Clemson’s defense, often under fire this season, delivered one of its better halves of football against Florida State, limiting the Seminoles to a single touchdown and heading into the break with an 18-7 advantage. While the Tigers benefited from a few lucky bounces, they made enough key plays to stay in command through the opening two quarters.

Garrett Riley’s offense came out sharper than usual, setting the tone early with a long, methodical scoring drive that covered 75 yards in 13 plays. Cade Klubnik capped it off with a short touchdown run, followed by a successful two-point conversion from Clay Swinney. For a group that hasn’t consistently opened games with rhythm, it was a strong start. But that early flow quickly disappeared, as the offense sputtered on three straight possessions. A strange trick play backfired badly, leading to a sack, and Klubnik later missed a clear opportunity to hit Antonio Williams on third down. Those missteps kept Florida State within reach when the Tigers could have built a bigger lead.