Tait Reynolds accounted for three touchdowns while turning in his best start of 2026. The Clemson Tigers' defense forced four turnovers, and Dabo Swinney's program continued its dominance of ACC rival Florida State in a 36-24 victory at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Halloween night Saturday.
Reynolds had more passing touchdowns in the first half than he had all season entering the night. He found tight end Christian Bentancur for an 18-yard strike and an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Reynolds added a 4-yard touchdown toss to Olsen Patt-Henry as part of 10 Clemson points in the final 1:38 of the opening half.
Reynolds' two touchdown passes were his first since Clemson's ACC opener against North Carolina on Sept. 19. He finished
the night 18 of 32 with passing 189 yards and rushed 14 times for 85 net yards.
Clemson (5-3, 3-2) had to hold off a late Florida State (3-5, 1-4) rally. It did so when the true freshman quarterback from Arizona picked the perfect time to show off his legs.
The Tigers faced a third-and-12 at their own 21-yard line and seemed headed for a punt after having already given up back-to-back touchdown drives that let Florida State back into the game. Reynolds then stepped up in the pocket, found a seam and sprinted 79 yards to the end zone for a touchdown that put Clemson ahead by two scores with 3:17 remaining.
Clemson's defense more than did its part. Elliot Washington picked off two passes by Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels, including one that resulted in a field goal and the final one near the end of the game with the Seminoles at Clemson's 9-yard line. The Tigers' defense came away with three interceptions and a recovered fumble against Daniels, who finished 21 of 39 for 350 yards and two touchdowns.
Clemson's Nolan Hauser had another perfect night by making all five field goal attempts, including three of 45-plus yards. His performance came just over two years after the junior from North Carolina made five field goals in a 29-13 Tigers win in Tallahassee. Hauser has made 23 of his 24 field goal tries this season.
Clemson beat Florida State for the 10th time in the last 11 games between the ACC rivals. Saturday also marked the Tigers' fifth consecutive win at Doak Campbell Stadium since 2016.
After the game, Florida State coach Mike Norvell met with reporters to discuss his team's loss to Clemson. Here's what the Seminoles' coach said:
(Author's note: some answers have been edited for length.)
Mike Norvell reflects on latest loss as FSU coach after falling to Clemson
"Tonight, just extremely disappointed with the result. The way we started the game, I felt coming into it just the work that you saw over the last couple of weeks, I had high expectations for how we'd come out and play. But we absolutely did not play to the standard of our expectations of what's needed to win college football games. We lost the turnover margin, four to nothing.
"We were extremely poor in field position and gave (Clemson) short fields throughout the course of the night. I was proud of the fight the guys showed there in the fourth quarter with getting it to a one-score game, but unfortunately just not enough. Didn't get the stops when we needed. Obviously gave up things in all phases that you have to be better at. Just extremely disappointed with all parts of it.
"Our guys, I thought they battled throughout (but) just didn't play clean enough or good enough to win a college football game. (Clemson) is a team that has talented players. Obviously it was a game that we put a lot of emphasis on. Just disappointing to see the result and to see the way that we played and coming up short."
What did Clemson defense do to affect FSU quarterback Ashton Daniels in Tigers' win?
Norvell said:
"He had a couple of misses. One was the trajectory on a ball. You've got one-on-one. He put too much on it trying to give Duce (Robinson) a chance. The safety (Jerome Carter) got over the top and made an interception. I thought that was a poor decision there at the end of the half... We were trying to be aggressive. The clock's obviously working against us in that situation. Then the fumble, all those are critical plays.
"At the end of the day, we emphasize ball security and owning the ball, creating takeaways and the importance of that and how we start. When things like that don't show up on the field, it pisses you off. Nobody wants to go out there and have bad plays. Nobody wants to go out there and have negative experiences. I watch the work that Ashton puts into it. In his case tonight, whether it was the interceptions or the fumble, those are things you have to learn through and grow through. Throughout the course of the season, there haven't been a whole lot of poor-decision interceptions that have shown up."
Mike Norvell describes Clemson QB Tait Reynolds' back-breaking late touchdown run
"It was third-and-11. Had a pass rush that was working, had an opportunity with him as he was matched underneath with coverages, so guys were matching routes as we're running with it. Obviously he got a seam. We didn't get home with the pass rush. He worked up and as he got into the open field, we had an opportunity to try to get him down, but he ran through the tackle and it resulted in a big play.
"(Clemson) receivers did a good job of blocking down the field. It's a play that you can't have. Third-and-11, time to get off field in a one-score game. That's the moment of truth. We've got to be able to stay on our feet, finish the pass rush, make the open field tackle when we get an opportunity, and find a way to get him down and play another play."
FSU's Mike Norvell asked how Clemson offense was successful in red zone despite season-long struggles
Entering Week 9, Clemson hadn't managed more than two offensive touchdowns against an ACC opponent since Week 3 against North Carolina. The Tigers had particularly struggled in the red zone. In Saturday's game, they turned two red-zone opportunities into touchdowns.
Norvell was asked if Clemson's success on offense in Saturday's game said more about Florida State playing younger players or if it was simply a poor performance by the Seminoles' defense overall.
Norvell said:
"There were definitely elements of the performance that we have to be better at. I think there was some things that showed up, a few of the plays you attribute to guys in different roles, different positions. But at the end of the day, you go out there and you snap it and you play game. There's absolutely plays we have to be better at. We put the defense in some challenging situations early.
"I don't know if Clemson's started, in their first three drives, (inside) the 50. They were in a pretty good spot. There are still things that we've emphasized and still some plays that could have been made. That's the thing that's frustrating... It allowed some plays to extend and to get out that obviously put us in poor position to have success."
Duce Robinson injury: How did star FSU receiver's absence affect passing game vs. Clemson?
Robinson exited in the third quarter and did not return. The Seminoles' leading receiver made two catches, including a 28-yard reception in Saturday's game.
"I don't have much information on (the injury). I just knew that at halftime, after he kind of got checked out, we knew that he wouldn't be back in the game. Obviously that will be a little bit of a process as we get into next week and see exactly where that is.
"We had to move some guys around with situations with kind of how the game was flowing, but I was proud of that group and how they answered the call. That was a good (Clemson) secondary they played against, and it was good to see those guys making plays later in the game that we definitely needed."
Mike Norvell asked if he expects to remain FSU coach, 'win more fans back'
Norvell was asked about the number of empty seats at Doak Campbell Stadium during the fourth quarter with Clemson holding a three-score lead. A reporter asked if Norvell expected to continue to be able to win those fans back after another loss.
He said:
"You've got to go out there and you've got to win. That's what it comes down to. I guess for the people that left, this team rallied and responded and still believed in what they could do and what they could accomplish. I am grateful for that. I understand the frustration. We have high expectations for what we want to be. You can show up every day and pour what you have into it.
"Like I said, I believe in these players and the choices that they've made to be a part of this program, in the work that we ask them to do. There is a lot of work that is being poured into to this group, and we have our challenges. Some difficult things that have come about, but I truly believe this is a team that's going to fight for the university, for the program, for what they represent."
Mike Norvell says 'wins will be coming' at FSU despite job pressure
Norvell added:
"This team, as long as they continue to show up and pour into it, we're going to put a product on the field that fans can be proud of, and the wins will be coming. That's our focus. That's what we're doing as a football team. That's (the reason for) my belief in everything for this program."
Watch Norvell's full press conference below:
Clemson football schedule 2026
Clemson will face Syracuse (4-4, 2-4) at JMA Wireless Dome in Week 10 of the 2026 college football season. Kickoff is Noon ET. The game will be televised on ESPN.
All times Eastern.
- Sept. 5: at LSU Tigers (L, 51-10)
- Sept. 12: vs. Georgia Southern Eagles (W, 22-7)
- Sept. 19: vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (W, 28-20)
- Sept. 25: at California Golden Bears (W, 24-10)
- Oct. 3: vs. Miami Hurricanes (L, 41-13)
- Oct. 17: vs. Charleston Southern Buccaneers (W, 37-0)
- Oct. 24: vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (L, 20-16)
- Oct. 31: at Florida State Seminoles (W, 36-24)
- Nov. 7: at Syracuse Orange, noon ET, ESPN2
- Nov. 14: vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, TBA
- Nov. 20: at Duke Blue Devils, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
- Nov. 28: vs. South Carolina Gamecocks, TBA
Record: 5-3 overall, 3-2.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: What FSU coach Mike Norvell said about Clemson football after loss
