Florida State’s Saturday night meeting with Clemson is starting to take shape, and the Seminoles are trending toward getting a few more bodies back on defense.
The latest availability report shows three players who were previously listed are no longer on it: linebacker Chris Jones, linebacker Caleb LaVallee and defensive back Jordan Crutchfield. That points to all three being available for the matchup in Tallahassee.
Florida State also removed Omar Graham Jr. and Mikai Gbayor from Thursday’s report. If that pattern holds, the Seminoles should have their top four linebackers ready to go.
Jones has been one of Florida State’s busiest defenders this season, leading the team with 46 tackles, along with 4 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in seven games.
There is still some uncertainty in the secondary. Defensive back K.J. Kirkland was upgraded from doubtful to questionable, though his status remains unsettled after he had earlier been moved from questionable to doubtful this week.
The Seminoles also added defensive back Charles Lester III and kicker Conor McAneney to the report. Lester III is probable, while McAneney is questionable.
That matters because Florida State’s cornerback depth is already being stretched with Quindarrius Jones dealing with an injury.
The game itself brings plenty of tension. Florida State is favored at home, but Clemson has not lost in Doak Campbell Stadium since 2014. Both teams have been underwhelming lately, with Clemson carrying only a barely winning record and Florida State sitting below .500 after back-to-back losses.
So far, the two teams have ruled out a combined 17 players.
In Other News...
Florida State Faces A Clemson Test It Desperately Needs To Pass
Florida State gets a chance to reset the conversation Saturday when Clemson comes to Doak Campbell Stadium for an ACC matchup that suddenly carries a lot more weight than the records might suggest. The Seminoles are 3-4 under Mike Norvell, and with Clemson sitting at 4-3 under Dabo Swinney, this has the feel of a game both programs can use as a turning point in late October.
The setting only adds to the pressure, with kickoff set for Halloween night in Tallahassee and the game slated for the ACC Network with Wes Durham, Max Browne and Madison Fitzpatrick on the call. For Florida State, the challenge is obvious: handle a familiar league heavyweight at home and give itself something tangible to build on as the season moves into its final stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Gets A Clemson Test Fans Have Been Waiting On
Halloween night at Doak Campbell Stadium brings the kind of matchup Florida State fans have circled for years, with Clemson coming to Tallahassee for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff on Oct. 31. The Seminoles still hold a 21-17 edge in the all-time series, but the recent history has leaned heavily the other way, with Clemson winning nine of the last 10 meetings.
There will be plenty of attention on quarterback Ashton Daniels and what Florida State can get done under the lights, but the night also carries a ceremonial note. The program is set to recognize Peter Warricks induction into the College Football Hall of Fame during the game, adding another layer to a matchup that already has the feel of an important ACC measuring stick. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Is Turning Clemson Night Into A Much Bigger Doak Event
Florida State is turning its Clemson night into more than just a marquee ACC matchup, with the university rolling out Operation Garnet Storm to give Doak Campbell Stadium a bigger stage before kickoff. The game is set for 7 p.m., but the fan experience will start hours earlier with Halloween activities, military tributes and a celebration of Seminoles legend Peter Warrick, all aimed at making the atmosphere feel like an event from the moment people arrive.
The school is also leaning into the kind of extras that make a home game feel personal, offering fans the chance to buy customized touches such as videoboard messages and on-field access. Add in a drone show and enhanced pyrotechnics, and Florida State is clearly trying to make Clemson night feel less like a standard regular-season date and more like a full-scale Doak showcase. [Read more 🡒]