Clemson kept its hopes for a bowl game alive with a convincing 24-10 win over the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday night.

Under the lights, Death Valley was filled with fog and the smell of overpriced beer — but there was also a sense of relief in the air.

The Tigers earned their first home win since Troy on Sept. 6 and their first home win over a Power Four school since October 2024.

FSU trailed for the entirety of the contest. Any comeback attempts were thwarted by a defensive front that managed six sacks on Tommy Castellanos, a forced fumble recovery, an interception and nine tackles for loss.

With 14 minutes left in the second quarter, a picture-perfect 34-yard catch and score from Antonio Williams put the Tigers ahead by a score of 15-0. The game was at least a two-score game for the remaining 44 minutes.

Williams finished the evening with five receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Quarterback Cade Klubnik set the tone early and often. His 4-yard dash to the end zone on the back end of a 75-yard opening drive raised the roof in Tigertown. Klubnik’s rushing touchdown was his second in three career games against Florida State. He finished the game with a passing touchdown, a rushing touchdown and 221 yards with a 74% completion rate.

Nolan Hauser played his part, knocking field goals in from 43, 40 and 23 yards for a total of 11 kicking points.

Head coach Dabo Swinney’s game plan was simple: get ahead and stay ahead. Clemson executed that to a tee. The Tigers were aggressive and purposeful with every movement.

The Tigers have three games remaining in their 2025 campaign. If Clemson can win two of the three, it can salvage a bowl game from a tumultuous season.

With wind in their sails, the Tigers will head to Louisville, Kentucky, for a Friday night matchup at 7:30 p.m. against the No. 14 Louisville Cardinals.