TALLAHASSEE, Fla. _ The Florida State football team was the most engaged it has been all season to begin the fourth quarter.
But the end of Saturday's game was a different story.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson connected with Jordan Leggett for a 37-yard touchdown, and converted on a two-point conversion to Mike Williams, leading the No. 3 Tigers to a 37-34 victory in front of an announced crowd of 78,025 at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The final drive spoiled the best game of the season for FSU running back Dalvin Cook and the Seminoles' defense, which struggled mightily early in 2016.
Clemson has won its 22nd consecutive regular-season game and looks primed to be the first ACC team to make consecutive College Football Playoff semifinal appearances. The Tigers lost to Alabama in the title game last season.
Florida State still leads the all-time series 20-10, but the rivalry is one-sided once again.
FSU won three consecutive games over Clemson en route to three conference championships from 2013-15 before falling in Death Valley last season. Now, it's Clemson's time to shine as the elite team in the conference once again.
FSU (5-3, 2-3 ACC) picked up its third loss of the season and seventh in its past 15 games, while Clemson (8-0, 5-0) avoided its first defeat of the season.
No. 2 Michigan, No. 4 Washington and No. 5 Louisville were among undefeated ranked teams able to avoid upsets Saturday, while No. 7 Nebraska, No. 8 Baylor and No. 10 West Virginia picked up their first losses.
Watson led Clemson, completing 27 of 43 passes for 378 yards and two touchdowns, despite two interceptions, and senior running back Wayne Gallman added 20 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns to fuel the Tigers.
Cook turned in the best game of his career, leading the Seminoles with 19 carries for 169 yards and a career-high four touchdowns _ all in the second half.
FSU quarterback Deondre Francois was often bottled up by Clemson's defense, getting sacked six times by the Tigers. He completed 17 of 35 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Nyqwan Murray, who finished with six receptions for 96 yards.
Cook scored his last touchdown of the game, an 8-yard run, to give the Seminoles a 34-29 lead with 3:23 left in the game. The play was set up by a 38-yard gain by fullback Freddie Stevenson, with backup quarterback Sean Maguire spelling Francois after a hit from Clemson's defense.
The Seminoles held a 28-20 lead at the end of the third quarter after Cook scored on a 43-yard touchdown with 6:18 left in the third quarter, one play after sophomore cornerback Tarvarus McFadden caught his nation-leading sixth interception of the season.
But during FSU's ensuing drive, the Seminoles were unable to rebound after Cook's run of nearly 45 yards was called back because of a chop block penalty by Stevenson. FSU coach Jimbo Fisher was dealt an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after arguing the call from the sideline and FSU's chance to take a commanding lead was spoiled midway in the fourth quarter.
Florida State started sluggishly as it notoriously has all season, but the Seminoles finished the first half with a strong offensive drive. Francois connected on a 40-yard pass to Murray, a 23-yard complete to Kermit Whitfield and then a 5-yard touchdown to Murray to trim Clemson's lead to 17-14 heading into the locker rooms.
Florida State's defense rebounded from surrendering two first-quarter touchdowns, as the defensive line pestered Watson in the second half. Ultimately, the defense was outlasted in the final minutes.
FSU heads into the final month of the season with the first of two road games at NC State on Nov. 5.
