Florida State is bringing a different kind of firepower into its matchup with Clemson, and a lot of it comes from players the Tigers already know.
Quarterback Ashton Daniels, running back Quintrevion “Tre” Wisner and wide receiver Duce Robinson all made major noise in the Seminoles’ 43-35 double-overtime loss to Miami on Oct. 17, combining for 505 yards of offense and five touchdowns. Daniels did the heavy lifting, going 15 of 28 for 298 yards and four touchdowns through the air, then adding 31 rushing yards and another score. In other words, he was responsible for every Florida State touchdown.
That kind of output fits the version of Daniels Clemson has been preparing for. After stops at Stanford from 2022-24 and Auburn in 2025, he has put together a stretch that included 713 total yards, six touchdown passes and two rushing scores against Miami and Alabama, though he also tossed four interceptions. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney made it clear Tuesday that he sees the growth.
“Ashton Daniels is a guy that I’ve had respect for. We saw him here,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said on Tuesday, referencing Stanford's 2024 visit to Death Valley.
“He’s a really talented player. He has really developed as a more complete quarterback and complete player.
Mike has done a great job with him as far as how they’re using him. It all starts with him … a lot of play action, quarterback run game, screens.
They’re probably as good a screen team as we’ve seen.”
Daniels’ last trip against Clemson came in Stanford’s 40-14 loss on Sept. 28, 2024, when he ran for 87 yards on 11 carries but struggled as a passer, finishing 9 of 19 for 71 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. He exited that game in the fourth quarter because of an ankle injury.
The Seminoles’ passing game as a whole has been productive enough to matter, too. Florida State enters the game ranked 62nd nationally at 234.1 passing yards per contest.
On the ground, the story changes because Florida State will be without Ousmane Kromah after the leading rusher suffered a season-ending ankle/foot injury against Miami and needed surgery. Kromah had piled up 609 yards and five touchdowns on 114 carries in seven games, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt.
That opens the door for Wisner to take on a much larger role. The Texas transfer already has a Clemson memory of his own, rushing for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries in Texas’ 38-24 CFP win over the Tigers on Dec.
21, 2024. Against Miami, he was efficient again, finishing with 63 yards on nine carries while averaging 7.0 yards per rush.
He also caught four passes for 56 yards and scored on a 28-yard touchdown.
Through seven games, Wisner has 204 rushing yards on 38 carries and 151 receiving yards on 12 catches. Freshman Amari Thomas, who has 11 yards on three carries, could also see more work with Kromah out.
Florida State’s ground game stacks up reasonably well on paper, ranking 46th nationally at 180.1 yards per game, while Clemson is 53rd in rushing defense at 131.3 yards allowed per game. Still, the Seminoles haven’t found much against the Tigers lately, managing just 132 yards on 49 carries across the last two meetings, a 2.7-yard average with no rushing touchdowns.
Robinson gives Florida State another problem Clemson has to solve. He caught nine passes for 124 yards on 15 targets in the Seminoles’ 24-10 loss at Clemson on Nov. 8, 2025, and he was just as dangerous against Miami.
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound NFL prospect hauled in five catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard score that tied the game at 28 with 2:39 left in regulation. He later added a 20-yard touchdown reception in overtime.
That kind of vertical threat makes his matchup with cornerback Ashton Hampton worth watching. Hampton is a semifinalist for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back.
Florida State has dropped its last two games against Clemson by a combined 53-23, but this offense looks different now. Daniels can extend plays and hurt teams with his legs, Wisner brings proven production and Robinson can flip the field in one snap. That’s a tougher package for Clemson to handle than the one it has seen before.
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