CHARLOTTE – SMU had a great first season in the ACC but on Saturday night Clemson proved that it’s the Tigers still running the conference. Barely.

It took Adam Randall and Nolan Hauser providing some late-game magic to propel Clemson to the win and prevent what would have been an epic collapse.

Randall’s electric kickoff return set up Hauser for a 56-yard field goal attempt and the freshman drilled it as time expired to give Clemson the win.

Cade Klubnik passed for 245 yards and Bryant Wesco tallied career-highs in catches (8), yards (143) and touchdowns (2), while Jake Briningstool also reeled in two touchdown catches.

With the Tigers up 31-14 entering the fourth quarter, the Mustangs scored 17 straight points in the fourth quarter, with SMU scoring a touchdown with 16 seconds left to tie things up at 31-31.

After Randall’s 41-yard kick return on the ensuing kickoff, Klubnik hit Antonio Williams for a 17-yard gain with just three seconds left, setting up Hauser’s heroics.

It was the Tigers’ ninth ACC Championship under Dabo Swinney and the 22nd overall. The win also means Clemson is headed back to the College Football Playoff for the first time since the 2020 season.

Klubnik became the first quarterback in ACC history to throw three first-quarter touchdown passes in the conference championship game as the Tigers raced out to a 21-7 lead after the opening quarter.

It Was Over When

Nolan Hauser drilled a 56-yard field goal as time expired to give Clemson the win. The 56-yards is a new record for the ACC Championship Game, breaking the old record of 52.

Crazy Stats

SMU almost doubled the Tigers offensive output in the second half. The Mustangs racked up 247 yards while Clemson managed just 140. And again, only 10 of those came in that decisive fourth quarter.

The Mustangs had 28 first downs while the Tigers had just 18.

Before that final game-winning drive, Clemson’s offense manage just 10 yards of offense in that final quarter.

Klubnik fumbled it twice but did not lose either one. The quarterback was dealing with some type of issue with his non-throwing hand and maybe that played a part in those fumbles.

Up Next

Clemson now waits to find out who and where it will play in the playoff. The Tigers are not likely to receive a Top 4 seed, meaning they will hit the road for the first round.

A limited number of signed replica road signs from Cade Klubnik are available!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!