After finishing the regular season by losing to South Carolina in the Palmetto Bowl, Clemson was gifted one last shot to make the college football playoffs. The gift came from Syracuse, which beat Miami, sending the Tigers to the ACC Championship game.
Clemson will meet SMU for the first time in program history in Charlotte, NC. Earning the ACC Championship and automatic bid to the playoffs will not be easy. The Mustangs have looked like the best team in the conference all season. It will be up to the Clemson program that’s been recognized as the standard bearers of ACC football to keep its spot away from the newcomers.
Year One Takeover
It did not take long for SMU to make its stamp on the ACC. In their first year, the Mustangs finished 8-0 in conference games en route to an 11-1 overall record. Head Coach Rhett Lashlee, in only his third season, has his SMU team in its second straight conference championship game. However, if he wins this year, the Mustangs will be in the CFP.
Much of SMU’s success this season has been behind quarterback Kevin Jennings. He is only a freshman but makes things happen for the Mustangs. His best trait is how he allows the talent around him to play their best. He is also a physically gifted athlete who can make plays with his arm and legs. Jennings not only has 2,746 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns but also 344 rushing yards and four touchdown runs in 83 carries. This makes him the Mustang’s second-leading rusher.
His running back Brashard Smith has over 1,000 yards rushing on the season. His 1,157 rushing yards make him the third-leading rusher in the ACC. The rushing attack is the bread and butter for SMU, but they also have some explosive receivers. Roderick Daniels and Key’Shawn Smith are playmakers in the passing game along with the big tight end RJ Maryland.
The defense is more than solid themselves as well. Especially against the run. The Mustangs have the best run defense in the ACC, and fourth best in the FBS. They give up less than 100 yards rushing per game. The SMU defense also knows how to force turnovers with more than 20 takeaways. The Mustangs are stout in all areas. They are the best team Clemson has played since Georgia week one. If the Tigers want to get into the playoffs, they will need to play their best game of the season.
What This Game Means for Clemson
Dabo Swinney and his team must not take this game for granted. Not that Swinney would allow that to happen. Considering that the Tigers were on the outside looking in on the game this time last week though should light a fire under this team. If that’s not enough, the Tigers should also be angry about losing to their biggest rival which took away any chance at an at-large bid. This game needs to mean everything to this Clemson team.
This is a chance for the Tigers to reclaim their spot at the top of the conference. It is also the last shot the Tigers will have to make the CFP. Clemson must come into the ACC Championship game with the most energy we have seen from them all season. This is the Tiger’s one last shot, they have to make it to get in.
Keys to Tiger’s Victory
For Clemson to win the ACC Championship they must first fix the problems with the run defense. The Tigers can’t play as poorly against the run as they have the last two weeks. If they don’t contain the run, they won’t stand a chance against the Mustangs. If Clemson can defend the run well, it will put the Tigers in their best position to win.
The other key to this game for Swinney’s squad is Cade Klubnik once again. Klubnik played well for most of the game against South Carolina. In the most key moment though, he made a terrible mistake. Klubnik has to let that roll off his shoulders and step up for the Tigers in Charlotte. He has one more chance this season to prove he can be a championship-winning quarterback.
