Florida State will get a Halloween-night shot at Clemson under the lights in Tallahassee, with the ACC setting the Week 9 matchup for Saturday, October 31 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The game will air on the ACC Network.
The Seminoles come into the second and final bye week of the 2026 season at 3-4, with the first seven games producing a mix of strong moments and frustrating stretches. Through four ACC games, Florida State has picked up only one win.
Clemson, meanwhile, enters the date at 4-2 after a 37-0 win over Charleston Southern. But the Tigers’ résumé still has some rough spots: they were routed by LSU, 51-10, and Miami, 41-13.
Even with Florida State holding the edge in the all-time series, Clemson has owned the matchup lately. The Seminoles lead the series 21-17, but the Tigers have won nine of the last 10 meetings. Florida State’s lone win in that stretch came in 2023, a 31-24 overtime victory.
The last time Clemson visited Tallahassee, Florida State also needed overtime to finish the job. The Seminoles rallied in the fourth quarter, forced a fourth-down stop in overtime, and then got the game-winning run from Karlos Williams.
Since Mike Norvell took over at Florida State, the Seminoles are 1-4 against Clemson, and only one of those defeats came by a single possession. Clemson also took the 2025 meeting 24-10 in Death Valley, a game in which Florida State fell behind 18-0 and never seriously threatened.
Before heading to Doak Campbell Stadium, Clemson will host Virginia Tech on Saturday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN.
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 🡒]