It’s not the ACC heavyweight bout we’re used to, but when Clemson (3-5) and Florida State (4-4) meet, there is never a shortage of drama. As the Tigers host the Seminoles for their final home conference game of 2025, this 7 p.m. prime-time clash is less about championship rings and more about pride, history, and a desperate fight for bowl eligibility.
From a historic anniversary for Dabo Swinney to a major school record on the offensive line, here are the 5 Things to Watch For in this ACC rivalry.
1. The Iron Man Makes History
Keep your eyes on No. 78. Senior offensive lineman Blake Miller is set to make history the moment the ball is snapped. Saturday’s game will be his 50th consecutive start, breaking the Clemson school record for the most consecutive starts by a non-specialist. Miller, who has started every single game (49) since he arrived as a true freshman in 2022, will pass Dalton Freeman (49 starts from 2009-12) for the top spot. Miller is also just 46 snaps away from becoming only the third player in Clemson history to log 3,500 career snaps from scrimmage.
2. A Spooky Anniversary for Swinney
This date means more to Dabo Swinney than most. Saturday, November 8, marks the 22nd anniversary of one of the most significant upsets in Clemson history: a 26-10 win over No. 3 Florida State in 2003. Swinney, then a first-year wide receivers coach on a staff facing uncertainty, has credited that shocking victory—which broke an 11-game FSU winning streak in the series—with helping to save his (and Head Coach Tommy Bowden's) job at Clemson. Now, on the exact same date, Swinney faces the same team in a game that feels equally critical for turning a season around.
3. Klubnik’s 10,000-Yard Chase
Despite the team's record, quarterback Cade Klubnik is on the verge of etching his name alongside Clemson royalty. After a career-high 385 passing yards last week against Duke, Klubnik enters Saturday’s game with 9,995 career yards of total offense. He needs just five yards to become only the fourth player in program history to cross the 10,000-yard threshold, joining a legendary list that includes Tajh Boyd, Deshaun Watson, and Trevor Lawrence. He also needs just one more 300-yard passing game to record his 10th, which would be the fourth-most in school history.
4. The Battle for Death Valley
The home-field advantage in this series is real, and the stakes are high. The all-time series in Memorial Stadium is deadlocked at 9-9. Florida State won the last matchup in Death Valley, a 31-24 overtime thriller in 2023. That loss was a rarity for Clemson, which is 9-2 at home against the Seminoles since 2001. The Tigers are desperate to protect their house; they enter Saturday on a three-game home losing streak for the first time since 2001. A fourth-straight home loss would be a devastating blow.
5. Can the Receivers Stay Hot?
If Clemson is going to pull off the win, it will be on the arm of Klubnik and the hands of his receivers. The passing attack has been on a tear, and Clemson is currently on a four-game streak with at least one 100-yard receiver—Wesco Jr. (at BC), T.J. Moore (vs. SMU), and Antonio Williams (vs. Duke). A 100-yard receiver against FSU would make it five straight games, setting a new school record. Keep an eye on Antonio Williams, who is coming off a 10-catch, 142-yard performance. With just one more reception, Williams (186 career catches) will pass Hunter Renfrow (186) for sole possession of fifth place on Clemson's all-time receptions list.