TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — With Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston watching from the sideline, No. 1 Florida State came back to beat No. 22 Clemson 23-17 in overtime on Karlos Williams’ 12-yard touchdown run Saturday night.
Winston was suspended for the game against Clemson (1-2, 0-1 ACC) after making “offensive and vulgar” comments earlier this week on campus.
His backup, Sean Maguire, had an up-and-down night, and Clemson had enough missed opportunities to allow Florida State (3-0, 1-0) to extend its winning streak to 19 games.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney declined to attempt a 33-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime and Adam Choice was stuffed for no gain on fourth-and-1. Two plays later, Williams bounced outside and went untouched into the end zone.
Clemson kicker Ammon Lakip had missed two short field goals earlier in the game.
Maguire made the first start of his career. He was regularly pressured by a loaded Clemson defensive line and completed 21 of 39 passes for 305 yards with two interceptions and a 74-yard touchdown to Rashad Greene to tie it at 17 with 6:04 left in the fourth.
The two teams went into overtime after a fourth quarter of mishmash, game-changing plays on both sides. Clemson freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson threw a beautiful 39-yard pass in between two defenders, caught by a diving Mike Williams to set up a 2-yard touchdown run by the quarterback.
Maguire threw an interception that gave Clemson to ball in FSU territory with 2:14 left in the fourth. But Clemson’s C.J. Davidson was stripped by Eddie Goldman and FSU recovered at 1:36 inside the Florida State 20, and the Seminoles then played for OT.
Florida State Athletic Director Stan Wilcox declined to comment on the Winston suspension Saturday.
Winston was not made available after the loss.