CHARLOTTE — Nolan Hauser kicked a 56-yard field goal as time expired, Cade Klubnik threw four touchdown passes and No. 17 Clemson pulled out a 34-31 victory against No. 8 SMU on Saturday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
The game appeared destined for overtime after Kevin Jennings capped a 16-play, 79-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Roderick Daniels Jr. 31.
However, Adam Randall returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards before Klubnik completed the pass for a 17-yard gain. Hauser then came out and kicked the longest field goal in ACC title game history. Hauser’s kick spoiled SMU’s wild comeback, trailing 31-14 with 23 seconds left in the third quarter following a 5-point connection between Klubnik and Jake Briningstool.
Briningstool and Bryant Wesco Jr. each scored two touchdowns for Clemson (10-3). Wesco hauled in eight receptions for 143 yards. Klubnik finished 24-for-41 passing for 262 yards. Jennings threw for three touchdowns, an interception and 304 yards on 31-for-50 passing against SMU. Brashard Smith rushed for 113 yards on 24 carries, while Daniels finished with eight catches for 97 yards and a score.
Big Ten: No. 1 Oregon 45, No. 3 Penn State 37
Dillon Gabriel threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns and the Ducks may have clinched the top seed in the College Football Playoff by defeating the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten championship in Indianapolis.
Gabriel completed 22 of 32 passes for the 13-0 Ducks, connecting with Tez Johnson 11 times for 181 yards and a touchdown. Oregon is expected to earn a bye in the CFP quarterfinals on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1 when the 12-team field was announced on Sunday.
Drew Allar completed 20 of 39 passes for 226 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for the Nittany Lions (11-2). Allen rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts in the loss. Nicholas Singleton added 105 rushing yards on 10 carries for Penn State, which will likely play a CFP first-round game at home on Dec. 20 or 21.
SEC: No. 5 Georgia 22, No. 2 Texas 19 (OT)
Trevor Etienne ran for the game-winning 4-yard score in overtime, clinching the Southeastern Conference Championship for the Bulldogs with a win over the Longhorns.
Etienne rushed for 94 yards and two scores, as Georgia (11-2) won despite starting quarterback Carson Beck missing the entire second half with an injury. Beck completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards before replacement Gunner Stockton threw for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Quinn Ewers completed 27 of 46 passes for 358 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions for Texas (11-2), which fell to Georgia for the second time.
Big 12: No. 15 Arizona State 45, No. 16 Iowa State 19
Cam Skattebo rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns as the Sun Devils clinched a College Football Playoff berth with a win over the Cyclones in the Big 12 title game in Arlington, Texas.
Skattebo ran for two runs and a game-tying run for the Sun Devils (11-2), who won their sixth straight game. Sam Leavitt completed 12 of 17 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a score for Arizona State. Sun Devils star receiver Jordyn Tyson (left arm) missed the game but Xavier Guillory stepped up and caught two touchdowns.
Rocco Becht completed 21 of 35 passes for 214 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the Cyclones (10-3), who saw their playoff chances end. Jaylin Noel and Carson Hansen caught touchdown passes and Jayden Higgins had seven catches for 115 yards.
–Field Level Media
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