The Seminoles are getting close to the top of the college football mountain under Mike Norvell, but there is still a long way to go. After the Seminoles narrowly avoided the Boston College Eagles on Saturday afternoon, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. However, everyone’s attention quickly turned to the game that was coming up next: an ACC matchup with the Clemson Tigers, a familiar foe and perennial powerhouse.

Long before the 2023 season officially started, Florida State had this game marked on their calendars because playing the Tigers always carries extra significance. The winners of this matchup frequently go on to win divisional titles, conference titles, and national championships. These two programs have produced their fair share of NFL stars, Heisman winners, and Hall of Famers. The Tigers have a recent winning record—they have defeated the ‘Noles seven times in a row. But compared to previous years, the expectations are very different this time around. Entering Death Valley as slight favorites, FSU will be playing for the first time in a long time. The Florida State Seminoles are anticipated to win for the first time in a very long time.

Don’t be duped by the noon start time. The stakes for these two teams are much higher than a simple victory or defeat, and the seriousness of the match on Saturday is palpable. Boasting opposing cultures, coaching philosophies, and career paths, these two teams are fierce rivals who share the same aspirations of dominating the ACC and qualifying for the College Football Playoffs. In this year’s Clemson vs. Florida State match, there are plenty of compelling storylines to choose from.

With the Seminoles poised to make yet another statement on their path to national prominence, the stakes are higher than ever. Before that can occur, the ‘Noles must defeat Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers in Death Valley—something that very few teams have managed to do recently.

Let’s examine a few players who have the potential to give the Seminoles the advantage and hand Clemson a major victory.

1. Defensive End, Jared Verse
Because it seemed obvious, we haven’t had this conversation during the first few weeks. However, in light of last week’s lackluster performance against Boston College, perhaps it’s time we did. On the defensive end With 48 tackles, including 17.0 for loss with 9.0 sacks, three quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery, and one blocked field goal, Jared Verse produced an All-American and All-ACC performance in 2022. Despite his accolades, the FSU defensive MVP surprised everyone in the football community by choosing to stay at Florida State for an additional season rather than accept the offers of the NFL Draft. As a result, expectations for Verse skyrocketed along with the excitement surrounding his 2023 season.

A few factors contributed to the anticipation surrounding the 2023 Florida State football season: a quarterback who is a Heisman Trophy candidate, a close-knit community, and a unique defensive end prospect. So far this season, Verse has tallied six tackles (3 solo, 3 assisted). Surprisingly, after three weeks, the edge rusher still hasn’t recorded a sack. Though statistics don’t always provide the whole picture, they paint a bleak picture for the highly touted draft prospect. Verse is a powerful artist with almost unmatched talent. He is someone to be taken seriously. Verse is a continual threat that teams have to take into consideration, whether or not it results in anything on the score sheet (and they often account for him in the form of an extra man).The numbers will surface eventually, and they might do so this weekend against Clemson.

Long before the 2023 season officially started, Florida State had this game marked on their calendars because playing the Tigers always carries extra significance. The winners of this matchup frequently go on to win divisional titles, conference titles, and national championships. These two programs have produced their fair share of NFL stars, Heisman winners, and Hall of Famers. The Tigers have a recent winning record—they have defeated the ‘Noles seven times in a row. But compared to previous years, the expectations are very different this time around. Entering Death Valley as slight favorites, FSU will be playing for the first time in a long time. The Florida State Seminoles are anticipated to win for the first time in a very long time.

Don’t be duped by the noon start time. The stakes for these two teams are much higher than a simple victory or defeat, and the seriousness of the match on Saturday is palpable. Boasting opposing cultures, coaching philosophies, and career paths, these two teams are fierce rivals who share the same aspirations of dominating the ACC and qualifying for the College Football Playoffs. In this year’s Clemson vs. Florida State match, there are plenty of compelling storylines to choose from.

1. Defensive End, Jared Verse

Because it seemed obvious, we haven’t had this conversation during the first few weeks. However, in light of last week’s lackluster performance against Boston College, perhaps it’s time we did. On the defensive end With 48 tackles, including 17.0 for loss with 9.0 sacks, three quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery, and one blocked field goal, Jared Verse produced an All-American and All-ACC performance in 2022. Despite his accolades, the FSU defensive MVP surprised everyone in the football community by choosing to stay at Florida State for an additional season rather than accept the offers of the NFL Draft. As a result, expectations for Verse skyrocketed along with the excitement surrounding his 2023 season.