Can FSU football create the surprise at Clemson?

CLEMSON, SC – Florida State Football hasn’t won at Clemson in nearly a decade.

It has a chance to change this Saturday.

The Seminoles (3-4, 2-2 in ACC) are nine points underdog for their 3:30 pm game (ESPN) against the Tigers (4-3, 3-2 in ACC) at Clemson Memorial Stadium.

While Clemson has dominated the series lately, winning the last five matches, three of them at home, this year’s squad has failed to live up to expectations. The Tigers’ run of six consecutive college football playoff appearances begins this season and their run of six consecutive ACC championships is life sustaining.

It’s the first time FSU head coach Mike Norvell takes on the Tigers. The scheduled game for 2020 was canceled hours before the start after a symptomatic Clemson player who had traveled to Tallahassee tested positive for COVID-19.

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How to watch:Find Florida State vs. Clemson on TV, Streaming

Follow here for updates during the pregame and as the game progresses from FSU beat writers Curt Weiler and Andre Fernandez.

5:05 pm | Clemson torches FSU on the ground, takes the lead before half-time

After allowing his longest run to an opposing running back early that season at halftime, Clemson continued to drive the ball effectively, putting together a 10-game, 83-yard drive to regain the lead at 17-13. Will Shipley crowned the drive with a 2-yard score and leads the Tigers with 78 yards on 12 carries. Clemson ran 139 yards in the first half, averaging 7 yards per carry, with most coming on Phil Mafah’s 63-yard run.

4:35 pm | Clemson takes the lead, the FSU takes it back

While the FSU defense was wise not to allow big games over Clemson’s first three drives, the Tigers’ fourth drive started with a bang.

Running back Phil Mafah’s 63-yard run to start the drive was by far the longest run the Seminoles have allowed an RB to run this season. They entered the Clemson game after failing to allow 20-yard runs by running backs that season.

The big run put the Tigers in the red zone and in third place they converted theirs, finding the end zone on an 11 yard touchdown pass from DJ Uiagalelei to Davis Allen.

This returned the lead to the Tigers, but it didn’t last long. In the first game of the following FSU drive, Jordan Travis threw a pass to Lawrance Toafili, who started moving. It was not picked up by the Tigers and was wide open.

They seemed to be bringing him down, but he rolled over the player, never touching the ground, carried on and scored a goal after walking on tiptoe to the sideline. The 75-yard touchdown gave FSU the lead back, 13-10, with 8:14 in the second quarter.

4:13 pm | Methodical drive ends with Touchdown, Florida State Lead

After an opening attack that started deep in its own end and didn’t go far, the Seminoles’ second possession was far more successful.

FSU marched the ball 75 yards over 10 games and took over five minutes past the clock on a drive that ended in the end zone with a screen pass touchdown on the third and goal.

The running game didn’t start on the first drive, but the Seminoles ran the ball 54 yards on the second drive, highlighted by a 24-yard run by Jashaun Corbin.

The FSU’s offensive chaos and the noise of the crowd affected Clemson’s defense far more than the other way around. The Tigers have sidelined four times on two FSU drives.

After 15 minutes, the FSU holds a 6: 3 lead after the extra point was blocked. It’s FSU’s first lead over Clemson since the game’s fourth quarter of 2016.

3:54 pm | Clemson takes the lead in field goal early on

After the teams swapped punts for their opening possession, FSU allowed Clemson to strike first on the opening move.

The Tigers marched down the field thanks to a couple of intermediate passes from DJ Uiagalelei, who has received much calumny for his game this season. With two drives he completed 5 of 7 passes for 48 yards. The Tigers lead 3-0 after a 47-yard field goal from BT Potter with 5:32 in the first quarter.

It is the seventh time in eight games this season that #FSU has let their opponent score first.

FSU was backed up in its own 10 to start its inaugural run, taking one down first but stalling from there. The running game was not available in the opening game, as the FSU ran the ball four times for -5 yards.

3:34 p.m. | FSU defense takes off

Clemson will get the opening start in the battle for two offenses that are unclear what they can accomplish.

Florida State won the coin toss and postponed the election to the second half, forcing Clemson to get the opening start. The FSU defense will have a chance to set the tone against a tarnished Clemson offensive.

2:45 pm | Gibbons in disguise

The early returns on the availability of Dillan Gibbons for the Clemson game seem promising.

The Notre Dame transfer, who started the first seven games of the season on the left guard, is dressed and warming up after suffering an injury against UMass last week.

It remains to be seen if he’s available to play, but at least he’s trying.

Attacking lineman Devontay Love-Taylor, who tried unsuccessfully to play after an injury in North Carolina last week, is also dressed and warming up.

Both worked with the first team during the 11v11 work at the end of the pre-game warm-ups. If both start, it would be the third time this season that the Seminoles would have their desired offensive front completely at their disposal.

Safety in entry Sidney Williams, however, was not seen warming up. It would be the second straight game Williams has missed if it is unavailable it seems.

1:45 p.m. | Pre-game availability monitoring

Now, within two hours of the kick-off between the Seminoles and Tigers, more and more FSU players will be starting to hit the field for pre-game warm-ups.

The biggest player to watch out for, whether he’s undressing or not, is offensive lineman Dillan Gibbons. Gibbons sustained an injury in the first half against UMass and did not return. Norvell indicated that it would be a wait and see if gibbons would be available this week.

If the FSU can do without Gibbons, who started each of the team’s first seven games on the left guard, the Seminoles would be forced to start their seventh offensive line combination in eight games this season.

The likely replacement would be Devontay Love-Taylor in her sixth year. He started FSU’s first six games on the right before injuring himself against North Carolina and unable to play against UMass.

Additionally, some defenders who could return today are missing. That list includes Safety Renardo Green, who missed the last two games, and Redshirt rookie Sidney Williams, who is listed as the FSU’s starting buck safety.

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