Florida State vs. Clemson: Are Seminoles on Brink of Blowing Season vs. Tigers?

A major upset is brewing in Clemson, S.C. today as the No. 21 Clemson Tigers lead the No. 11 Florida State Seminoles at halftime, 21-10. The 'Noles are coming off a hard-fought loss to the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners last week and appear to have already exhausted everything they can muster.

The Tiger passing game has been banging on all cylinders to this point, and it leaves Florida State in a very precarious position as they'll have to dig out of a two-score hole in the second half.

What's Gone Wrong?

Florida State entered this game without the services of quarterback E.J. Manuel. The passing game hasn't been an issue, however, as Clint Trickett has played quite well in completing 10 of 15 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown.

The Seminoles' normally strong defense has failed them, though, especially against the pass. Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd has been dominant in completing 12 of his 15 passes for 170 yards and two scores. He has also run for an additional touchdown.

Florida State hasn't been particularly bad on offense, but they have failed to cash in on their opportunities while Clemson hasn't.

What's At Stake?

A Florida State loss would be extremely detrimental for a lot of reasons. Not only will a second consecutive loss push the Seminoles further down the rankings, but it will damage them in ACC play as well. A win would give Clemson a tie breaker over Florida State in the conference as well.

Clemson would slowly begin to enter the conversation of the nation's better teams with a win and might become the favorite to win the ACC. There is no question that this game can switch the balance of power in the ACC, especially since most observers thought a Florida State ACC title was a sure thing before the season even started.

Upset Potential

On a 1-10 scale, the upset potential of this game is certainly a 10. A flash-in-the-pan team might not be able to cling to an 11-point advantage against a team as talented as Florida State, but over the past couple weeks, Clemson has shown that it may be as good or better than the Seminoles.

There is no reason why Florida State can't come back, but they'll have to make plenty of adjustments. Head coach Jimbo Fisher has to change something defensively to compensate for the play of Boyd. He has cut up Florida State's defense through the air and on the ground, so stopping him will certainly be key.

How Will Voters React?

In the event of a Florida State loss, the 'Noles will most likely drop to the bottom portion of the Top 25. They definitely have a good team, but back-to-back losses won't be looked upon favorably by the voters, regardless of how good the teams they lost to are. 

On the flip side, Clemson should get plenty of love, particularly on the heels of a convincing win over Auburn last week. The Tigers are definitely outplaying their ranking to this point and could ascend to as high as the No. 12-15 range with a victory today. 

Will Florida State Come Back?

There is no question in my mind that the Seminoles can come back, but I don't think they will. Florida State would have received a huge boost by upending Oklahoma last week, but I think losing late in the game may have hurt their confidence a bit.

The strength of Florida State's team, its defense, has failed them to this point, especially in pass defense. Boyd has looked fantastic, and as Clemson works the running game into the equation a bit more to run time off the clock, the passing game will open up even more.

Who Benefits Most From Florida State's Collapse?

A Florida State loss would be great for any of the teams ranked in the middle part of the Top 25, but the biggest beneficiary will likely be the team they could lose to, the Clemson Tigers. Clemson would have a nice advantage in the ACC Atlantic and would be tough to knock off after such a high-profile win.

If the Seminoles lose, it would also help teams like Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Miami. The ACC would suddenly be wide open with a Florida State loss, and it will make for an interesting race down the stretch.