Clemson into what it is at the moment. This game has decided the ACC Atlantic for so many years in the half decade, that tells you all you need to know.