In a thrilling showdown for the ACC Championship, the No. 18 Clemson Tigers defeated the No. 8 SMU Mustangs 34-31 on Saturday night, securing their eighth ACC title under head coach Dabo Swinney and clinching a spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP). Nolan Hauser’s record-setting 56-yard field goal as time expired lifted Clemson (10-3, No. 17 CFP) to victory, completing a dramatic night in Charlotte.
The Tigers started hot, dominating the first quarter behind quarterback Cade Klubnik, who threw for 262 yards and four touchdowns in the game. Klubnik opened with three touchdown passes in the first quarter, including two to standout wide receiver Bryant Wesco, who hauled in eight catches for 143 yards and two scores. By the end of the first quarter, Clemson had stormed out to a 21-7 lead, capitalizing on SMU mistakes, including a sack-fumble caused by edge rusher T.J. Parker on the game’s opening series.
SMU (11-2, No. 8 CFP), playing in its first ACC title game after moving from the American Athletic Conference, struggled to find its rhythm early. Costly penalties, dropped passes, and turnovers hindered the Mustangs, who faced their largest deficit of the season at halftime, trailing 24-7.
Despite their shaky start, SMU mounted a second-half comeback behind quarterback Kevin Jennings, who threw for 310 yards, three touchdowns, and added a rushing score. Jennings orchestrated a 16-play, 79-yard drive late in the fourth quarter, connecting with Roderick Daniels on a 4-yard touchdown pass with just 16 seconds remaining to tie the game at 31-31.
SMU’s defense also stepped up in the second half, forcing three consecutive punts to keep the Mustangs within striking distance. Kicker Collin Rogers added a critical 46-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, narrowing Clemson’s lead and setting up the late-game dramatics.
After SMU tied the game, it appeared headed for overtime. However, Clemson’s Adam Randall provided a spark with a 41-yard kickoff return to set up excellent field position. Klubnik quickly found Antonio Williams for a 17-yard gain to the SMU 38-yard line, leaving just three seconds on the clock. Swinney sent Hauser onto the field, and the freshman kicker delivered a clutch 56-yard field goal—the longest in ACC Championship history—to secure the victory.
The Tigers dominated the trenches, consistently pressuring Jennings and winning key battles at the line of scrimmage. Clemson’s defensive front was relentless, forcing Jennings to scramble on nearly every dropback, which disrupted SMU’s offensive rhythm.
Playing on the big stage seemed to unnerve the Mustangs early. Turnovers, penalties, and struggles in the secondary proved costly. Despite these issues, SMU showcased resilience with a strong second-half rally, led by Jennings and an opportunistic defense.
With the win, Clemson secures a spot in the expanded 12-team CFP, positioning itself for a first-round bye. The Tigers’ performance underlined their dominance in the ACC, improving to 9-1 in championship games under Swinney.
For SMU, the loss puts its playoff hopes in jeopardy. Swinney advocated for the Mustangs’ inclusion in the CFP, praising their effort and comeback. However, the mistakes in the first half could weigh heavily on the selection committee’s decision.
Clemson’s dramatic win solidifies its place among college football’s elite programs. The Tigers, counted out earlier this season after three losses, proved they still belong on the national stage. As for SMU, the Mustangs demonstrated they can compete at the highest level, but they’ll need to learn from this loss to take the next step in their program’s evolution.
This game will go down as one of the most thrilling finishes in ACC Championship history—a testament to the growing competitiveness of the conference and the expanded playoff era.
