Florida State’s Halloween date with Clemson will have the full prime-time treatment.
The ACC announced Monday that the Seminoles and Tigers will kick off at 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 at Doak Campbell Stadium. The game will air on the ACC Network, giving FSU a late-night stage for one of the league’s familiar heavyweight matchups.
Florida State comes in at 3-4 overall and 1-3 in ACC play after a double-overtime loss to Miami. That result left the Seminoles looking for a reset, and Clemson arrives as the next chance to get one.
The Tigers are 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference, and they head to Tallahassee with some confidence after rolling past Charleston Southern 37-0 last week. Clemson has won four of its last five games.
Even with Clemson’s recent run, Florida State owns the historical edge in the series. The Seminoles lead the all-time matchup 21-17, are 12-7 against Clemson at Doak Campbell Stadium, and hold an 18-15 advantage since the ACC expanded with FSU before the 1992 season.
With the lights on and the calendar turning to Halloween, Florida State gets another shot to alter the feel of its season in a game that carries both conference weight and plenty of attention.
Florida State’s 2026 schedule also includes games at Boston College on Nov. 7, at Pittsburgh on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. on ESPN, home against NC State on Nov. 21, and a home meeting with Florida on Nov. 27 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. Before Clemson, the Seminoles have a bye on Oct. 24.
In Other News...
ACC Coach Chuck Amato Remembered For The Legacy He Left Behind
Chuck Amato, whose coaching journey included a meaningful stop at Florida State before he became the head coach at NC State, has died at 80, closing the book on a career that stretched across several programs and decades. Amato spent seven seasons leading the Wolfpack from 2000 to 2006, guiding them to a 49-37 record, four bowl victories and a school-record 11-win season in 2002, all while building on the reputation he had already established as a longtime college football coach.
For Florida State fans, Amatos name carries the kind of familiar weight that comes from being part of the sports coaching fabric long before he ever took charge elsewhere. His path also included a stint at Akron, and he retired in 2018 after leaving behind a broad footprint in the game, one now being remembered for the stability, success and longevity he brought wherever he worked. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State's Backfield Suddenly Has One Huge Job Before Clemson
Florida States running back depth took a major hit this week, leaving Quintrevion Wisner and Amari Thomas as the only healthy backs in the room after Ousmane Kromahs season-ending injury. It is the kind of turn that immediately changes how a staff has to plan a week, especially with Clemson looming and the Seminoles trying to steady themselves after a rough stretch.
Mike Norvell said he remains confident in where the program is headed, even with the recent setbacks piling up around the roster. The day also brought sad news off the field, with former FSU assistant and NC State head coach Chuck Amato dying at 80 after battling throat cancer, a reminder of how tightly connected the sports present-day urgency can be to its past. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Just Exposed A Miami Problem Other Teams Will Notice
Miamis double-overtime win over Florida State came with a clear warning sign attached. Darian Mensah spent much of the night under duress, as the Hurricanes allowed 14 quarterback pressures, their most since Sept. 27, 2024, and the Seminoles kept finding ways to disrupt the pocket with stunts and twists that tested the protection from the edges inward.
Samson Okunlola and Matt McCoy had a difficult time sorting out those looks, and coach Mario Cristobal pointed to Florida States twisting maneuvers as the source of some of the breakdowns. Center Ryan Rodriguez said the answer has to come from sharper recognition and better technique, because if Miami keeps leaving that kind of pressure on its quarterback, other defenses will notice the film and come after the same weak spots. [Read more 🡒]
