Next Goal: Win the Division; Next Opponent: Florida State

The Clemson Tigers are coming off their closet game in recent memory, a 21-20 win at North Carolina 13 days ago. While the national media, pundits and fans were busy playing the role of Chicken Little and wondering why the sky is falling, the Tigers believe that a game like the one that they faced at North Carolina showed them exactly what they were made of.

CLEMSON—The Clemson Tigers are coming off their closet game in recent memory, a 21-20 win at North Carolina 13 days ago. While the national media, pundits and fans were busy playing the role of Chicken Little and wondering why the sky is falling, the Tigers believe that a game like the one that they faced at North Carolina showed them exactly what they were made of.

"Obviously it was great to find a way to win. When you're not having your best day, not executing as clean as you need to, to find a way to get the win is definitely a positive," co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said. "I think for Trevor (Lawrence), that's probably the first time in his 16 starts at Clemson that he kind of found himself in that situation. 

"I know this year's offense, that was definitely our first time being on the field in the fourth quarter and needing a touchdown to win the game. I felt like our guys had some of the best execution there on that last drive and responded. I felt another positive; Trevor and Tee (Higgins) hooked up on five explosive plays down the field. None bigger than the 3rd and 6 on the last drive there."

However, it was not all roses and positives for the Tigers.

"Obviously, there's a lot to learn from that game," Scott said. "Starting off, had a nice drive going in positive territory, 3rd and 2. We threw the screen out there and lost yardage. We were really in a two down territory, and after we lost yards, had to go for the field goal. Then a couple of drives later, he had nice 9-yard run and then fumbled it on the next play, and then they go down and score a touchdown. Just overall, I think we misidentified some of the blitzes that they were bringing. They did a really good job; you got to give them credit for some of the things they were doing from a scheme standpoint. But I just think us not communicating correctly led to the sack and a couple of quarterback hurries and made Trevor have to get rid of the ball a little earlier than he wanted to. I know one play, we had Justin Ross for a potential touchdown there and missed that.

"Then the other thing that really showed up that has not been a problem all year was the five penalties offensively. Penalties are really just drive killers, and they were. We had some nice drives going and then kind of stall because of self kind of inflicted deal there with the penalties."

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This week, the Tigers must take what they have learned and take it from the practice fields and the film room to the game field, where they will face the Florida State Seminoles. Because their next goal, winning the division, will potentially be on the line this week.

"Looking at Florida State on videos, you kind of go through their season, there's no doubt that they've improved from where they were after the first two games defensively," Scott said. "They probably played their best game defensively in their last outing with NC State, holding them to maybe 370 and 88 rushing. I see you can see a lot of improvement. They're getting better game by game. Probably will be the biggest defensive front we'll face all year. They really primarily are running odd front, and I think they're 311, 346, and 305 across the board, so really big guys up front that kind of play two gaps and make it difficult to move those guys inside. They've done a good job getting some pressure on the quarterback. They've got 17 sacks on the year. And as always, very athletic on the back end. It just looked like they're a lot more comfortable here these last few weeks knowing what they're doing.

"For us, our next goal is to win the division. This is a big division game for us. It seems like every year Clemson and Florida State end up having a lot to say for the division. So I know our guys will be refocused and ready to go Saturday at 3:30."

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