Clemson’s Dabo Swinney says SMU ‘got better’ in the College Football Playoff after beating them in the ACC title game
SMU came back from 17 points down in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough.
Clemson kicked a 56-yard field goal as time expired for a 34-31 win in the ACC title game, earning an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff.
The Tigers were ranked 17th in the nation, so at least one team inside the top-12 will get a boot into the playoffs.
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(L-R) Head coach Rhett Lashlee of the SMU Mustangs and head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers talk before the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
SMU, ranked No. 8 in the nation entering the title game, may now be on the outside looking in.
The fate of the Ponies is in the hands of the CFP committee, but if Dabo Swinney was there, his decision would be clear.
“That’s a playoff team. SMU, they better be in that playoff game,” he told ESPN on the court after the game.
“There is no way they won’t be in these tournaments.”
Swinney and Rhett Lashlee shared a long hug at midfield over the game-winning field goal, and it’s hard to imagine that Swinney didn’t share those feelings with SMU’s head coach.
Head Coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers speaks to his team during the first half of the ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (David Jensen/Getty Images)
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SMU tied the game with 16 seconds left on a 16-play drive, but Adam Randall returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to his own 45. , who drilled a 56-pointer until it slowed down.
Clemson and Arizona State will have a bye in the quarterfinals – the Sun Devils defeated Iowa State in the Big 12 championship on Saturday afternoon.
Nolan Hauser #81 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates with his teammates after kicking the game-winning field goal after the 2024 ACC football championship game at Bank of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
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Yes, the committee decided to move to 12 teams to allow room for error; given the controversy surrounding leaving Florida State last year, who would have thought this would be so difficult?
The rest of the field will be announced on Sunday at 12 pm ET.
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