Clemson vs. Florida State: Game Grades, Analysis for Tigers and Seminoles

Without star quarterback Jameis Winston, the top-ranked Florida State Seminoles found a way to preserve the nation's longest winning streak and stay in the national title hunt, holding off the No. 22 Clemson Tigers 23-17 in overtime Saturday night.

It was a sloppy game in Tallahassee, Florida, that featured three total turnovers and multiple missed opportunities from both teams.

How did the two teams grade out?

Positional Unit	First-Half Grade	Final Grade
Pass Offense	B	B
Run Offense	B	C-
Pass Defense	A+	B
Run Defense	A+	A
Special Teams	D	D
Coaching	A	C-

Clemson Tigers Grade Analysis

Pass Offense: Clemson had success moving the ball through the air against Florida State. Cole Stoudt got things going early, completing three of his first five passes for 40 yards. Then Deshaun Watson took over on Clemson's third drive and never relinquished control, completing 19 of 28 passes for 266 yards. Neither quarterback threw an interception, but the Tigers also failed to throw a touchdown pass. Stoudt missed a wide-open tight end at the goal line on the game's second drive.

Run Offense: The Tigers had things going early, rushing for 85 yards in the first half. The running lanes got much smaller for Clemson in the second half, though, as the team finished with 101 yards on the ground. C.J. Davidson had a nice night, accounting for 54 yards on just 12 carries. But Clemson's inability to pick up one yard on fourth down in overtime proved to be the difference in the game.

Pass Defense: Florida State's offensive line had all kinds of trouble blocking Clemson's active defensive front. The Tigers notched five sacks, picked off two passes and pressured the quarterback consistently all night. The Seminoles found a bit of a groove in the second half, which sparked the rally.

Run Defense: The Tigers completely shut down Florida State’s rushing attack Saturday night. The Seminoles managed just 13 yards on 27 carries, averaging less than 0.5 yard per carry. Vic Beasley was nearly uncontainable, which forced the Seminoles to run away from his side of the field for much of the night. But in overtime, Clemson's stout run defense collapsed as Florida State waltzed 25 yards on two carries. 

Special Teams: Special teams was a disaster for Dabo Swinney Saturday night. Punter Bradley Pinion had a solid night, and the coverage units did a good job of containing Kermit Whitfield and a dangerous group of returners. But kicker Ammon Lakip missed two of his three field-goal attempts. In a game that ended up in overtime, the Tigers will be wondering what could have been if Lakip had connected on his three tries.

Coaching: Swinney and the Clemson coaching staff called a brilliant game for much of the night, but some puzzling calls down the stretch soured a solid outing. Specifically, needing just one yard on fourth down in overtime, the Tigers ran the ball out of the shotgun formation. Florida State got penetration easily, notching a tackle for loss and a turnover on downs. That decision ultimately cost Clemson the game.

Positional Unit	First-Half Grade	Final Grade
Pass Offense	D	C-
Run Offense	F	D
Pass Defense	C-	C-
Run Defense	C	A
Special Teams	A	A
Coaching	C	B

Florida State Seminoles Grade Analysis

Pass Offense: Florida State found out just how valuable Jameis Winston is to this offense. The Seminoles struggled with Sean Maguire at the helm, as the redshirt sophomore completed just 21 of his 39 pass attempts Saturday night. He threw two costly interceptions, but a familiar hero in Rashad Greene emerged late when he broke free behind the Clemson secondary for the game-tying 74-yard touchdown. 

Run Offense: The Seminoles running game was shut down almost entirely by the Clemson defense. Florida State’s offensive line had trouble opening up lanes for the running backs as Karlos Williams and Mario Pender rushed for just 60 yards on 18 carries. Back-to-back runs of 13 and 12 yards from Williams in overtime won the game for Florida State, though, so the Seminoles delivered when it mattered.

Pass Defense: Florida State's defense came up with a number of huge plays throughout the game, but Clemson's quarterbacks moved the ball regularly against what was the nation's top defense last year. The Seminoles surrendered 306 yards through the air—266 of which came from true freshman Watson—while failing to produce a single turnover.

Run Defense: Clemson had some momentum on the ground early, but Florida State shut the running game down in the second half. That was big for the Seminoles, who lost one of the country's best defenders when defensive lineman Mario Edwards was forced to the sideline with a concussion. After giving up 85 rushing yards in the first half, the Seminoles surrendered just 16 in the second half and overtime.

Special Teams: Special teams was the only area where Florida State had a clear advantage. The punting and return games between both teams were essentially a scratch, but kicker Roberto Aguayo was a noticeable advantage for the Seminoles. He drilled his only field-goal attempt of the night—a 50-yard boot in the first quarter.

Coaching: The Seminoles were outcoached and outplayed by Clemson for most of the night, but when the game hung in the balance down the stretch, Jimbo Fisher and the Seminoles came through. Florida State had the ball with 96 seconds to go in regulation, but knowing he had a big advantage in the kicking game, Fisher opted to play for overtime. That decision worked out perfectly as the Tigers shot themselves in the foot on their final drive, which gave Florida State the opportunity to steal the game.

All stats via NCAA.com.