CHARLOTTE — No. 17 Clemson is headed to the College Football Playoff.
The Tigers (10-3) upset No. 7 SMU (11-2) in the ACC championship on Saturday, winning 34-31 at Bank of America Stadium. Freshman kicker Nolan Hauser made an ACC championship game record 56-yard field goal to send Clemson to the CFP and win the ACC title game. Clemson scored 21 points in the first quarter to get out to an early lead and maintained it by thwarting SMU’s multiple comeback attempts.
Defensively, Clemson forced two turnovers and recorded two sacks to contain the Mustangs’ high-scoring offense. Tigers defensive lineman T.J. Parker shined, forcing an early fumble to increase his season total to six.
Clemson will await where it will be seeded in the CFP bracket on Selection Sunday (noon ET, ESPN).
Clemson freshman Nolan Hauser converted a 56-yard field goal, an ACC championship game record, to send the Tigers to the CFP for the first time since 2020.
SMU put together a 16-play, 79-yard touchdown drive to tie the game and keep its ACC championship hopes alive.
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings found Roderick Daniels Jr. for a 4-yard touchdown.
SMU contained Clemson’s offense after it wasted almost three minutes. This may be SMU’s last chance to tie the game.
Collin Rogers converted a 56-yard field goal to cut SMU’s deficit to seven points. SMU needs another defensive stop and a touchdown to keep its ACC title hopes alive.
Clemson needs to waste as much as time as possible or score again to put this game away.
SMU forced Clemson to punt after its score but could not generate any points on its drive.
With under 12 minutes left, SMU will need a two stop and two more scores to win the ACC championship.
SMU came out with extra motivation to mount a late comeback, scoring in almost under two minutes to make it a 10-point game.
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings hit tight end Matthew Hibner for a 20-yard touchdown.
Clemson’s offense awoke from its slumber to score its first touchdown since the first quarter.
Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik found wide receiver Antonio Williams for a 32-yard reception then capped off the drive with a 5-yard touchdown to tight end Jake Briningstool, his second of the game.
SMU contained Clemson’s offense on its previous drive, sacking Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik. Yet, Clemson punter Aidan Swanson punted the ball inside the 20-yard line.
SMU’s offense could not get a first down, settling to punt and try to stop Clemson’s offense again.
SMU forced Clemson to punt on its opening drive and responded with a touchdown to make it a two-score game.
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings found running back Brashard Smith for a 10-yard touchdown to give the Mustangs hope for a comeback.
Despite outgaining Clemson 193-183, SMU is trailing the Tigers. It has committed two turnovers, and its offense has been contained by a motivated Clemson team.
According to ABC’s broadcast, Clemson is 133-1 when leading by 17 points at any point in a game. The one loss came in 2010 to Auburn, where SMU coach Rhett Lashlee served as a graduate assistant.
Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser redeemed himself after his miss. He made a 44-yard field goal to give Clemson a 17-point lead.
Neither team could sustain drives after SMU’s missed field goals with both punting.
Clemson has the ball on SMU’s 44-yard line.
SMU had a chance to get back into the game after Clemson’s missed field goal. However, SMU’s drive stalled after it passed midfield.
SMU kicker Collin Rogers missed a 53-yard field goal short to give Clemson’s offense solid field position.
Clemson could not generate points off of its turnover. Its drive stalled and settled for a 44-yard field goal.
However, freshman kicker Nolan Hauser missed it, giving SMU life.
Clemson’s defense responded to contain SMU’s offense, forcing a third-and-9. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings tried to extend the play but threw an errant pass under pressure to Tigers defensive back Khalil Barnes.
America is learning about freshman Bryant Wesco Jr. He scored a 43-yard touchdown, his second of the game, to add on to Clemson’s lead. Clemson’s drive was extended thanks to a questionable roughing the passer penalty earlier in the possession.
Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik is 5-for-6 for 106 yards and three touchdowns through the first quarter.
After two poor drives, SMU responded with its first touchdown of the game. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings led a 10-play drive for 75 yards capped by Jennings’ 24-yard rushing touchdown on a designed run.
Everything has gone right for Clemson so far Saturday. Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik found tight end Jake Briningstool for a 5-yard touchdown to increase the team’s lead.
SMU had a three-and-out after failing to convert a first down. Then, it allowed a 17-yard punt return from Clemson’s Antonio Williams with an unnecessary roughness penalty tacked on. The ball is spotted on SMU’s 28-yard line.
The Tigers capitalized off of their turnover to score the game’s first points. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubik appeared to run the ball on a designed run, but he fooled SMU’s defense to find freshman wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. open for a 35-yard touchdown.
Tigers defensive end T.J. Parker strip sacked SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings to force the game’s first turnover.
Parker has forced a fumble in four of his past five games.
SMU won the toss and chose to receive the ball first. Clemson will start with the ball to begin the third quarter.
Clemson vs. SMU will be broadcast nationally on ABC. Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy will call the game from the booth at Bank of America Stadium, with Molly McGrath reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO or ESPN+, the network’s subscription streaming service.
Clemson 27, SMU 24: This game has the makings to be a shootout with both teams carrying potent offenses, but it will turn into a gritty, rough game in the second half. Both are fighting for a CFP spot, but the Tigers will come out victorious. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik will get a chance to redeem his late-game mistake against South Carolina to lead the Tigers on a game-winning drive to punch their ticket to the CFP.
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:
Clemson: Wide receiver Tyler Brown, safety R.J. Mickens, defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart and running back Phil Mafah are active.
SMU: Wide receiver Romello Brinson is active.
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