FSU football: Will the Seminoles have success on the ground against Clemson?

Florida State's rushing attack has been underwhelming this season, as they rank 130th in the FBS in rushing yards per game (65.2). The Seminoles' coaching staff thought their rushing attack would be the strength of the offense this year. However, that has been hard from the truth.

Florida State welcomes in a surging Clemson Tigers team that has seemed to find their identity offensively. During the Mike Norvell era, the Seminoles have struggled to run the football versus the Tigers.

-2023: 20 carries for 22 yards and one touchdown

-2022: 34 carries for 206 yards and two touchdowns

-2021 21 carries for 65 yards and zero touchdowns

Florida State will have to rely on veteran Lawrance Toafili, true freshman Kameron Davis, and the dual-threat ability of signal-caller Brock Glenn. It will be tough sledding, but the Seminoles have to establish the running game early and often to slow the game down.

The Seminoles will be without former Alabama transfer Roydell Williams, who is out for an extended period, and former Indiana transfer Jaylin Lucas, who is out for the remainder of the 2024 season.

Those dynamic weapons would have been great for Florida State to have if they hoped to pull off the upset versus the Tigers. Florida State is now a 17-point underdog at home after opening up as a 14-point underdogs.

An established running game will take the pressure off of the young quarterback as he looks to make his presence known after veteran DJ Uiagalelei suffered an injury in the last game versus SMU.

Nonetheless, I expect head football coach Mike Norvell to throw the kitchen sink at Clemson as the Seminoles have their best effort offensively in hopes of giving the fan base hope for the remainder of the 2024 season in terms of positive progression.