Honestly, the FSU vs Clemson 2024 game was weird. If you just looked at the final score—a 29-13 Clemson victory—you’d think it was a standard blowout. But being there at Doak Campbell Stadium on that October night, or even watching the tape back now, reveals a much messier, more interesting story. It wasn't just about a win or a loss; it was about the moment the 2024 season officially slipped through Florida State’s fingers while Dabo Swinney quietly made history.
Most people talk about this game as the "Brock Glenn debut." That’s kinda true, but it misses the point. The real story was the absolute chasm between a Clemson team that had found its rhythm and an FSU squad that was essentially trying to build a plane while it was already nose-diving.
The Night Dabo Passed Bobby Bowden
There is a poetic irony in the fact that Dabo Swinney became the winningest coach in ACC history on the very turf where the previous record-holder, Bobby Bowden, became a legend.
With this 29-13 win, Dabo notched his 174th victory. Passing Bowden in Tallahassee? That’s the kind of stuff scriptwriters dream up. But it wasn't a "sexy" win. It was a methodical, grinding performance where Clemson’s kicker, Nolan Hauser, basically lived on the field. The kid set a school record by attempted seven field goals. He made five.
If Clemson had been just a little sharper in the red zone, this score would have been a massacre. They racked up 500 total yards. FSU? They managed exactly half of that.
Brock Glenn vs. The Hype
Everyone wanted to see if Brock Glenn could save the season after DJ Uiagalelei went down with a hand injury. DJ was struggling, the fans were restless, and Glenn was the "spark" everyone prayed for.
Basically, Glenn played a "good-bad" game.
He finished 23-of-41 for 228 yards and two touchdowns. On paper, that’s the best quarterback play FSU had seen all year. Pro Football Focus even gave him an 83.5 grade—which is legitimately high. But here’s the problem: he had zero help.
FSU’s run game was non-existent. Like, actually zero. Through three quarters, the Seminoles had negative rushing yards. They finished the night with a measly 22 yards on 23 carries. You can’t ask a redshirt freshman to beat a top-15 Clemson defense when the defense knows for a fact you aren't going to run the ball.
The Stats That Actually Matter
Sometimes the box score hides the truth. Not here. The disparity in the FSU vs Clemson 2024 matchup was visible in every column.
- Rushing Yards: Clemson 265 | FSU 22
- First Downs: Clemson 28 | FSU 14
- Phil Mafah’s Impact: The Clemson back was a human wrecking ball, rushing for 154 yards. Every time FSU felt like they had a momentum swing, Mafah would rip off a 20-yard gain and silence the crowd.
- Special Teams Chaos: This was the one area where FSU actually looked like the "old" FSU. They blocked two field goals. Edwin Joseph and Patrick Payton were flying off the edges. It kept the game from being 40-13, but blocks don't put points on the board for the offense.
Why the First Quarter Ruined Everything
The game was essentially over before most people had finished their first tray of stadium nachos. Clemson jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first 15 minutes.
Cade Klubnik looked like the Heisman candidate people expected him to be, tossing a 57-yard bomb to Antonio Williams and a 23-yarder to T.J. Moore. When you’re FSU and you’re 1-4 entering the game, a 17-point deficit feels like a mountain.
Glenn did show some grit, though. He led a 75-yard drive in the second quarter, capped by a touchdown to Amaree Williams. It cut the lead to 17-7. For a second, Doak was loud. For a second, it felt like a rivalry game again.
📖 Related: Texas Tech Football Televised: How to Actually Find Every Game Without Losing Your Mind
Then Phil Mafah happened. Then the FSU offensive line collapsed. Then reality set in.
Misconceptions About the FSU Defense
A lot of critics trashed the FSU defense after this game for giving up 500 yards. That’s a bit unfair. Honestly, the defense spent almost the entire game on the field because the offense couldn't sustain drives.
The Noles’ defense held Clemson to field goals on four different trips deep into their territory. If the defense had truly "quit," Clemson would have hung 50 points on them. Instead, they forced Dabo to rely on his freshman kicker. The FSU defense was tired, not untalented.
What This Game Taught Us
The FSU vs Clemson 2024 matchup was a funeral for FSU's preseason expectations. It proved that their issues weren't just about one quarterback or one bad play-call. It was a systemic failure of the "trench" play.
Clemson, meanwhile, proved they were still the kings of the ACC (at least alongside Miami). Klubnik’s evolution from a shaky starter to a confident leader was the biggest takeaway for the Tigers.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're still dissecting this game or looking at how it affected the programs moving forward, here is what you should focus on:
- Watch the Brock Glenn Tape: If you’re an FSU fan, look at Glenn’s "Big Time Throws." He has the arm; he just needs an offensive line that doesn't treat him like a crash-test dummy.
- Monitor Clemson's Red Zone Efficiency: If you're betting on or following Clemson, their inability to turn 500 yards into more than 29 points is a red flag that popped up in later games.
- Evaluate the Transfer Portal Strategy: FSU's reliance on the portal over high school recruiting was exposed in this game. Watch how Mike Norvell shifts his recruiting strategy in the upcoming cycles—the "quick fix" clearly hit a wall in 2024.
The 29-13 score tells a story of a dominant Clemson team, but the 22 rushing yards for FSU tells the real tragedy. It was a game of "what ifs" that eventually just became a "what now?" for a Florida State program searching for its identity.