Nolan Hauser’s 56-yard field goal as time expired lifted Clemson to a 34–31 win over SMU in the ACC championship game.
With the win, Clemson shook up the College Football Playoff standings by earning an automatic berth into the College Football Playoff as a conference champion.
SMU tied the game at 31–31 with 16 seconds remaining in regulation with Kevin Jennings hitting Roderick Daniels Jr. on an out route for a four-yard TD. The play was reviewed, but Daniels clearly dragged his right foot in bounds for the catch.
On the ensuing kickoff, a 41-yard return by Austin Randall gave Clemson an opportunity for one play to get in field goal range. Cade Klubnik’s 17-yard pass to Antonio Williams accomplished that objective.
Klubnik threw for four touchdowns and 260 yards, completing 24-of-41 passes. Bryant Wesco Jr. grabbed eight receptions for 142 yards and two scores. Jake Briningstool also caught two TDs for Clemson.
Is SMU still a playoff team?
The Tigers’ win created a couple of questions going into Sunday’s selection.
Did Clemson earn a first-round bye with its victory? At 10–3, that seems unlikely. Speculation had SMU getting a bye by winning the ACC, but the Mustangs would’ve had a 12–1 record. The committee probably didn’t just save a bye for the ACC champion.
And what about SMU? Did the loss knock them out of the playoff despite a 10–2 record? Clemson’s win and Arizona State winning the Big 12 championship game take two spots that many speculated would go to 9–3 Alabama or 10–2 Miami.
“Listen. That’s a playoff football team. SMU, they better be in the dang playoffs. What a comeback by those guys.”
Dabo Swinney on SMU pic.twitter.com/rNAvG0evAM
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 8, 2024
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney made his case for SMU in his postgame interview with ESPN’s Molly McGrath.
“That’s a playoff football team,” Swinney said as he pointed across the field. “SMU, they better be in the dang playoffs.”
Clemson took big early lead
The Tigers ran out to a 14–0 lead helped by SMU mistakes. A fumble by Kevin Jennings on a sack gave Clemson the ball on the Mustangs’ 33-yard line. Two plays later, Klubnik hit Wesco for a 35-yard touchdown and the game’s opening score.
SMU went 3-and-out on their next possession, but was called for a 15-yard personal foul penalty when Davaughn Celestine’s helmet came off on a punt and he continued to play.
Between the penalty and Antonio Williams’ 21-yard return, the punt was essentially wiped out and Clemson took over at the SMU 28-yard line. Four plays later, Klubnik connected with Briningstool for a five-yard TD.
SMU got on the board with its third possession, finishing off a 75-yard drive with a 24-yard scoring run by Jennings. However, Clemson answered right back with a 43-yard TD pass from Klubnik to Wesco.
The Mustangs scored on their first series of the second half with Jennings completing four passes for 65 yards, including a 10-yard throw to Brashard Smith. That cut Clemson’s lead to 24–14. However, the Tigers mounted two long drives that ate up nearly 10 minutes, the second of which resulted in a TD on a five-yard reception by Briningstool.
SMU came right back and again cut the margin to 10, finishing off a seven-play drive with a 20-yard TD catch by Matthew Hibner. After the defense forced Clemson into 3-and-outs on consecutive possessions, the Mustangs closed to within one score on a 46-yard field goal from Collin Rogers.
Jennings passed for 310 yards, three TDs and one interception, completing 32-of-51 passes. Daniels had eight receptions for 97 yards and a score, joined by Hibner’s five catches for 69 yards and a TD. Brashard Smith led SMU in rushing with 113 yards on 24 carries.
