Where does the FSU-Clemson game rank in terms of national importance?

The rivalry between Clemson and Florida State has grown from one of the best in the ACC to one of the most important games in the country.

The winner between the top two teams in the ACC Atlantic has won the conference title each of the past six years.

Florida State won the 2013 national title and made the College Football Playoff in 2014 after beating Clemson both years, while the Tigers made the national championship game in 2015 and 2016 after beating the Seminoles, winning the national title last season.

“That game and the significance of it, it’s very significant,” Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said at the ACC Kickoff event in Charlotte on Thursday. “I think it’s one of the most important games in college football across the board anywhere.”

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney echoed Fisher’s comments.

“You’re talking about two teams that have won the national championship in the last few years here and played for three of them. That game has been incredibly meaningful,” Swinney said. “From a national standpoint, it’s been a huge, huge game. It’s always going to be a huge game, to be honest with you. I don’t care what the records are, Clemson and Florida State, but over the last several years, it has been a very nationally relevant game.”

The teams will meet Nov. 11 in Clemson this season.

WHO SHOULD HAVE WON?

Clemson held off Florida State for a 37-34 win last season in Tallahassee, but Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois believes the wrong team came out on top.

“I knew we should have won,” Francois said. “OK, we lost, but me knowing we should have won gives me a little satisfaction. We were so close to winning. … If we work a little bit harder … let’s study more film, let’s do something more. In the past two years, it’s been like one play here, one play there. We should’ve won, but that’s OK. We’re just working hard.”

Francois did go on to say that while he felt FSU had a better team last season, Clemson outplayed the Seminoles.

“I just feel like we should have played a better game,” Francois said. “Clemson played a better game than us. A couple of calls went their way, but at the same time, they outplayed us. They wanted it more than us. They came in and they beat us. We’ve just got to focus on the little things and come ready to play this year.”

NEW LEADERS

Clemson does not have many seniors on its 2017 team, so Swinney hopes juniors can fill the leadership void left by Deshaun Watson, Mike Williams, Ben Boulware and others.

The Tigers’ junior class includes proven playmakers such as Christian Wilkins, Mitch Hyatt, Hunter Renfrow, C.J. Fuller, Kendall Joseph and Taylor Hearn.

“We’ve only got six seniors on scholarship, but we’ve got 27 juniors on scholarship, and those 27 juniors have played in 30 games the last two years,” Swinney said. “We’re really relying on that group.”

UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

Offensive lineman Tyrone Crowder, who has not met with the media much during his time at Clemson, joined outgoing personality Christian Wilkins in Charlotte for the ACC Kickoff event.

Crowder said the experience was unique but fun.

“It’s different. This is not my cup of tea,” Crowder said with a smile. “I’m the complete opposite of Christian. … I’ve been looking at Christian and picking a few things here and there, but I don’t think there’s any way to prepare for this. Usually the skill guys get the shine and get to represent their team, but as an offensive lineman, it’s an honor to be able to represent my school.”

This story was originally published July 13, 2017 at 10:09 PM with the headline "Where does the FSU-Clemson game rank in terms of national importance?."