Wins of the Father-Bowden Bowl: Clemson at Florida State 2000

It was a father and son game for the ages, and it was one-sided as a firing squad.

In Tallahassee in 2000, the Bowden family faced off against each other on opposite sidelines.

Bobby Bowden and No. 4 Florida State on one side, and son Tommy Bowden and No. 10 Clemson on the other.

When the war chants finally fell silent, Florida State was the last one standing in a 54-7 destruction of Clemson.

Bobby left all his starters in deep into the fourth quarter, so there would be no doubt.

It must have been a doozy of a holiday gathering around the Thanksgiving table three weeks later.

The Seminoles, leading 3-0, were backed up to their own 2-yard line, courtesy of a Clemson punt that traveled 74 yards. Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke set the tone for the rest of the game.

Weinke fired a rocket downfield to receiver Snoop Minnis, who was running uncovered. Minnis made the catch and took it the end zone for a 98-yard score.

That play set a record for the longest pass play in school history.

Clemson scored on their next possession for their only points of the game.

Florida State then scored 44 unanswered points as the Tigers left Tallahassee with their tail between their legs in defeat.

Weinke passed for 521 yards and two touchdowns. The offense gained 28 first downs and 771 total yards. The only blemish in the game for the Seminoles was 143 yards in penalties.

The Florida State defense came into the game having allowed opponents just 10 points per game. The

Seminoles forced four Clemson turnovers, including two interceptions by quarterback Woodrow Dantzler. Further, they held the Tigers to 95 yards rushing.

Clemson used three different quarterbacks in this game. Dantzler and Willie Simmons threw for less than 100 yards and less than 50 percent completion rate.

Florida State went on to finish 11-2 and No. 5 final ranking. They clinched their ninth consecutive ACC title. Clemson finished 9-3 and a No. 16 final ranking.

Clemson (4-2) comes to Tallahassee as a broken vessel. All those years of double-digit wins are now just memories that have faded from the college football psyche.

Clemson’s passing attack is terrible. Coach Dabo Swinney has used two different quarterbacks, and all they could produce is two TD passes and five interceptions through six games.

Florida State (3-4) enters this contest with a 10-21 record since the beginning of the 2024 season. The Seminoles are coming off a heartbreaking, two-overtime 43-35 loss to Miami.

Seminoles QB Ashton Daniels has gained 1,972 total yards (3rd in the ACC) and scored 23 total touchdowns.

Florida State owns a 21-17 record against Clemson. The Seminoles have not beaten Clemson since the 2023 season.

Further, Florida State has not beaten Clemson in Tallahassee since 2014. Seminoles fans are hoping (and praying) to be on the right side of history this time around.