There was a time when the Clemson-Florida State game was the premier series in the ACC and, arguably, all of college football. Those days are long gone.
No. 2 Clemson hammered an overwhelmed Florida State team, 45-14, securing their fifth straight win in this series and their second consecutive blowout, following last year’s 59-10 whipping in Tallahassee last season.
Trevor Lawrence accounted for four first-half touchdowns, hitting Travis Etienne for one and Justyn Ross for two and rushing for another, to stake the Tigers (6-0, 4-0 ACC) to a 28-0 halftime lead. He finished the day a modest 17-of-25 for 170 yards while rushing six times for 40 yards. (Lawrence did throw another interception, his sixth of the season.)
Etienne rushed 17 times for 127 yards, and as a team Clemson charged for 297 yards and two touchdowns on 50 carries.
Florida State’s quarterbacks had little success throwing the ball and their offensive line had less success protecting them. Alex Hornibrook went 8-of-12 for 84 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while James Blackman was 6-of-17 for 38 yards and two interceptions.
Cam Akers led FSU (3-3, 2-2 ACC) on the ground with nine carries for 34 yards.