CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cade Klubnik threw for 262 yards and four touchdowns, Nolan Hauser kicked a 56-yard field goal as time expired, and No. 18 Clemson scored six points in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship on Saturday night. They defeated SMU 34-31 and won the championship. They have qualified for the College Football Playoff and are in position for a first-round bye.
Hauser's field goal was the longest in ACC Championship Game history.
Bryant Wesco had eight catches for 143 yards and two TDs in the first quarter for the Tigers (10-3, 17th in CFP), who needed a win to advance to the expanded 12-team playoffs. .
Jake Bringstool added two short TD receptions as Clemson improved to 9-1 in the ACC Championship Game under coach Dabo Swinney.
Kevin Jennings threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns for SMU (11-1), which went 8-0 in the regular season in his first year in the ACC after transferring from American Athletics. , 8th place in CFP). meeting.
The mistake-filled loss cost the Mustangs a chance at a first-round bye in the CFP and could have kept them off the field altogether.
Clemson edge rusher TJ Parker set the tone for the first series of the game with a sack-fumble, and Klubnik threw three first-quarter touchdown passes to give the Tigers a 21/2-point lead to a 21-7 lead. spread out.
Klubnik was 8-of-10 for 120 yards and three TDs in the first quarter, including tosses of 45 and 35 yards to Wesco.
