After two consecutive, heart-wrenching losses, the Clemson Tigers finally got the gritty, bounce-back win they desperately needed. In a game defined by defense, the Tigers suffocated Florida State all night, holding the Seminoles to just 10 points in a 24-10 victory at Memorial Stadium.
The win brings Clemson's record to 4-5 on the season. While the offense was clean and mistake-free, it was the defense that truly won this game, shutting down FSU's offense and creating the turnovers the team has been missing.
Here is the breakdown of what went right and what still needs work for the Tigers.
▲ 3 UPS ▲
1. A Defensive Masterclass
This was, by far, the most dominant performance of the season for Clemson's defense. They lived in the Florida State backfield, forcing two turnovers and never allowing the Seminoles' offense to find a rhythm.
- Total Dominance: The defense held FSU to just 10 points and was elite on money downs, holding the Seminoles to 5-of-15 on third down.
- Sack Party: The front seven was relentless, piling up 6 sacks for 23 yards lost and 9 total tackles for loss. Avieon Terrell led the way with 2 sacks, while Sammy Brown, Will Heldt, Kobe McCloud, and Jeremiah Alexander each added one.
- Turnovers: The defense forced two crucial turnovers: a fumble recovered by Jeremiah Alexander and a fourth-quarter interception by Ricardo Jones.
2. Efficient, Mistake-Free Football
In a game where the offense struggled to be explosive, the most important thing it did was protect the football. Cade Klubnik managed the game effectively and, for the first time in what feels like ages, the Tigers won the turnover battle.
- Clean Sheet: Clemson finished the game with 0 turnovers—0 fumbles lost and 0 interceptions thrown.
- Klubnik's Day: The quarterback was highly efficient, completing 20 of his 27 passes (74%) for 221 yards and a touchdown. He also added a 4-yard rushing touchdown to open the scoring.
3. Antonio Williams Provides the Spark
When the offense needed a big play, it looked to Antonio Williams. He was the most reliable weapon on the field and was responsible for the offense's most explosive play of the night.
- The Go-To Guy: Williams led the Tigers with 6 receptions for 62 yards.
- The Touchdown: He scored the team's only receiving touchdown, a 34-yard strike from Klubnik in the second quarter that gave Clemson a 15-0 lead.
▼ 3 DOWNS ▼
1. The Ground Game is Still Stuck in Mud
While the Tigers avoided mistakes, they also failed to generate any push up front. The rushing attack was completely neutralized by the FSU defense, making the offense one-dimensional.
- Poor Production: The team averaged a dismal 2.7 yards per carry.
- No Room to Run: As a team, Clemson's 36 rushing attempts produced only 98 net yards. The team's leading rusher, Adam Randall, managed just 48 yards on 15 carries.
2. Third Down Inefficiency
The inability to run the ball led directly to the offense's biggest problem: it could not sustain drives. Clemson's offense repeatedly stalled, leading to 6 punts and forcing the defense to constantly go back on the field.
- The Ugly Stat: The Tigers were a miserable 4-for-15 on third-down conversions.
- This inefficiency is the primary reason the offense only produced 24 points despite having zero turnovers and dominating the time of possession (34:22 to 25:38).
3. Settling for Field Goals
Because of the struggles on third down, multiple drives that should have ended in touchdowns stalled out in Florida State territory.
- Good... but not great: Kicker Nolan Hauser was a perfect 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts.
- Missed Opportunity: However, one of those kicks was a 23-yarder in the third quarter. That drive saw the offense march 73 yards over 10 plays, only to stall at the FSU 5-yard line. These are the situations where a dominant team scores seven, not three.