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No. 3 Clemson faces toughest test yet in No. 16 NC State
No. 16 North Carolina State (5-0, 2-0 ACC) at No. 3 Clemson (6-0, 3-0), 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Line: Clemson by 17.
Series record: Clemson leads 57-28-1.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Control of the ACC Atlantic Division and the chance for North Carolina State to exorcise some bad Clemson memories the past two seasons. Clemson has won two straight one-score games against the Wolfpack, including an OT game in Death Valley on 2016. The Tigers are looking to stay on track for a fourth straight trip to the ACC title game and College Football Playoff.
KEY MATCHUP
Watch for third down where North Carolina State leads the country in converting nearly 61 percent of its chances while Clemson's defense ranks eighth nationally, holding opponents to less than 28 percent on third down.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
North Carolina State: QB Ryan Finley leads the ACC with 324 yards passing a game and knows too well the close calls the Wolfpack have had with Clemson. Finley has thrown four interceptions in his two starts against the Tigers.
Clemson: QB Trevor Lawrence is a freshman surrounded by drama since arriving with the Tigers. The highly regarded passer will get another dose as the focal point in his team's biggest game so far.
FACTS & FIGURES
Clemson and North Carolina State are among eight undefeated teams left in the country. They are the last two undefeated teams in the ACC. ... The Wolfpack missed a game-winning field goal at Death Valley two years ago before losing in OT. They were driving for a tying score against the Tigers last year when Finley's interception sealed a 38-31 Clemson win. ... Clemson has won six straight in the series. ... North Carolina State is Clemson's first ranked opponent since losing to No. 4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last season, a semifinal game in the College Football Playoff. ... It's the second straight season the teams have faced each other as ranked opponents, but just the sixth time in a series that began in 1899. ... The last time a 6-0 Clemson hosted a 5-0 opponent was in 2013 when Florida State took a 51-14 victory. ... The annual game was called the Textile Bowl because of the industry's importance in North and South Carolina.
