Joel Klatt pushes back on Florida State hype over Clemson

Clemson vs. Florida State is the conversation when it comes to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2023. However, Joel Klatt’s opinion is quite clear when it comes to the choice between the Tigers and the Seminoles.

Klatt broke down the race for the top of the ACC on his show earlier this week. He said that he still likes FSU but that, to him, Clemson is still the clear choice. That’s considering how the Tigers are back on the upswing after a “bad year” and how the Seminoles’ success is being a bit overblown considering their competition.

“Why should we be so quick to just say, like, ‘Hey! Florida State! I love Florida State’. I can like them, they’re in my Top-10. But I can accurately say they aren’t to the level of even two of their first four opponents, one of them being a conference opponent in Clemson,” Klatt stated. “Last year, Clemson had what they consider to be a bad year. They still won 11 games, including going 9-0 in the ACC. 9-0. They beat Florida State on the road in Tallahassee, won the ACC.

“Florida State had a great year, won 10 games, and still lost three in the conference when the season was still in suspense, if you will,” Klatt pointed out. “Remember their win streak, Florida State’s win streak? It happened late, like the last six. Those teams were not good. You know how I know that? Blowout win against Georgia Tech, 5-7. Miami? 5-7. Syracuse? 7-6 but they lost six of their last seven. Louisiana-Lafayette? They were sub .500. And they had one scores wins over Florida, a sub .500 team at 6-7, and a sub. 500 Oklahoma, 6-7, to finish. By the way, that Oklahoma game? That was a one score game late.”

Klatt isn’t too far off when it comes to the evaluation of 2022 Florida State. For as good as they were last season, only one of their wins, their win against LSU in New Orleans, was truly significant and it came on a miraculously blocked extra point. From there, their three losses all came against their three ranked opponents on the year.

That’s why, considering what all the Tigers have going for them, Klatt is easily backing Clemson if choosing between these two.

“You want me to anoint Florida State? I can’t do that,” said Klatt. “Not with Clemson still there, not with Clemson returning their quarterback in Cade Klubnik, not with Clemson getting better on defense, not with Will Shipley still being there, not with the game being in Clemson, in particular in the first month of the season, and not with Garrett Riley being the offensive coordinator at Clemson.

“This is why Clemson is going to run the ACC, this is why I have them rated ahead of Florida State. This is why it’s not time for the Seminoles yet,” Klatt said.

Klatt still has Florida State rated as one of the best teams in the nation. The experience that’s coming back from last year’s 10-win team will give Mike Norvell’s squad a great chance to compete for the ACC as well as for a potential playoff berth. Even so, Klatt just isn’t sure where this level of hype is coming from, especially considering how they could start and that they’ll be racing with Dabo Swinney’s team in conference play.

“I think the Seminoles are going to be a really good team. I’ve got them in the Top-10 so this is not about me hating Florida State. This is me accurately looking at the LSU matchup, which does not favor Florida State, and the Clemson matchup, which does not favor Florida State, and I can say Florida State is going to be 2-2 in their first four games,” said Klatt. “They may go on to win 10 games but it’s not going to be a team that really competes for an ACC title.”

“Buying the Florida State hype? That’s a no,” Klatt said.