Florida State’s Fourth-Quarter Rally Falls Short Against Clemson

Florida State’s late comeback attempt fell short Saturday night as the Seminoles suffered a 36–24 loss to Clemson at Doak Campbell Stadium.

FSU entered the fourth quarter trailing 26–10 before cutting Clemson’s advantage to five points. However, a game-sealing touchdown run by quarterback Tait Reynolds ended Florida State’s hopes of completing the comeback.

The loss dropped the Seminoles to 3–5 overall and 1–4 in ACC play.

Turnovers Put Florida State in an Early Hole

Florida State moved the ball effectively at times, but four turnovers prevented the offense from turning its production into points.

Quarterback Ashton Daniels threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. Two of those interceptions helped Clemson score 10 points during the first half.

The Seminoles finished with 415 yards of offense, compared with Clemson’s 351, but constantly made things more difficult for themselves.

Florida State also converted only one of its 10 third-down attempts. Between the turnovers and the inability to extend drives, the Seminoles gave away too many opportunities against a Clemson team that entered the game struggling offensively.

Clemson took advantage and built a 23–10 halftime lead.

Daniels Produces Big Plays but Makes Costly Mistakes

Daniels finished 21-of-33 passing for 350 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He also scored on a 13-yard run during Florida State’s fourth-quarter comeback.

The quarterback displayed his big-play ability throughout the night. He connected with Micahi Danzy for a 46-yard touchdown in the first quarter, helping FSU quickly answer Clemson’s opening score.

Danzy was Florida State’s leading receiver, finishing with four catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.

Daniels later found freshman Jasen Lopez for a 41-yard touchdown that cut Clemson’s lead to 29–24 with 5:30 remaining. Lopez finished with four receptions for 52 yards.

Jayvan Boggs also contributed two catches for 64 yards, while Quintrevion Wisner recorded five receptions for 50 yards.

Daniels created several explosive plays, but his turnovers proved too difficult for the Seminoles to overcome. His performance showed both the potential and inconsistency that have defined Florida State’s offense this season.

Seminoles Miss Kromah in the Running Game

Florida State played its first game without leading rusher Ousmane Kromah, and his absence was noticeable.

The Seminoles managed only 65 rushing yards on 29 attempts. Wisner led the running backs with 43 yards on 13 carries, while Daniels gained 21 yards after accounting for yardage lost on sacks.

Without a consistent running game, FSU became too dependent on Daniels and the passing attack. Clemson was able to pressure him and finished the game with four sacks.

Florida State needed more balance offensively, especially after falling behind.

Daniel Hughes’ Punting Creates Field-Position Problems

Florida State also struggled in the punting game.

Daniel Hughes punted five times for 159 yards, an average of only 31.8 yards per attempt. His longest punt traveled 39 yards, and none of his punts pinned Clemson inside its own 20-yard line.

The most damaging punt came during the first quarter. With Florida State backed up near its own goal line, Hughes produced a 19-yard punt that gave Clemson possession at the FSU 30.

Two plays later, Reynolds connected with Christian Bentancur for an 18-yard touchdown that gave Clemson an early 7–0 lead.

Hughes was often punting from difficult positions, but the lack of distance repeatedly gave Clemson favorable field position. Against an offense that had struggled entering the game, Florida State could not afford to make Clemson’s job easier.

Clemson Finds Enough Offense

Clemson entered the game having gone four consecutive contests without throwing a touchdown pass. That streak ended quickly against Florida State.

Reynolds threw two first-half touchdown passes and finished with 189 yards through the air. While those passing numbers were not overwhelming, Clemson consistently took advantage of FSU’s mistakes and scored on eight of its first 13 possessions.

Kicker Nolan Hauser played a major role, making all five of his field-goal attempts. His kicks came from 35, 35, 50, 46 and 49 yards.

Florida State’s defense recorded four sacks and kept the Seminoles within striking distance, but it could not produce a turnover or make the final stop when the game was on the line.

One Final Explosive Play Ends the Comeback

Florida State appeared to have new life after Daniels’ touchdown pass to Lopez made the score 29–24.

The Seminoles needed one defensive stop to give the offense an opportunity to take the lead. Instead, Reynolds escaped for a 79-yard touchdown on third-and-12.

The play extended Clemson’s lead to 36–24 with 3:17 remaining and ended Florida State’s comeback attempt.

Final Thoughts

The Seminoles gained more yards than Clemson and produced several explosive plays through the air. However, four turnovers, an ineffective rushing attack, poor punting and a one-for-10 performance on third down made winning nearly impossible.

FSU has now lost three consecutive games and must win three of its final four contests to become bowl eligible.

Florida State will travel to face Boston College next Saturday. It is probably time for the university to make changes.