FSU football: Grading our five keys to victories over Clemson goals

By Kelvin Hunt | Oct 18, 2022

TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 15: Quarterback Jordan Travis #13 of the Florida State Seminoles is forced out of bound by Cornerback Sheridan Jones #6 and Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. #54 of the Clemson Tigers during the game at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on October 15, 2022 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Seminoles 34 to 28. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

By now, we understand FSU football came up short in their game Saturday night against No. 4 Clemson.

The Noles started the game about as good as one could hope, scoring on their first possession and forcing a punt on Clemson’s first possession while returning the punt to midfield for an opportunity to increase the lead to 10-0 or 14-0 and put major pressure on the Tigers early.

However, the offense failed to capitalize on that situation like they have many times this season. I said the offense would need to show up for the Noles to have an opportunity to pull off the upset.

However, their failures and one special team play put the defense in no-win situations, resulting in 17 Clemson points.

I felt like I had a good handle on what Clemson was as a team and what it would take for the Noles to pull the upset. I set five major keys the Noles had to accomplish if they wanted to win the game:

-Limit missed tackles
-Convert third downs
-Win turnover battle or avoid turnovers
-Win field position battle
-Convert red zone opportunities into touchdowns

Let’s take a look at where they came up short.

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