No. 17 Clemson and No. 8 SMU are set to face off Saturday night inside Charlotte, North Carolina’s Financial institution of America Stadium with an ACC title on the road. Although they now share the ACC, this would be the first-ever between two of school soccer’s most storied packages.
It has been fairly the ACC debut for the Mustangs, who’re certainly one of 5 FBS faculties to make their convention’s championship sport of their inaugural 12 months with stated convention. SMU can also be the primary crew in FBS historical past to make a title sport in an influence convention after being in a Group of 5 convention the 12 months prior.
Clemson is again within the ACC highlight for the primary time since 2022 and simply the second time since 2020. This after Clemson gained six straight ACC titles from 2015-20. The Tigers additionally claimed two nationwide championships in that span whereas establishing a powerful trendy dynasty.
Saturday is one other alternative for Tigers coach Dabo Swinney, who has come below elevated scrutiny lately, to show that his program — and philosophy — are nonetheless able to battle it out on the prime of the game. The Tigers are 3-7 of their final 10 video games in opposition to AP-ranked opponents, together with an 0-2 displaying in opposition to ranked groups in 2024.
Comply with alongside LIVE as Clemson and SMU battle for the ACC Championship.
Methods to watch Clemson vs. SMU stay
Date: Saturday, Dec. 7 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Financial institution of America Stadium — Charlotte, North Carolina
TV: ABC | Stay stream: fubo (Strive free of charge)
Clemson vs. SMU: Must know
Main Faculty Soccer Playoff implications: Due to an expanded Faculty Soccer Playoff discipline, there’s a complete lot greater than ACC glory on the road Saturday. Clemson completely must win the ACC title to make it into the playoff and sure steal a bid from one other league. Even then, there’s the potential that the Tigers don’t get a first-round bye, since they at present rank behind the potential SEC, Large Ten, Large 12 and Mountain West Convention champions.
SMU, in the meantime, is in respectable standing no matter what occurs, however a loss would put its destiny totally within the palms of the Faculty Soccer Playoff Choice Committee. The Mustangs must hope that, with 11 wins, they’ve already completed sufficient to make the reduce. If the committee is to be believed, when it stated that convention championship losses would not harm playoff-caliber groups an excessive amount of, then SMU ought to really feel good.
SMU having fun with breakout season: This has been probably the most prolific years in SMU’s storied historical past. The Mustangs are certainly one of simply two FBS faculties, with Oregon, to go undefeated in convention play of their first 12 months with a convention. SMU and the Geese are additionally the primary packages to attain that feat since Florida State in 1992. SMU additionally has a possibility to turn into the third FBS program to win back-to-back championships in several conferences, one thing that hasn’t been achieved since Texas gained the Southwest in 1995 and the Large 12 in 1996. SMU additionally gained 11 video games in consecutive seasons for the primary time in program historical past and — if it will get a twelfth win — would match a college report set in 1935. SMU’s 18-game win streak in opposition to convention opponents is the longest such energetic streak within the FBS.
Clemson protection struggling: “Struggling” is a relative time period, given how good Clemson has been on protection below Dabo Swinney. The Tigers are permitting 21.6 factors per sport this season, which is respectable sufficient by itself, nevertheless it’s additionally essentially the most they’ve allowed in a single season since 2015. Clemson is giving up 357.2 yards per sport — its most since 2012 — and the Tigers have struggled notably in opposition to the push with opponents averaging 150.3 yards on the bottom per sport. That is essentially the most Clemson has allowed in 11 years. Once more, these aren’t horrible numbers on their very own, however they’re a far cry from what we’re used to with Clemson.
Clemson vs. SMU prediction, picks
This shall be, arguably, the most important take a look at that SMU has confronted all season — a minimum of since its loss to BYU in Week 2. That being stated, Clemson has some apparent shortcomings this 12 months. As outlined above, its protection is not fairly as much as its regular elite normal and, although the Tigers have proven a capability to place factors on the board this 12 months, their offense is totally too inconsistent to depend on. The Mustangs have been a dominant power for a majority of the 12 months, and I anticipate them to maintain issues rolling on this sport. It will likely be a detailed, hard-fought battle, however SMU triumphs ultimately. Choose: SMU -2 (-135)
SportsLine’s confirmed pc mannequin is asking for 3 outright upsets throughout school soccer’s championship week. Go to SportsLine now to see all of them, plus get unfold picks for each sport from the mannequin that simulates each matchup 10,000 instances.
