Clemson wins ACC championship, computerized playoff berth on walk-off area objective to defeat SMU

Nolan Hauser’s 56-yard area objective as time expired lifted No. 17 Clemson to a 34-31 win over No. 8 SMU within the ACC championship recreation.

With the win, Clemson shook up the Faculty Soccer Playoff standings by incomes an computerized berth into the playoff as a convention champion.

SMU tied the sport at 31-31 with 16 seconds remaining in regulation when Kevin Jennings hit Roderick Daniels Jr. on an out route for a 4-yard TD. The play was reviewed, however Daniels clearly dragged his proper foot in bounds for the catch.

On the following kickoff, a 41-yard return by Austin Randall gave Clemson a possibility for one play to get in area objective vary. Cade Klubnik’s 17-yard go to Antonio Williams completed that goal.

Klubnik threw for 4 touchdowns and 262 yards, finishing 24-of-41 passes. Bryant Wesco Jr. grabbed eight receptions for 143 yards and two scores. Jake Briningstool additionally caught two TDs for Clemson.

Is SMU nonetheless a playoff workforce?

The Tigers’ win created a few questions going into Sunday’s choice.

Did Clemson earn a first-round bye with its victory? At 10-3 and ranked under 4 different convention champions, that appears unlikely. Hypothesis had SMU getting a bye in the event that they gained the ACC, however the Mustangs would’ve had a 12-1 document and been ranked above Huge 12 champion Arizona State at No. 15 and Mountain West champ Boise State at No. 10. The committee seemingly would not enhance Clemson up that far simply because it is the ACC champion.

And what about SMU? Did the loss knock them out of the playoff regardless of an 11-2 document? Clemson successful takes a spot that many speculated would go to No. 12 Alabama.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney made his case for SMU in his postgame interview with ESPN’s Molly McGrath.

“That’s a playoff soccer workforce,” Swinney mentioned as he pointed throughout the sector. “SMU, they higher be within the dang playoffs.”

Clemson took huge early lead

The Tigers ran out to a 14-0 lead helped by SMU errors. A fumble by Kevin Jennings on a sack gave Clemson the ball on the Mustangs’ 33-yard line. Two performs later, Klubnik hit Wesco for a 35-yard landing and the sport’s opening rating.

SMU went three-and-out on its subsequent possession however was referred to as for a 15-yard private foul penalty when Davaughn Celestine’s helmet got here off on a punt and he continued to play.

Between the penalty and Antonio Williams’ 21-yard return, the punt was primarily worn out and Clemson took over on the SMU 28-yard line. 4 performs later, Klubnik linked with Briningstool for a five-yard TD go.

SMU acquired on the board with its third possession, ending off a 75-yard drive with a 24-yard scoring run by Jennings. Nonetheless, Clemson answered proper again with a 43-yard TD go from Klubnik to Wesco. Clemson led 24-7 on the half.

SMU rallied from 17 factors down in second half

The Mustangs scored on their first sequence of the second half with Jennings finishing 4 passes for 65 yards, together with a 10-yard throw to Brashard Smith. That reduce Clemson’s result in 24-14. Nonetheless, the Tigers mounted two lengthy drives that ate up almost 10 minutes, the second of which resulted in a TD on a five-yard reception by Briningstool.

SMU got here proper again and once more reduce the margin to 10, ending off a seven-play drive with a 20-yard TD catch by Matthew Hibner. After the protection pressured Clemson into three-and-outs on consecutive possessions, the Mustangs closed to inside one rating on a 46-yard area objective from Collin Rogers.

Jennings handed for 304 yards, three TDs and one interception, finishing 31-of-50 passes. Daniels had eight receptions for 97 yards and a rating, joined by Hibner’s 5 catches for 69 yards and a TD. Brashard Smith led SMU in dashing with 113 yards on 24 carries.

Earlier within the week. SMU coach Rhett Lashlee argued that his workforce must be within the playoff, win or lose, and never be punished for having to play in a convention championship recreation.

He repeated that assertion after the defeat.

“We simply performed a playoff recreation on the market and we performed fairly dang good,” Lashlee mentioned. “Our workforce deserves an opportunity to be in.”