FSU football's report card shows why late comeback fails vs Clemson

· Yahoo Sports

Florida State football had a chance to turn Halloween night into a statement win. Instead, Clemson delivered another nightmare season chapter for the Seminoles.

Visit h-doctor.club for more information.

Despite rallying from a 19-point fourth-quarter deficit, Florida State couldn't complete the comeback, falling 36-24 to Clemson on Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium. The loss dropped the Seminoles to 3-5 overall and 1-3 in ACC play, while the Tigers improved to 5-3 and 3-2 in the conference.

Turnovers, inconsistent quarterback play, poor special teams and an inability to make game-changing defensive stops ultimately doomed Florida State. Clemson quarterback Tait Reynolds delivered the final blow with a 79-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter that crushed the Seminoles' comeback hopes.

With Florida State now riding a three-game losing streak, pressure continues to mount on coach Mike Norvell as the season enters its final stretch.

Here's how the Seminoles graded out against Clemson:

Ashton Daniels: D+

Just when it appeared Ashton Daniels was building momentum, he took a significant step backward against Clemson.

Daniels threw three interceptions, including two costly mistakes that directly led to 10 Clemson points. His first interception sailed over intended target Duce Robinson, while the second came on an ill-advised throw under pressure.

The turnovers overshadowed an otherwise productive statistical night. Daniels showed resilience in the fourth quarter, scoring on a quarterback keeper before connecting with Jasen Lopez on a deep touchdown pass that cut Clemson's lead to one possession.

But the late rally wasn't enough. Daniels' third interception effectively ended Florida State's comeback bid.

He finished 21 of 33 passing for 350 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed for 21 yards and a score.

Offense: D

Florida State's offense struggled to find consistency for much of the night.

Outside of a touchdown catch from Kam Davis and a handful of explosive pass plays, the Seminoles failed to sustain drives. The most troubling statistic was their inability to convert on third down, finishing 0-for-6.

The running game never established itself, with Tre Wisner leading the team with 43 rushing yards.

Danzy paced Florida State's receivers with four catches for 108 yards and a touchdown, while Jayvan Boggs added 64 yards on two receptions. Lopez contributed four catches for 52 yards and a score.

The late offensive surge provided hope, but the unit dug itself too deep of a hole to overcome.

Defense: D-

Florida State's defense faced difficult circumstances because of turnovers and poor field position, but it still failed to make enough impact plays.

The Seminoles generated pressure throughout the night, recording four sacks and limiting Clemson's rushing attack for much of the game. They also forced the Tigers to settle for several field-goal attempts and performed reasonably well on third down.

However, Florida State couldn't produce a takeaway or come up with the critical stop when it mattered most. Clemson converted both of its fourth-down attempts and repeatedly capitalized on favorable field position.

The defining moment came late in the fourth quarter when Reynolds broke free for a 79-yard touchdown run, turning a one-possession game into a Clemson victory.

Special teams: D

Special teams created more problems than solutions for Florida State.

Punter Daniel Hughes averaged just 31.8 yards per punt, consistently giving Clemson favorable starting field position. The coverage units also struggled, and the Seminoles routinely lost the field-position battle throughout the game.

When combined with the offense's turnovers, Florida State's special teams performance placed the defense in difficult situations all night.

Coaches: F

Coming off a bye week and a competitive performance against Miami, Florida State appeared to have an opportunity to reset and put together a complete game.

Instead, the Seminoles committed costly mistakes in all three phases and looked unprepared to capitalize on a nationally televised home matchup.

The inability to clean up recurring issues such as turnovers, special teams mistakes and situational execution falls on the coaching staff. For a team desperate to reverse its season, Florida State once again failed to get out of its own way.

Overall: D

Florida State continues to be its own biggest obstacle.

The Seminoles have shown flashes of promise throughout the season, only to follow them with disappointing performances. Saturday night's loss was another example of a team capable of competing in stretches but unable to sustain success for four quarters.

With road games looming against Boston College and Pittsburgh before returning home to face NC State, Florida State still has opportunities to salvage its season. But until the Seminoles eliminate the self-inflicted mistakes that have defined 2026, optimism will remain difficult to sustain.

The flashes are still there. The consistency isn't. And after another missed opportunity under the lights at Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida State's postseason hopes and questions surrounding Norvell's future remain very much alive.

Florida State 2026 schedule

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you'd like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don't hesitate to get in touch with him via email at [email protected] or on X @_Da_pistol. 

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football's report card shows why late comeback fails vs Clemson

Read full story at source