The Florida State vs Clemson 2024 game was supposed to be a heavyweight title fight, a clash of ACC titans under the bright lights of Doak Campbell Stadium. Instead, it felt more like a reality check for a program in freefall and a milestone for a coach cementing his legacy. Honestly, if you walked into that stadium on October 5, 2024, expecting the high-octane FSU offense of 2023, you were in for a long, quiet night.
Clemson left Tallahassee with a 29-13 victory, but the scoreline doesn't quite capture how lopsided the vibe felt. It wasn't just a win; it was the night Dabo Swinney officially became the winningest coach in ACC history, surpassing the legendary Bobby Bowden on the very field that Bowden built. Talk about a "full circle" moment that probably left a bitter taste in the mouths of the 55,107 fans in attendance.
The Brock Glenn Experiment
Going into the game, the biggest storyline was the quarterback situation. DJ Uiagalelei—the former Clemson starter who was supposed to be FSU’s savior—was out with a broken finger on his throwing hand. Basically, the "revenge game" narrative was dead before kickoff. In stepped redshirt freshman Brock Glenn for his first start of the season.
Glenn was essentially thrown into the deep end against a Clemson defense that was finally starting to look like its old self. To be fair, Glenn wasn't the reason they lost. He actually put up the second-most passing yards by an FSU quarterback all season at that point.
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- Brock Glenn stats: 23-for-41, 228 yards, 2 touchdowns.
- The downside: The running game was non-existent. The Seminoles managed a measly 22 yards on the ground. You just can’t win at this level if your running backs are getting swallowed up every time they touch the ball.
Clemson’s Death by a Thousand Field Goals
If you like "explosive" football, the first half of Florida State vs Clemson 2024 was... well, it was something else. Clemson dominated the yardage, but they couldn't seem to find the end zone after their opening drive.
Cade Klubnik looked sharp early, leading a 13-play, 75-yard drive that he capped off himself with a 4-yard touchdown run. But then, the Tigers got stuck in a loop of field goals. Nolan Hauser was the busiest man on the field, kicking seven field goals throughout the game. FSU actually blocked two of them, which kept the score from getting truly embarrassing, but you could feel the air leaving the stadium as Clemson just slowly bled the clock and the scoreboard.
Key Stats That Defined the Night
| Category | Clemson | Florida State |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 28 | 14 |
| Total Yards | 500 | 250 |
| Rushing Yards | 265 | 22 |
| Passing Yards | 235 | 228 |
| Time of Possession | 37:34 | 22:26 |
The disparity in rushing yards is the real story here. Phil Mafah was a beast, carrying the rock 25 times for 154 yards. He basically lived in the FSU secondary. Meanwhile, FSU’s offensive line looked like a swinging gate, giving up sacks and allowing zero room for their backs to breathe.
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Why FSU’s Season Spiraled
It’s wild to think that Florida State started 2024 ranked No. 10 in the country. By the time they played Clemson, they were 1-4. The loss to the Tigers was their fifth of the season, and it officially signaled that the 2023 magic was gone.
People love to blame the quarterbacks, but the issues were deeper. The Seminoles became the first team in college football history to start in the top ten and finish with ten losses. They were 128th out of 134 teams in scoring. Kinda hard to win when you're averaging about 15 points a game.
Clemson, on the other hand, used this game to prove they were still the "big dogs" of the ACC. Even though they had their own stumbles later in the year, the 2024 win in Tallahassee was a statement. They held FSU to a season-low 250 yards of offense and dominated the turnover margin 2-0.
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The Moment the Game Turned
Late in the second quarter, things felt like they might get interesting. Clemson was up 17-7, and FSU was hanging around. Then, Cade Klubnik hit Antonio Williams on a 34-yard flea flicker for a touchdown. That play was like a dagger. It showed the gap in creativity and execution between the two coaching staffs.
Williams ended up with a career-high 157 all-purpose yards. Every time Clemson needed a play, he or Mafah was there. For FSU, it was mostly Glenn trying to survive a pass rush that seemed to be in his face on every single drop-back.
Lessons Learned from Florida State vs Clemson 2024
If you're a fan of either program, this game told you everything you needed to know about where these teams were headed.
- The Transfer Portal isn't a silver bullet. FSU relied heavily on transfers to bridge the gap, and it backfired when those veterans didn't gel.
- Depth wins games. Clemson’s ability to rotate defensive linemen and keep the pressure on Glenn for four quarters was the difference-maker.
- Coaching stability matters. While Mike Norvell was shuffling coordinators and trying to find an identity, Dabo Swinney leaned on his system and a veteran offensive line.
The Florida State vs Clemson 2024 matchup wasn't the classic we wanted, but it was a fascinating look at the rise and fall of two college football powers. FSU’s road back to the top looks long, while Clemson proved that reports of their demise were greatly exaggerated—at least for one night in Tallahassee.
If you're looking to analyze your own team's performance or prepare for the next season, start by looking at the "trenches." As this game proved, it doesn't matter how many stars your QB has if your offensive line can only provide 22 yards of rushing support. Focus on recruiting and developing local talent rather than over-relying on the portal for quick fixes.