TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State's ambitious plan to deflect unwanted attention away from Jameis Winston unraveled quickly.
The Seminoles did not allow the distraction to undermine their game or their season, however.
Karlos Williams punched the ball into the end zone on a 12-yard run in overtime, and the top-ranked Seminoles rallied for a 23-17 victory over Atlantic Coast Conference rival Clemson on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The result marked the third straight time FSU trailed Clemson at halftime at home but bounced back to win. The Seminoles trailed 21-14 in 2012 before storming back for a 49-37 win. FSU trailed 10-3 in 2010 but rallied for a 16-13 victory.
Clemson had the ball first in overtime, but the Seminoles stuffed Tigers running back Adam Choice on fourth-and-1 to get the ball back with an opportunity to win with a score.
Williams covered the requisite 25 yards on his next two runs, including a 12-yard burst off the left side to the end zone to lift the Seminoles to the victory.
The game served as the conference opener for both teams, and FSU (3-0) gained the early advantage over Clemson (2-1) in pursuit of an Atlantic Division crown.
Winston, suspended for the game after yelling an obscenity in a student hall this week, attracted more unnecessary attention during pre-game warmups when he jogged onto Bobby Bowden Field wearing a full uniform and pads. Caught on television cameras, an exasperated, near-incredulous Jimbo Fisher chastized Winston on the field before the coach sent his quarterback to the locker room.
Winston emerged again wearing an FSU hat, his No. 5 jersey top and black pants. He walked around the field before the game shaking hands with teammates as they warmed up, and he and Fisher met again at midfield for a brief exchange. Winston watched the game from the sidelines.
His replacement under center, third-year sophomore Sean Maguire, appeared to be an unlikely hero when he connected with Rashad Greene on a 74-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 17-17 with 6:04 left in the fourth quarter.
Maguire made a costly mistake on his next pass, however, with an interception on FSU's next possession that gave Clemson the ball at the Seminole 26 with 2:14 left on the clock. The Tigers botched the scoring opportunity, though, when C.J. Davidson fumbled the ball and FSU's Nate Andrews pounced on it at the FSU 14.
The Seminoles were content to run the clock out and head to overtime.
Maguire often was forced to throw in second- and third-and-long situations. He frequently held the ball too long -- he was sacked five times -- and attempted ill-advised passes under pressure.
Maguire completed 21 of 39 passes for 305 yards with two interceptions. His interception early in the fourth quarter awarded the ball back to Clemson, and the Tigers quickly went down the field to score the go-ahead touchdown.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is a true freshman who stepped in for starter Cole Stoudt on Clemson's third drive and never reliniquished his spot on the field. One play after completing a 39-yard pass to the FSU 2, he punched the ball into the end zone for a 17-10 lead with 11:44 left in the game.
Clemson took a 10-3 lead on D.J. Howard's 1-yard touchdown plunge with just under six minutes before halftime, but FSU erased that deficit on the Seminoles' first possession in the second half. Mario Pender capped a 9-play, 68-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 11:05 left in the third quarter to tie the game at 10-10.
Watson completed 19 of 26 passes for 266 yards.
Clemson's defense played in the first half like it was well aware of the Seminoles' shortcomings with Maguire supplanting Winston in the offensive backfield. The Tigers neutralized FSU's rushing game on first down, and Maguire was placed in the unenviable position of throwing the ball when the Tigers most expected it.
FSU's defense was just as resilient and largely took away the Tigers' ability to strike for big plays. The Seminoles also benefited from Clemson mishaps in the red zone, where the Tigers converted only two of five trips inside the FSU 20 into points.
Clemson drove the length of the field on its first possession, but quarterback Cole Stoudt short-hopped a pass to an open receiver on third down inside the FSU 10. Tigers place-kicker Ammon Lakip then pulled a 23-yard field goal attempt wide left, much to the delight of 82,316 FSU fans.
The Seminoles gained a 3-0 lead on the next possession after Robert Aguayo split the uprights on a 50-yard field goal attempt. Clemson knotted the score with Lakip's 30-yard field goal eight seconds into the second quarter.