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FSU football vs. Clemson prediction: Does Brock Glenn give the Seminoles a chance

liam rooney, tallahassee democrat
·6 min read

Florida State football is set for a primetime matchup with Clemson.

After a 1-4 start to the season and a 42-16 loss to SMU in week five, the Seminoles host Clemson (3-1) for a matchup under the lights at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Brock Glenn is set to start for the Seminoles after DJ Uiagalelei suffered a hand injury in the loss vs. SMU. FSU head coach Mike Norvell said that his veteran signal-caller could be out for weeks, leaving the door open for Glenn to start for the foreseeable future.

The Tigers have won three straight since a week one blowout loss to Georiga, scoring more than 40 points in each of the last three games. A 66-20 win over Appalachian State, a 59-35 win over North Carolina State and a 40-14 win over Stanford has Clemson coming into the game with all the momentum.

It is a rivalry matchup between two schools in completely different situations. The Tigers are looking to fulfill playoff hopes while FSU is searching for some sort of spark to turn things around.

FSU leads the all-time series against Clemson, posting a 21-15 record. Last season the Seminoles knocked off the Tigers 31-24 in a thrilling overtime game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

Can FSU's defense handle a red-hot Clemson offense?

The Clemson offense is the last thing FSU's defense wants to face right now. After giving up 42 points to SMU and 868 total yards of offense in the last two games, the Seminoles now face the most explosive offense it has seen this season.

The Tigers have scored a combined 165 points in the last three games, one of the most efficient offenses in the country during that stretch.

The play of junior Cade Clubnik has been the key to Clemson's growth since the 34-3 loss to Georgia in week one. He's 73-of-110 on passes, throwing for 12 touchdowns, two interceptions and 984 yards this season, adding 131 rushing yards on 17 carries, scoring four touchdowns.

He's been one of the top quarterbacks in the country this season, and he's primarily targeted Antonio Williams, who is healthy according to head coach Dabo Sweeny after picking up a knock vs. Stanford. Williams has caught 16 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns, tied for the most on the team with tight end Jake Briningstool.

Freshman wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. is a dynamic playmaker who will challenge the Seminoles. He's recorded 238 receiving yards on seven catches, scoring twice. Alongside the receivers, running back Phil Mafah has posted 346 rushing yards, scoring twice and averaging 85.5 yards per game.

The Seminoles will have their hands full with a veteran offensive line, but if they want to challenge Clemson, the defensive front needs to step up. After strong games vs. Cal and Memphis, that unit struggled to make an impact vs. SMU.

If Joshua Farmer and Patrick Payton can find ways to get pressure on Klubnik and force him into dangerous 50/50 throws, the Seminoles can potentially create takeaways, something Norvell wants his team to do more of.

This will be a game where the linebackers need to step up, with Cam Riley, Blake Nichelson and Justin Cryer set to face a dynamic run game that features Klubnik and Mafah. If Klubnik gets out of the pocket, the linebackers need to make a play, something that the unit has struggled with against mobile quarterbacks all season.

What does Brock Glenn give the Seminoles offense?

Glenn replaced Uiagalelei in the fourth quarter against the Mustangs, his first appearance since the Orange Bowl vs. Georgia. He started twice last season, including the Georgia game and the ACC title matchup with Lousiville, and he appeared in five games.

In his five games, Glenn went 19-for-51 for 229 yards, throwing two interceptions, while adding a rushing touchdown. He didn't complete a pass in four attempts vs. SMU, but Norvell said he was happy with how the redshirt freshman operated the offense.

The Seminoles have statistically one of the worst offenses in the country, averaging 15.6 points per game, ranking the team 126th out of 133 FBS teams. The passing offense ranks 86th with 213 yards per game and the rushing offense ranks 130th with 65.2 yards per game this season.

Uiagalelei wasn't the sole reason for FSU's offensive struggles, with wide receivers dropping passes and the offensive line unable to block. Don't expect Glenn to come in and magically fix those issues.

However, the veteran quarterback struggled with some overthrows and slow reads before his injury.

Glenn faces a Clemson defense that allows 25.8 points per game, including 183 rushing yards and 218.5 passing yards per game. He will need to use his legs, either to create plays or to run from the pressure, and that dual-threat ability could provide an opportunity to exploit the Tigers.

The play of the offensive skill position players will be key. If Glenn translates his quick decision-making from practice to the game and can make throws on time, it will be up to the pass catchers to hold on, instead of letting the ball hit the turf.

Lawrance Toafili comes into the game after posting 147 rushing yards and a touchdown in his last two games. It's a welcome change for the FSU offense that has struggled to run the football.

With a Tigers defense that can be open to big plays, Toafili will need to be at his best on Saturday to support Glenn and give FSU a chance.

Score prediction: Clemson 45, FSU 17

Sep 14, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Joshua Farmer (5) celebrates after a defensive stop against the Memphis Tigers during the first half at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images
Sep 14, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Joshua Farmer (5) celebrates after a defensive stop against the Memphis Tigers during the first half at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

It won't be a pretty game for the Seminoles. While Glenn has a decent start, the FSU offensive line won't be able to cope with the Clemson front seven. Allowing pressure on the quarterback and unable to create gaps for the running game to exploit, it will be a long night for the Seminoles offense. Klubnick will continue to progress, throwing for a couple of touchdowns, with Mafah adding a pair on the ground. The Seminoles' defense will keep things close in the first half, but the Tigers overwhelm FSU in the second half, winning big.

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Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football vs. Clemson game prediction: Brock Glenn won't save FSU