Still "a long way to go" for top-ranked Clemson Tigers

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he didn't care where his team would be ranked when the season's first College Football Playoff rankings were announced Tuesday, but he didn't seem to mind when his Tigers debuted at No. 1.

"We're honored, and we've had a great season to this point," Swinney said. "I certainly think that we should be in the conversation."

Clemson, which is No. 3 in the AP poll, has an impressive resume that includes an 8-0 record, and the Tigers are the only Top 10 team that has a win over a Top 10 opponent (Notre Dame) this season.

Clemson appears to control its own destiny, beginning with Saturday's showdown against Atlantic Coast Conference rival Florida State at the Tigers' Memorial Stadium. The Tigers have lost three in a row in the series, including a 23-17 overtime decision at Florida State last season.

The Seminoles (7-1) are 16th in the CFB rankings.

"We've got a long way to go," Swinney said. "Our focus is 100 percent on trying to find a way to beat an outstanding Florida State team, a team we've had a difficult time with the last few years.

"The Clemson-Florida State game has always got a little special flavor to it. These guys know each other and for the past several years this game has decided who's won our division and gone on to win the league."

Indeed, either Clemson or Florida State has claimed the Atlantic Division title and the ACC championship in each of the past four years, continuing their string of recent dominance.

Florida State has won 15 ACC titles, and Clemson could match that total by winning the championship this year. The combined 29 championships won by Florida State and Clemson equals the total number of titles won by the league's other 12 teams.

Following Saturday's game against Florida State, Clemson travels to Syracuse, hosts Wake Forest, then concludes its regular season at South Carolina. The Tigers should be heavy favorites from here on out.

But that's of little consequence to Swinney.

"I don't think anybody should be having a party over what the poll is (today)," Swinney said. "If you look at last year, I think Ohio State was 15th or 16th in the first poll and won the national championship. Notre Dame was Top 10 and finished unranked. There's a lot of ball to be played.

"I don't care where we are on Nov. 3. All that matters is being in there on Dec. 6."

NOTES, QUOTES

PLAYERS TO WATCH

--QB Deshaun Watson began to grow his legend last season against Florida State. The then-freshman came off the bench to complete 19 of 28 passes for 266 yards in the Tigers' 23-17 overtime loss. He's currently in the midst of a midseason roll, having completed 72 percent of his passes and averaging 303 yards per game over the last four games, including a 20-for-30 effort for 383 yards and five touchdowns in Saturday's 56-41 win at N.C. State.

--LB Travis Blanks is a Tallahassee, Fla., native who has enjoyed his best games against the Seminoles, recording eight tackles, including a tackle for loss, in the 2012 game, and six tackles and a pass deflection against FSU in 2013. He missed last year's loss at Florida State while redshirting with an injury, so the strongside linebacker/nickel back should be eager to rejoin the rivalry.

--RB Wayne Gallman is the key ingredient in Clemson's rushing attack and is just 126 yards shy of becoming the 13th different running back in program history to post a 1,000-yard season. He has five 100-yard efforts in the Tigers' last six games.