One of the more anticipated dates on Florida State's 2024 football schedule is upon us.

The Seminoles host ACC rival Clemson Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium (7 p.m. on ESPN). Unfortunately, this year's matchup has lost pretty much all of its luster. And even more unfortunately for FSU, that's because the Seminoles have struggled mightily early this season, entering Saturday's matchup with a 1-4 record (1-3 in ACC) that has all but certainly ended their bowl-game chances.

Clemson, on the other hand, seems to have rediscovered some of what it had lost over the last few seasons. Since a season-opening loss to Georgia in Atlanta, the Tigers have averaged 55 points over their last three games, home wins over Appalachian State, NC State and Stanford. Quarterback Cade Klubnik seems much improved in his second full season as starter and has a much better supporting cast around him.

While FSU leads the all-time series over Clemson 21-15 and snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Tigers last year in Death Valley, the Seminoles are hefty 16.5-point underdogs for Saturday's home game.

It's expected to be the first start of the season and third career start for redshirt freshman quarterback Brock Glenn. Mike Norvell confirmed Tuesday that DJ Uiagalelei will miss this game and potentially more because of an injury to his throwing hand suffered last week at SMU.

There could be a few other youth-movement changes to FSU's starting lineup as well Saturday night. True freshman tight end Landen Thomas is one of three co-starters at tight end after catching his first career touchdown last week and redshirt freshman offensive lineman Andre' Otto is listed as a co-starter at right guard.

We'll be monitoring the state of the lineup and how many changes we could see starting around 5 p.m. when the press box opens. We'll also have game updates here once things get underway.

Below is a list of players who signed elsewhere that may be of interest. I believe FSU needs to sign 2 High School quarterbacks in 2025. If Brock Glenn leaves after this year or one of the other quarterbacks transfers out, FSU could have only 2 on ship. With a potential of 105 ships...You need to bring in two quarterbacks every year. Even if one of the quarterbacks is a transfer-backup.

QB
Nicholas Vattiato (Middle Tennessee State) (JR) 107-163 (65.6%) 1285 Yards - 5 (TD) 4 (INT) (TRU Prep-Miami)
Anthony Clonadrea (Virginia) (SO) 99-149 (66.4%) 1211 YARDS - 8(TD) 4(INT)
Tucker Gleason (Toledo) (JR) 92-146 (63.0%) 1180 Yards 13 (TD) 4 (Int) (Tampa Plant)
Fernando Mendoza (Cal) (SO) 94-145 (64.8%) 1177 Yards 7 (TD) 3 (Int) (Columbus)
Rocco Becht (Iowa State) (SO) 87-132 (65.9%) 1173 Yards 9 (TD) 3 (Int) (Wiregrass)
Keyone Jenkins (FIU) (SO) 91-145 (62.8%) 1104 Yards 9 (TD) 4 (Int) (Miami Central)

RB
Richard Young - (Alabama) (FR) 9-24 (4.5) Average (Lehigh Acres)
Anthony Hankerson (Oregon State) (JR) 101-485 (9 TD) 4.80 AVG (Saint Thomas Aquinas)
Kaytron Allen (Penn State) (JR) 74-367 (2 TD) 4.96 AVG (IMG Academy)
Isaac Brown (Louisville) (FR) 39-362 (1 TD) 9.28 AVG (Homestead HS)
CJ Donaldson (West Virginia) (JR) 71-361 Yards (5 TD) 5.08 AVG (Homestead/Southridge)
Zuberi Mobley (FAU) (JR) 55-307 Yards-(4 TD) 5.58 AVG (Northwestern)
Anthony Carrie (Georgia Tech) (FR) 13-83 (1 TD) 6.38 (Carrollwood Day)
Jaziun Patterson (Iowa) (so) 30-144 (4.80 1 TD) (Deerfield Beach)
Davion Gause (North Carolina) (FR) 33 -197 YARDS-2 TD (Chaminade)


WR/TE
Chamon Metayer (Arizona State) (JR) 12 Receptions - 132 Yards- 2 Touchdowns (North Miami)
Oronde Gadsden (Syracuse) (JR) 26-359 -3 TD (American Heritage Plantation)
Eugene Wilson (Florida) (SO) 13 -19 1TD (Tampa Gaither)
Malik Rutherford (Georgia Tech (JR) 37-474 -2 TD (Champagnat Catholic)
Elijah Canion (Liberty) 6'4-220 (JR) 7-130 1 TD (Chamiande)

OL
Knijeah Harris (Florida) (S0) 6'3-330 (OG/OT) (IMG Academy) (Starter)
Jake Slaughter (Florida) (JR) 6'4-300 (Trinity Catholic) (Starter) (Committed at one time to FSU)
Rod Kearney (Florida) (FR) 6'4-330 (Mandarin) (Committed at one time to FSU)
Jimothy Lewis (Mississippi State) FR-6'6-310

DE
Mason Thomas (Oklahoma) (JR) 6'2-240 (5.5 Sacks) (Cardinal Gibbons HS)
Gabe Jacas (Illinois) (JR) 6'3-250 (3.O Sacks) (Fort Pierce Central HS)
Cade Denhoff (Clemson) (JR) 6'5-255 (5 Tackles) (Lakeland Christian)
Tyreak Sapp (Florida) (JR) 6'3-255 (2.5 Sacks) (Saint Thomas Aquinas)
Jack Pyburn (Florida) (JR) 6'3-250 (20 Tackles) (Jacksonville Bolles

DT
D.Antre Robinson (Florida) (FR) 6'3-310 (4 Tackles) (Orlando Jones)
Henry Bryant (Georgia State) JR 6'0-275 (2 Sacks) (Delray Atlantic)
Zane Durant (Penn State) JR 6'2-190 (2 Sacks) (Lake Nona)

LB
Keanu Koht (Alabama) (JR) 6'4-220 (5 Tackles -1 Sack) (Vero Beach)
Xavian Sorey -(Arkansas) (JR) 6'3-225 (40 Tackles, 1 Sack, 4 TFL)
Travion Banres (FIU) (JR 6'0-225 (54 Tackles) (Apopka HS)
Caden Fordham (NC State) JR-6'2-220 (48 Tackles) (Ponta Vedra HS)
Wade Woodaz (Clemson) JR-6'3-230 (36 Tackles) (Tampa Plant)
Langston Hardy (UCONN) SO-6'4-250 (21 Tackles, 1 int-4 TFL) (Sandalwood)
Grayson Howard (Florida) (SO) 6'4-240 (24 Tackles) (Terry Parker)
Joseph Carter (Liberty) JR) 6'0-230 (26 Tackles, 4 TFL, 1 SACK) (University Christian)
Stanquan Clark (Louisville) (SO) 6'3-230 (31 Tackles) (Killian)
TJ Capers (Louisville) (FR) 6'2 220 (I Int) (Columbus)

S
Jaheim Singletary (Arkansas) (SO) 1 Int, 11 Tackles (Riverside)
Emmanuel McNeil Warren (Toledo (JR) 43 Tackles- 1int-1.5 TFL (Lakewood)
Jordan Castel (Florida) (SO) 1 Sack (West Orange)
Phillip Dunnam (FAU) (JR) 15 Tackles (North Miami Beach)
Amare Ferrell (Indiana) (SO) 2 Interceptions-24 tackles, 1 sack, 4 TFL (Lake City)

CB
Matthew McDoom (Coastal Carolina) (JR) 1 Interception-9 Tackles (West Orange)
Sharif Denson (Florida) (SO) 1 sack) (Bartram Trail)
Xavier Scott (Illinois) (JR) 1 TD- 3 Interceptions (Dwyer HS)
Torrie Cox (Illinois) JR) 2 Interceptions - 9 tackles (Miami Northwestern)
D'Angelo Ponds (Indiana) (SO) 28 Tackles (Chaminade)

Pat Burnham and Rivals' John Garcia discuss this topic, among three big questions on the Big 3 schools:

The Osceola staff will use Sunday and Monday to re-watch Florida State's 29-13 to Clemson on Saturday night and offer our thoughts on the team's performance as a whole and take a look at some individual efforts.

The Tigers racked up 500 yards of offense vs. FSU's 250 total yards.

Clemson was able to rack up 265 yards on the ground on 40 carries. Clemson was averaging 5 rushing plays of 10-plus yards coming into the game. They ripped off 10 such runs vs. FSU. Big plays were a huge part of the Clemson win. Through the air, Clemson had four pass plays of over 20 yards and six of over 10-yards. Two of those plays accounted for 14 of the Tigers 29 points. The positive for the defense was their red zone defense, which forced Clemson to kick five field goals. However, it was FSU's inability to handle Clemson's offense between the twenty's that cost them the game. When you allow an offense to move up and down the field that easily, you probably aren't going to win no matter how good you are in the red zone.

Clemson scored on 7 of 11 drives and left at least six points on the field due to those blocked field goals.

Offensively, FSU found some life in the passing game with Brock Glenn at quarterback but couldn't find any green grass in the running game and the receivers, back and tight ends continue to struggle to catch the ball on a regular basis. Several could have made a difference in the game. However, the inability to catch the ball consistently as plagued this team dating back to camp.

That being said, you did see some improvement with Glenn leading the offense and that is at very least something positive to build off of during the open week as they prepare for Duke. The performance by the offense as a whole wasn't very good and it is because they can't get any production and push from the offensive line in the run game.

FSU special teams continued to be excellent with Alex Mastromanno and the FG block unit (two blocks) having excellent games.

Florida State began Clemson week (or as I have started calling it, prep for the Billable Hours Bowl) Tuesday morning out on the practice field.

With head coach Mike Norvell confirming after the practice that DJ Uiagalelei will miss Saturday's game due to injury and will be evaluated over the next few weeks, that left plenty of opportunities for new starter Brock Glenn and new backup Luke Kromenhoek to get reps during Tuesday's practice.

I didn't think either of them started particularly well but they grew into the practice at least a bit. Glenn had a great 1-on-1 ball down the sideline to Malik Benson that he appeared to catch with a full-extension grab before the ball was knocked out. Still a great throw, though. He also made more plays in the final few periods, hitting a nice pass downfield to Kentron Poitier on a read-option keeper that fooled the defense and made a few nice throws on the run in 7-on-7 pass-skelly work, creating yard-after-catch opportunities for his wide receivers.

I thought Kromenhoek was really quite good during that pass-skelly 7-on-7 segment. He strung together a number of great plays including a deep shot to BJ Gibson (who had a great day with an incredible 1-on-1 catch while falling down as well), a pass over the middle to Brian Courtney in a tight window and a dime of a wheel-route pass to running back Micahi Danzy. Kromenhoek also uncorked a great deep ball in 1-on-1s that found an open Darion Williamson, who had burned by his defender, in stride.

Although he wasn't practicing, I thought Uiagalelei looked quite engaged talking with his fellow quarterbacks and offensive players during Tuesday's practice. That hasn't been something we have seen a ton from him at FSU, but he seems to be embracing his current role while he recovers.

On the first play of the first team period in the red zone, Lawrance Toafili broke a 12-yard touchdown run. On the second play, the defense made a good play for an interception as Ashlynd Barker was in tight coverage and knocked the ball into the air for AJ Cottrill to pick it off.

On top of his good day in coverage, Azareye'h Thomas also made an impact on a few days as a blitzer from the cornerback spot. Marvin Jones Jr. made his presence felt on a few plays as a rusher and defensive tackle KJ Sampson made the most of being in the right spot at the right time, picking up a fumble at the line of scrimmage and returning it for a "touchdown."

We'll be back out at practice Wednesday morning for the final practice availability before Saturday night's game.

Stay or go?

Florida State held its final practice availability before Saturday's home game vs. Clemson (7 p.m. on ESPN) Wednesday morning.

It was a day of work the Seminoles seemed satisfied with. Mike Norvell said he thought it was much better than Tuesday and that the quarterbacks were faster and quicker in how they operated the offense. Defensive tackle Joshua Farmer said he thought it was one of FSU's best practices of the year so far.

Whether I would personally go that far or not, it was definitely an improved day of work with a better balance between offense and defense and some really nice playmaking. Here are the observations from Wednesday's practice:

• Brock Glenn got to run a one-minute drill during the first team period and found some success doing it. He moved the ball across midfield with a pass to Hykeem Williams and then converted a fourth and long on a pass to Lawayne McCoy, who made an impressive leaping catch over tight coverage. However, the drive stalled out and ended prematurely with a few seconds left on the clock with Marvin Jones Jr. knocked the ball out of his hand for a strip sack. Glenn made a few mistakes Wednesday, but I thought he always responded to them very well. Especially in 7-on-7 after missing a throw, he went on a nice run of reps where he found McCoy for a third-down conversion and then found Amaree Williams down the seam for a solid pickup of 20 or so yards.
• Speaking of McCoy, it was a nice day for FSU's freshman receivers. In addition to the aforementioned catches, McCoy made a great play in red-zone work, reaching behind his body and above his head to snag a one-handed pass on a slightly-off-target throw. Fellow freshman Elijah Moore also had a touchdown in this period, a perfectly thrown moonshot of a deep ball down the sideline from Luke Kromenhoek, who also had a touchdown run during goal-line work Wednesday morning. Another freshman wideout, BJ Gibson, had a nice touchdown catch in the back corner of the end zone in 1-on-1s.
• Kentron Poitier also had an impactful day with a touchdown in the corner of the end zone during 1-on-1s and a few third-down conversion catches during 7-on-7 pass skelly work.
• Jones Jr. added another sack during the middle 11-on-11 period. While his Cal success didn't translate over to the SMU game, he's continued to show flashes as a pass-rusher that could make more of an impact down the stretch of the season. Defensive tackle KJ Sampson also had a "sack" during this 11-on-11 period.
• Azareye'h Thomas maintained his playmaking ways at Wednesday's practice. He had an interception against the scout team, added a pass breakup during a good-on-good team period and was consistently in great position in coverage. Fentrell Cypress also had a pass breakup on a deep ball to Malik Benson in 1-on-1s and also had a physical tackle of Benson during a team period.
• Another DB who had a great day Wednesday was Charles Lester III. The true freshman had an interception in the end zone during goal-line work, put together some great 1-on-1 reps and also had a standout play during a perimeter blocking drill, blowing up a screen pass with a physical tackle. Fellow true freshman DB Ricky Knight II also had an interception during pass-skelly work which he returned for a "touchdown."

It took over a month into the 2024 season, but the Florida State football team finally plays its first true road game of the season Saturday night.

The Seminoles (1-3, 1-2 in ACC) welcome ACC newcomer SMU (3-1) to the conference with an 8 p.m. game on ACC Network at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. It'll be the second straight week that FSU took on a new ACC team playing its first conference game. The Seminoles got their first win of the season last week with a 14-9 home win over Cal.

This will be the first ever matchup between FSU and SMU. However, there's some familiarity between the FSU staff and SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee. Lashlee was a conference opponent as the offensive coordinator at SMU during Mike Norvell's final two seasons at Memphis in 2018 and 2019. He was then OC at Miami in Norvell's first two seasons at FSU, beating FSU in 2020 before the Seminoles won in 2021.

The Mustangs are currently 6.5-point home favorites over the Seminoles.

There are a few FSU injuries to keep an eye on during pregame warmups. The Seminoles may get offensive tackles Jeremiah Byers and/or Robert Scott back against SMU. Byers has missed the last three games while Scott missed last week's win over Cal. We should get an availability report from FSU a few hours before kickoff and I'll be at the stadium tonight to keep an eye on things during pregame warmups.

Follow along here for pregame updates and then live updates once the game gets underway just after 8 p.m. EST.

I think Glenn shows promise. He made some really good throws

2010 -8-5
2011 - 8-5
2012 - 12-0
2013 -9-4
2014 -8-5
2015- 10-3
2016 -4-8

I know many don't like Kelly. I feel he is a very good coach. I think if LSU is patient his 2015 class will get them over the top. Kelly did very well early on at ND. In 2016 he had a terrible season 4-8 - this is probably the most recent example of a comparison between fsu and another program.

Kelly fired seven coaches off that staff. He hired a new strength coach. He hired a new Oc and Dc as well. It ended up working out for Kelly.

I hate to ask but wtf? This make me take all practice reports with a grain of salt..

The weekly show begins with host Jeff Culhane and coach Mike Norvell

Norvell: This week is going to be a huge week in our growth (during the bye)

Defensively it was a game where they had their plays. A lot of areas where we have to improve upon.

“Our red zone defense was outstanding.”

Since Bama went down to Vandy on Saturday has anyone heard any comments from Finebaum yet?