College Football News
Clemson delivered a statement on the road against Florida State, combining a record-setting performance from freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds, a historic night for kicker Nolan Hauser and a defense that came up with four takeaways to secure another victory at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Clemson knows its way around Tallahassee, and the Tigers added another chapter to that history on Halloween.
Behind a career-best performance from freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds, a near-record night from kicker Nolan Hauser and a defense that consistently disrupted Florida State, Clemson continued its winning ways against the Seminoles with a road victory that came with plenty of history attached.
The win was significant for more than just the scoreboard. Clemson extended its winning streak at Doak Campbell Stadium to five consecutive games, a first in the history of the series. The Tigers also improved to 10-1 against Florida State since 2015 and 12-6 all-time against the Seminoles under head coach Dabo Swinney.
And while the final result added another road win to Clemson’s résumé, the individual performances made this one worth remembering.
Tait Reynolds Makes His Mark With a Record-Breaking Run
Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds delivered one of the biggest performances of his young Clemson career, contributing through the air and on the ground.
Reynolds completed 18 of 32 passes for 189 yards and a career-high two passing touchdowns. He also led the Tigers in rushing with a career-best 85 yards on 14 carries, adding another touchdown on the ground.
But it was his final scoring run that turned a strong performance into a memorable one.
Late in the fourth quarter, Reynolds broke loose for a 79-yard touchdown scramble, sealing the game and giving Clemson its longest run of the season.
The run also made program history. At 79 yards, it became the longest rushing touchdown by a quarterback in Clemson history, surpassing the previous mark of 75 yards shared by Steve Fuller against Virginia Tech in 1978 and Woodrow Dantzler at Virginia in 2000.
It was also the longest run by a Clemson freshman since Travis Etienne's 81-yard touchdown against Louisville in 2017.
Reynolds added two more milestones to his growing résumé. He became the first Clemson quarterback to lead the Tigers in rushing yards in consecutive games since DJ Uiagalelei did so against NC State and Boston College in 2022. He also became the first Clemson quarterback to rush for a touchdown in consecutive games since Cade Klubnik recorded a three-game streak in September 2024.
For a freshman quarterback, that is a lot of history to make in one night.
Nolan Hauser Turns Five Field Goals Into a Record-Setting Night
While Reynolds provided the highlight-reel finish, Nolan Hauser was busy putting points on the board.
The Clemson kicker was perfect on the night, converting all five of his field-goal attempts and all three extra-point attempts. He also averaged 44 yards on two punts.
Hauser connected from 35 yards twice in the first half, added a 50-yard field goal just before halftime, converted from 46 yards in the third quarter and capped his performance with a 49-yard kick in the fourth.
His five field goals matched his career high and gave Clemson a reliable scoring option throughout the contest.
The performance moved Hauser into another level of the program record book.
He converted his 23rd field goal of the season, tying B.T. Potter's 2021 total for the fourth-most made field goals in a single season in Clemson history. His 58 career field goals also moved him past Greg Huegel and Aaron Hunt on the program's all-time list.
Hauser's career field-goal percentage climbed to 84.0%, surpassing Bob Paulling's previous school record of 82.9%, set from 1979-83.
The long-distance kicks were another part of the story. His 50-yard field goal gave him six career makes from 50 yards or farther, moving him into sole possession of second place in Clemson history. His third 50-plus-yard field goal of the season also tied the program's single-season record.
Hauser now has five games with at least three field goals this season, the most in the nation. He also extended his consecutive made field-goal streak to 13, tying B.T. Potter for the fourth-longest streak in Clemson history.
His five successful kicks covered a combined 215 yards, just two yards shy of Clemson's single-game record of 217.
Simply put, Hauser was not missing.
Clemson's Defense Creates Four Takeaways and Keeps Florida State in Check
Clemson's defense gave the offense opportunities to build its lead by consistently creating problems for Florida State.
The Tigers recorded a season-high four takeaways, their most since collecting four against South Carolina in November 2025. Just as importantly, Clemson finished the game without a turnover of its own.
The four-takeaway performance helped Clemson snap an eight-game stretch without winning the turnover battle. It was also the program's first positive turnover margin since finishing plus-three in the 2025 regular-season finale against South Carolina.
The defense also held Florida State to just one conversion on 10 third-down attempts, making it difficult for the Seminoles to sustain drives.
Clemson opened the game by forcing three consecutive three-and-outs, marking the second time this season the defense began a game with at least three straight possessions without allowing a first down.
The Tigers also continued a remarkable road trend, holding an ACC opponent to 24 or fewer points for the 11th consecutive conference road game. Clemson has not allowed more than 24 points on the road against an ACC opponent since Miami needed double overtime to reach 28 points in 2023.
Jerome Carter III and Elliot Washington II Lead the Takeaway Effort
Safety Jerome Carter III made his presence felt early, recording the first sack of his career on Florida State's opening drive. He added his first interception as a Tiger in the second quarter, marking the seventh interception of his career.
The moment carried an interesting family connection. Carter is the son of former Florida State defensive back Jerome Carter Jr. By recording a sack and interception at Doak Campbell Stadium, the younger Carter matched his father's totals for those categories at the venue.
Cornerback Elliot Washington II also delivered a major performance, recording two interceptions and matching his career high.
Washington became the first Clemson player to record multiple interceptions in two games during the same season since DeAndre McDaniel accomplished the feat in 2009 against Georgia Tech and Miami.
His two interceptions brought his season total to five, giving him the team lead.
The Tigers' other takeaways came when defensive lineman Darien Mayo forced the first fumble of his career, which Jahiem Lawson recovered. Lawson's recovery was the second of his career and his first since 2024 at Pitt.
Mayo also added a sack on a forced intentional-grounding play in the fourth quarter.
Will Heldt Continues His Productive Season
Defensive end Will Heldt added another strong performance to his season, recording a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Heldt now has 7.0 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss this season, putting him within half a sack of his career high of 7.5, which he recorded in 2025.
The performance also marked his third consecutive collegiate season with at least 10 tackles for loss and five sacks. He became the 35th FBS player in the College Football Playoff era to reach those numbers in three different seasons.
Sammy Brown also contributed a sack, giving Clemson four sacks for the game. The Tigers have now recorded at least four sacks in three consecutive contests for the first time since a five-game stretch to close the 2022 season.
The Tigers Get Contributions Across the Offense
Clemson's offensive production extended beyond Reynolds and Hauser.
Tight end Christian Bentancur caught an 18-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, marking his second touchdown reception of the season and fifth of his career.
Olsen Patt-Henry added a four-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. It was his first receiving touchdown of the season and fourth of his career, and his first since a two-touchdown performance against Virginia on Oct. 19, 2024.
Wide receiver T.J. Moore continued his impressive streak of consistency, recording at least one reception for the 35th consecutive game. He passed Aaron Kelly, who recorded catches in 34 straight games from 2006-08, for sole possession of sixth place in Clemson history.
Chris Johnson Jr. also provided a spark in the return game, recording a 38-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. He now has a return of at least 38 yards in three of Clemson's last four games.
Dabo Swinney Adds Another Milestone to His Clemson Legacy
The win also carried significance for Swinney, who continued to climb the historical coaching record book.
Swinney improved to 192 career victories, passing Nick Saban and Bob Stoops, who each finished with 191 wins, for sole possession of second place for the most victories through the first 20 seasons of an FBS head coaching career. Swinney reached the mark in his 19th season as a head coach and his 18th full season.
Only Tom Osborne, with 195 victories, stands ahead of him on that list.
Swinney also earned his 117th career ACC regular-season victory, tying Bobby Bowden's conference record for regular-season wins by a head coach in ACC play. Swinney already holds the conference record for overall victories as an ACC head coach.
The win improved Swinney's record against Florida State to 12-6 and continued a run of success that has made the rivalry increasingly difficult for the Seminoles.
Clemson has now won five consecutive games at Doak Campbell Stadium for the first time in series history. The Tigers are also just the third program to win five straight road games against Florida State in Tallahassee, joining Florida and Miami.
What This Win Means for Clemson
Clemson's latest trip to Tallahassee was about more than extending a rivalry streak. It showcased a team finding ways to win through multiple areas of the game.
Reynolds demonstrated his ability to make plays with his arm and legs, Hauser delivered a historic performance in the kicking game, and the defense created four takeaways while limiting Florida State's opportunities on third down.
The turnover numbers were especially important. Clemson had gone eight games without winning the turnover margin, but the defense finally flipped that trend with four takeaways and no giveaways. That combination gave the Tigers an advantage in a game where every possession mattered.
The victory also continued Clemson's strong response following a loss. Under Swinney, the Tigers have now won 43 of 56 games played after a defeat, improving to 43-13 in those situations.
Clemson has also won 38 consecutive games against teams that entered the contest with losing records, the third-longest active streak in the country. The Tigers have not lost to a team with a losing record at kickoff since falling to 2-5 Boston College in 2010.
For a program that measures itself against championship standards, these milestones matter. But the biggest takeaway may be the emergence of Reynolds, the consistency of Hauser and a defense that showed what it can accomplish when it creates turnovers.
Clemson left Tallahassee with another win, another chapter in its history with Florida State and plenty of individual performances worth remembering.
