CLEMSON, S.C. — Florida State’s mistakes added up yet again.
A fumble at the Clemson 11-yard line.
A fourth-down drop by a wide-open Randy Pittman.
Plays are there to be made — but they quite literally slip through the Seminoles’ fingers.
A season-long storyline of turnovers, penalties and at times drops continued against what is statistically the worst Clemson team since 2010. Mike Norvell and the Seminoles or Dabo Swinney and the Tigers would walk out of Death Valley with a confidence-building win on Saturday — and it was Clemson that capitalized on FSU’s mistakes.
FSU rallied with a score late in the second quarter, but the third quarter was a dud: A missed 40-yard field-goal attempt to start the third quarter and an illegal hands to the face penalty on Micah Pettus halted a run for what would have been a first down. While not necessarily mental mistakes, the trend of FSU shortcomings in key moments again were prevalent.
Cade Klubnik passed for 221 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Williams off a flea flicker as Clemson grabbed a 24-10 win. Klubnik also had a 4-yard touchdown run, a few minutes after he converted on fourth-and-1 with a 2-yard run to keep the opening drive going.
FSU (4-5, 1-5 ACC) lost for the fifth time in six games. Clemson (4-5, 3-4) halted a two-game slide.
Tommy Castellanos completed 23 of 43 passes for 250 yards, a 7-yard touchdown pass to Lawayne McCoy and a late interception. Castellanos connected with Duce Robinson nine times for 124 yards.
But Castellanos had a costly red-zone fumble on a third-down run in the first quarter and a number of drops — by Jaylin Lucas, Ousmane Kromah, Squirrel White, Micahi Danzy and Pittman — and couldn’t build drives. And Castellanos nearly had a costly red-zone interception just moments before the touchdown pass to McCoy.
With FSU trailing, Castellanos was forced to drop back and throw or scramble and throw. Dropping back and trying to find time or an open receiver, Castellanos was sacked with 2:51 to go. It was one of six times that Clemson sacked Castellanos.
FSU ran 26 times for 110 yards, with Castellanos (31 yards) and Sam Singleton (28 yards) leading ground attack.
Of note
McCoy matched a career-best with four catches for 46 yards, the same as he had against Stanford.
FSU’s streak of 400-yard games was halted at seven. The Seminoles finished with 313 yards.
Defense
Ashlynd Barker and Mandrell Desir each had sacks. Barker and Blake Nichelson led FSU with seven tackles.
Darryll Desir, Jaden Jones and Deante McCray also had quarterback hurries.
Special teams
Mac Chiumento punted four times for a 42.5-yard average. He had a 54-yard punt that pinned Clemson inside its 5-yard line, one of three that forced the Tigers to start drives inside their 20.
Weinberg followed up his 40-yard miss in the third quarter by making a 46-yarder in the fourth quarter with plenty of leg.
Up next
FSU plays host to Virginia Tech on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the final home game of 2025.
The Seminoles will then play at NC State on Friday (Nov. 21) and face Florida on Nov. 29 to wrap up the regular season.
