The Clemson Tigers lost their first game of the season against Duke but have won their following two games. In Week 4, they had the chance to upset the No. 4 ranked Florida State Seminoles and send them down the AP Top 25 rankings. Clemson gave Florida State a fight and looked to be in position to win their eighth consecutive head-to-head matchup.
With under two minutes left in regulation, the Tigers had the chance to kick the game-winning field goal on a chip shot. Jonathan Weitz, a graduate student who was a backup on the team for the past four years, received a call from head coach Dabo Swinney to kick for the team against Florida State. Weitz had made his first field goal and all three extra-point attempts.
Weitz lined up for the 29-yard field goal attempt with his parents and family watching inside the stadium. The kick went up and wide left.
CLEMSON JONATHAN WEITZ MISSES A CHIP SHOT TO WIN IT WITH LESS THAN 2 MINUTES TO GO
— SportsTalk (@TheSportsTalk0) September 23, 2023
FLORIDA STATE AND JORDAN TRAVIS HAS A CHANCEpic.twitter.com/RTT74vPTWk
Clemson's Jonathan Weitz misses a potential game-winning field goal vs. Florida State
What a story that could have been if Weitz had made it. Unfortunately, the kick was no good, and fans inside Memorial Stadium could not believe it.
🐍 CLEMSON CHIP SHOT SURRENDER COBRA 🐍 pic.twitter.com/mXWIA9YGOJ
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 23, 2023
On the call, ESPN and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy said, "It would've been a Hollywood ending," and Sean McDonough responded, "Well, the writers are on strike."
Florida State got the ball back at their 20-yard line, looking to get into field goal range at minimum. Despite a 25-yard pass from quarterback Jordan Travis to wide receiver Johnny Wilson, the Seminoles turned the ball over on downs. And even though Clemson crossed the 50-yard line on an 18-yard run by Will Shipley, the Tigers conceded and went to overtime.
The Seminoles would strike first with a 24-yard pass from Travis to star receiver Keon Coleman for the touchdown. With the Seminoles up 31-24, the Tigers had to tie things up or lose the game. But on third and one, Clemson called a screen that resulted in no gain. Then, on fourth-and-one, quarterback Cade Klubnik's pass intended for Beaux Collins fell incomplete, clinching the win for Florida State.
Clemson now falls to 2-2 on the season and is 0-2 against ACC opponents. As for Florida State, their College Football Playoff chances remain high as they improve to 4-0 on the season.