The following article was written by a writer for FSU’s student newspaper, FSView & Florida Flambeau, which The Tiger is partnering with to bring you preview content ahead of the FSU-Clemson matchup. Here’s a link to FSView & Florida Flambeau’s website.
Florida State football visits the Clemson University Tigers at Memorial Stadium, better known as Death Valley, on Nov. 8. The game will be the 38th meeting between the programs, with Clemson winning eight of the last 10 meetings in the series.
The Seminoles opened the 2025-26 season as one of college football’s hottest teams. Their 31-17 win over the University of Alabama in Week 1 set the tone. Follow-up blowout wins against East Texas A&M and Kent State University pushed FSU to 3-0 and up to No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25.
From there, things began to unravel for the Seminoles.
Following a stunning double-overtime loss to the University of Virginia, the Garnet and Gold stumbled through the next few weeks. FSU dropped three straight Atlantic Coast Conference games to the University of Miami, the University of Pittsburgh and Stanford University, each by one possession. The skid prompted frustrations from fans, specifically with head coach Mike Norvell.
Seminoles athletic director Michael Alford addressed those concerns in a statement following the loss to Stanford. He acknowledged the season’s disappointment following the 3-0 start while reaffirming FSU’s commitment to Norvell for the rest of the season.
After using the bye week to recalibrate, the Seminoles dominated Wake Forest University 42-7 on Nov. 1. The Garnet and Gold defense suffocated the Demon Deacons, holding them to 162 passing yards and 2.1 yards per carry.
The win kicked off what FSU redshirt senior quarterback Thomas “Tommy” Castellanos calls “New November” — a chance to reset and finish the season strong.
“I told the guys it’s ‘New November,’ 1-0,” Castellanos said in the press conference after defeating Wake Forest. “Fresh start to the season and we’re going week in and week out, and continue to play good football and continue to keep fighting for the community, for the logo, for the fans.”
The Seminoles’ offense has resurged under new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. His up-tempo, run-first system has transformed FSU’s offense into one of the nation’s most productive units. The Seminoles lead the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense with 510.5 yards per game and rank eighth in rushing with 241.3 yards.
Castellanos has been the Garnet and Gold’s driving force on offense. He ranks third among all FBS quarterbacks in passing grade with a 90.6, according to Pro Football Focus. Castellanos’ combination of playmaking and aggressiveness has kept FSU’s offense humming.
The Seminoles’ top target on offense has been junior wide receiver Duce Robinson. Robinson has emerged as a game-changer for FSU, bringing elite size. Against Wake Forest, he hauled in five passes for 148 yards, including several explosive gains downfield. That was Robinson’s third game this season with at least 145 receiving yards.
Alongside Robinson, redshirt freshman wide receiver Micahi Danzy has become a spark plug for the Seminoles’ offense. Danzy is a dual-sport athlete who set the ACC record for the 400-meter dash. His speed has transferred seamlessly to the gridiron with gains of 30 or more in all but one game, and his big-play ability adds another dynamic threat to Malzahn’s versatile offense.
The Garnet and Gold’s defense is led by coordinator Tony White, who brought his 3-3-5 system to the program this season. The scheme emphasizes versatility, speed and disguise. However, the unit has been inconsistent. Through the first three games, FSU allowed 248 yards per game, before that number ballooned to 418 over the next three. The unit has found its rhythm over the last two games, holding opponents to 204 yards per game.
Clemson’s offense will test the Seminoles’ streaky defense. The Tigers have averaged 37 points per game over their last four outings, finding success with good play from senior quarterback Cade Klubnik and a rushing attack that has averaged 123.8 yards per game. FSU will need to stay disciplined and limit explosive plays if it wants to keep momentum on its side.
“It’s going to be a very hostile atmosphere for us,” Norvell said in a press conference. “We’ve got to be able to manage all things that we can control and go out there and play Florida State football.”
For the Seminoles, this game is much more than just another conference matchup — it’s a chance to prove “New November” is more than a slogan. A win in Death Valley would allow the Garnet and Gold to redefine its season trajectory.
Francisco Garcia is a Staff Writer for the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community. Email the staff at [email protected].
