CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson (4-5, 3-4 ACC) opened up an 18-0 first-half lead and held the nation’s No. 1 offense at bay in the second half for a 24-10 victory over Florida State (4-5, 1-5 ACC) on Saturday in Memorial Stadium.
Clemson held Florida State to a season-low 360 yards of offense, only the second time this season the Seminoles have been held below 400 yards (382 vs. Alabama). The Tigers also held the Seminoles 30 points below their season average of 40.0 points per game entering Saturday.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik went 20-for-27 for 221 passing yards and added a touchdown through the air. Antonio Williams led the Tiger receivers, recording 62 yards on six catches with a touchdown. Adam Randall rushed for 48 yards, and Nolan Hauser went three-for-three on field goal attempts.
The Tiger defense sacked Florida State six times, led by cornerback Avieon Terrell, who recorded 2.0. Clemson also piled up nine tackles for loss from six players, forced two turnovers and had two more stops on fourth down. Ricardo Jones had a late interception, while Ashton Hampton and Corian Gipson each broke up two passes.
The Tigers scored 18 consecutive points in the first two quarters, initially capitalizing on the opening drive of the game when Klubnik rushed four yards into the end zone. The score finished a 13-play, 75-yard drive. The Tigers increased their lead as holder Clay Swinney took the extra point snap and ran up the middle for a two-point conversion to make the score 8-0 with 8:25 to play.
After a short Clemson punt gave Florida State the ball on the Clemson 35-yard line, Jeremiah Alexander recovered a fumble in the red zone to end the Florida State threat.
Clemson later got the ball on a short field following a Florida State turnover on downs. Two plays later, Klubnik connected with Antonio Williams on a 34-yard touchdown pass on a flea flicker to complete a two-play, 39-yard drive. Nolan Hauser’s extra point made the score 15-0 with 12:01 to play in the second quarter. Later in the quarter, Hauser converted a 40-yard field goal that wrapped up a 13-play, 74-yard drive. The score was 18-0 with 2:31 remaining in the half.
Florida State scored its first points of the game in the final minute of the first half, as quarterback Tommy Castellanos connected with Lawayne McCoy on a seven-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 18-7 at halftime.
A missed field goal from the Seminoles on their opening drive of the second half put the ball on Clemson’s 22-yard line. The Tigers recorded a 10-play, 73-yard drive that was capped by a 23-yard field goal from Hauser to extend Clemson’s lead to 21-7. Early in the final stanza, Hauser added a 43-yard field goal that completed a nine-play, 28-yard drive and made the score 24-7 with 14:18 remaining.
With 7:37 on the clock, Florida State converted a 46-yard field goal that made the score 24-10. Clemson ended two late fourth-quarter Florida State drives with a fourth-down sack by Terrell and an interception by Ricardo Jones.
Clemson honored its 2025 Hall of Fame Class as part of Saturday’s game. The class includes football players DeAndre Hopkins and Chester McGlockton, as well as long-time Sports Information Director Tim Bourret.
Clemson will have a short week to prepare for its next contest at Louisville on Friday, Nov. 14. That contest will air on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET. The following week, the Tigers will return home for their Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day game against Furman on Saturday, Nov. 22.
