Charlotte, North Carolina. Nolan Hauser made a 56-yard field goal as time ran out, Cade Klubnik threw for 262 yards and four touchdowns, and No. 17 Clemson defeated No. 8 SMU 34-31 on Saturday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship to secure a first-round bye and a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
In the history of the ACC championship game, Hauser’s field goal was the longest.
For the Tigers (10-3), who needed a victory to qualify for the expanded 12-team playoffs, Bryant Wesco had eight receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter. Coach Dabo Swinney’s Clemson advanced to 9-1 in ACC championship games with two short touchdown grabs from Jake Briningstool.
“What a way to win,” Swinney remarked. “The heart of our guys, man, heading into the playoffs for the seventh time.” Despite our closeness, we managed to find a way.
For SMU (11-2), who had gone 8-0 in the regular season in their debut year in the ACC after switching from the American Athletic Conference, Kevin Jennings threw for 310 yards, three touchdowns, and ran for a score.
The Mustangs’ error-plagued defeat robbed them a chance at a CFP first-round bye and might have eliminated them from the competition entirely.
After rallying from a deficit of 17 points to level the game, Swinney pressed for the Mustangs to enter.
Pay attention. That football squad is in the playoffs. Swinney remarked, “SMU had better be in the damn playoffs.” Those men made a huge comeback.
The Tigers, a 2 1/2-point underdog, jumped off to a 21-7 lead thanks to three touchdown passes from Klubnik and a sack-fumble by Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker, which set the tone for the game’s opening series. In the first quarter, Klubnik completed 8 of 10 for 120 yards and three touchdowns, including throwing to Wesco for 45 and 35 yards.
In the early half, Clemson appeared to be winning every game.
One play in the second quarter saw Klubnik lose the ball forward approximately ten yards after being hit from behind. Tight end Briningstool quickly dove between two defenders to retrieve the ball near midfield and give the Tigers a first down.
SMU entered the locker room trailing 24-7, its biggest deficit of the season, after Clemson added a field goal late in the second quarter.
According to SMU coach Rhett Lashlee, “we did some uncharacteristic things in the first quarter that put us in a hole and it was hard, but we dug out of it.”
With seven minutes remaining, Matthew Hibner hauled in a 20-yard touchdown reception from Jennings, and Collin Rogers made a 46-yard ( goal to narrow the lead to 31-24 for SMU.
With four minutes remaining, Jennings and the offense had the ball back at their own 21 after the Mustangs defense forced a third consecutive punt on the next possession. With 16 seconds remaining, Jennings found Roderick Daniels for a 4-yard touchdown pass to tie the game after leading the Mustangs to 79 yards in 16 plays.
Lashlee remarked, “I thought he looked like a playoff quarterback.” I hope he makes it to the playoffs so America can see him.
Adam Randall’s 41-yard kickoff return gave Clemson the ball at their own 45, ending the game’s appearance of going into OT. Hauser’s winning attempt came after Klubnik found Antonio Williams for a 17-yard gain at the SMU 38 with three seconds remaining.
Lashlee stated, “We simply didn’t cover the kick well.” Clemson deserves praise for their strong early performance and final play.
The kicker, who is from Charlotte, responded to Swinney’s statement that he wasn’t certain Hauser had the leg to make the final kick.
With that one, Swinney remarked, he will become a legend at Clemson.
THE KEY LESSON
Clemson: By controlling the line of scrimmage and applying constant pressure on Jennings, the Tigers won the game up front in the trenches. Almost every throw play had the SMU quarterback scurrying out of the pocket in an attempt to keep his job.
SMU: The Mustangs suffered with errors in the first quarter, including multiple dropped passes, penalties, and two turnovers. Perhaps this was due to their jitters after playing in the ACC title game. The defensive backs at SMU found it difficult to match Clemson’s receivers’ speed.
UPCOMING
While SMU awaits its playoff destiny, Clemson will see if it receives a first-round bye.
— AP Sports Writer Steve Reed
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