SMU came back from down 17 factors within the fourth quarter, but it surely wasn’t sufficient.
Clemson knocked a 56-yard field goal as time expired to earn a 34-31 victory within the ACC title recreation, incomes an automated bid into the College Football Playoff.
The Tigers had been ranked seventeenth within the nation, so not less than one group contained in the top-12 goes to get the boot from the playoff.
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(L-R) Head coach Rhett Lashlee of the SMU Mustangs and head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers converse earlier than the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
SMU, ranked eighth within the nation getting into the title recreation, now could be on the skin trying in.
The Ponies’ destiny is within the palms of the CFP committee, but when Dabo Swinney had been on it, his resolution could be clear.
“That’s a playoff group. SMU, they higher be in that dang playoff,” he informed ESPN on the sphere after the sport.
“There’s no means they should not be in these playoffs.”
Swinney and Rhett Lashlee shared an extended embrace at midfield upon the profitable area objective going via the posts, and it is exhausting to think about Swinney didn’t share these sentiments with the SMU head coach.
Head Coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers speaks to his group throughout the first half of the ACC Championship recreation at Bank of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (David Jensen/Getty Images)
SMU tied the sport with 16 seconds left after a 16-play drive, however Adam Randall returned the following kickoff 41 yards to their very own 45. Cade Klubnik then discovered Antonio Williams for 17 yards, and the Tigers referred to as a timeout, bringing out Nolan Hauser, who drilled the 56-yarder with a lot to spare.
Clemson and Arizona State might be in rivalry for the ultimate bye into the quarterfinals – the Sun Devils walloped Iowa State within the Big 12 championship on Saturday afternoon.
Nolan Hauser #81 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates with teammates after kicking the sport profitable area objective after the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
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Of course, the committee determined to maneuver to 12 groups to ensure that there to be extra room for error; given the controversy of leaving out Florida State final 12 months, who would have thought this might nonetheless be tough?
The whole area might be introduced on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET.
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