Tait Reynolds scores 3 touchdowns in Clemson's 36-24 win over Florida State
Tait Reynolds threw a pair of touchdown passes, his first in more than a month, as Clemson jumped out to an early lead and held off a late rally, defeating Florida State 36-24 on Saturday
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Tait Reynolds threw a pair of touchdown passes, his first in more than a month, as Clemson jumped out early and held off a late rally, defeating Florida State 36-24 on Saturday night.
The freshman quarterback had not thrown a touchdown pass in four games, but he connected with Christian Bentancur and Olsen Patt-Henry on first-half touchdown passes as Clemson led 23-10 after 30 minutes.
“If you can’t see 2 (Reynolds) getting better than you just ain’t looking,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “The kid’s just a competitor. He’s getting better every week.”
Reynolds sealed the win with a weaving 79-yard touchdown run on third-and-12 with 3:17 left for Clemson (5-3, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). He completed 18 of 32 passes for 189 yards.
“I think there’s a lot to clean up,” Reynolds said. “I think it can get better and better. That’s the great thing about it. We’re not there with our full potential yet. But we’re going to keep getting better. It was satisfying.”
Nolan Hauser made five field-goal attempts — from 50, 49, 46, 35 and 35 — as Clemson won its third straight game in the series with Florida State. Hauser has made 23 of 24 field-goal attempts in 2026.
Ashton Daniels threw three interceptions and fumbled for Florida State (3-5, 1-4). Elliot Washington II had two interceptions and Jerome Carter III had one.
“I’m happy to report we won the turnover margin for the first time this year,” Swinney said. “And we did it in a big way.”
Daniels completed 21 of 33 passes for 350 yards, a 46-yard touchdown pass to Micahi Danzy, a 41-yard TD pass to Jasen Lopez and a 13-yard touchdown run but Florida State lost its third straight game.
“Extremely disappointed with the result,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. “I had high expectations for how we would come out and play. But absolutely did not play to the standard of our expectations.”
Clemson starting left guard Elyjah Thurmon laid on the grass for about 10 minutes in the second quarter before being strapped to a backboard. He gave a thumbs up while being driven off the field on a cart.
Swinney said Thurmon would likely be kept at a Tallahassee hospital overnight.
Norvell went into 2026 on the hot seat and it’s only getting hotter with the most recent losses at Louisville, at Miami and to Clemson. The Seminoles are 1-5 against Power 4 teams this season.
Clemson scored on 8 of 13 drives, before taking the victory formation in the final minute, in its most efficient performance against a Power 4 opponent.
Florida State played its first game without leading rusher Ousmane Kromah. The Seminoles managed just 65 yards rushing on 29 carries.
Clemson: at Syracuse on Saturday.
Florida State: at Boston College on Saturday.
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