SMU rallied from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough.
Clemson hit a 56-yard field goal as time expired, winning the ACC title game 34-31 and earning an automatic berth to the College Football Playoff.
The Tigers are ranked 17th in the nation, so at least one team in the top 12 will qualify for the playoffs.
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(LR) SMU Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashley and Clemson Tigers speak before the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Head coach Dabo Swinney. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
SMU, ranked No. 8 in the country and heading into the title game, may be just watching from the outside for now.
The fate of the Ponies is in the hands of the CFP committee, but if Dabo Swinney was on the committee, his decision would be clear.
“That's a playoff team. SMU, they better be in those damn playoffs,” he told ESPN on the field after the game.
“There's no way they won't be in the playoffs.”
Swinney and Rhett Lashley shared a long hug at midfield as the winning field goal went through the post, and it's hard to imagine that Swinney didn't share that sentiment with the SMU head coach.
Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney speaks to his team during the first half of the ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium on Dec. 7, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (David Jensen/Getty Images)
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SMU tied the game with 16 seconds left after a 16-play drive, but Adam Randall returned the ensuing kickoff from 41 yards to its own 45. Cade Klubnik then hit Antonio Williams for a 17-yard gain, and the Tigers called a timeout to eject Nolan Hauser. , drilled a 56-yarder with plenty to spare.
Clemson State and Arizona State will battle for the final bye to the quarterfinals. The Sun Devils defeated Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Nolan of the Clemson Tigers kicks a game-winning field goal and celebrates with teammates after the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hauser #81. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
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Of course, the committee decided to move to 12 teams to leave more room for error. Who would have thought this would still be difficult given the controversy of excluding Florida State last year?
The entire field will be announced Sunday at 12pm ET.
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