SMU had no problems handling the jump to the .
Now the Mustangs (11-1, 8-0, No. 8 CFP) look to through the ACC in their inaugural season when they face perennial conference power Clemson on Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The 18th-ranked Tigers (9-3, 7-1, No. 17 CFP) will play in a record 10th ACC championship game in 16 seasons under coach Dabo Swinney.
The Mustangs moved to the ACC after championship in 2023. They have won 17 straight regular-season conference games, going back to 2022.
鈥淲e wanted to be at this level. We wanted to play on this stage,鈥� SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. 鈥淲e want to be playing in the championship game. ... We have ultimate respect for Clemson, but this is a stage we want to be on.鈥�
Clemson looked as if it might miss out on its second straight title game, but to give the Tigers a spot. They have been dominant once they get there, winning eight of their previous nine ACC title game appearances, the lone loss coming to Georgia Tech in 2009.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the consistency. Uncommon consistency," Swinney said. 鈥淚 know we鈥檙e supposedly a bad program now and we鈥檙e doom and gloom. It鈥檚 all downhill and everything鈥檚 terrible. But I think we鈥檝e been in this game two of the last three years.鈥�
they'll likely wrap up a first-round bye in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Clemson, which comes in as a 2 1/2-point underdog according to BetMGM Sportsbook, needs a win to qualify for the playoff and likely assure the ACC gets two teams in.
The ACC will receive $4 million for each team that makes the CFP and each team that advances to the playoff quarterfinals and $6 million for each team that advances to the playoff semifinal and championship game. In addition, each conference will receive $3 million to cover expenses from each round for a team participating in the CFP.
No Hurricanes
Swinney said if the Tigers win the national title he鈥檒l invite to Clemson to ride with him in the championship parade.
鈥淚f that happens, like let鈥檚 dream big, hey, why not? Fran Brown, he鈥檚 going to be riding in the car with me, convertible, through downtown Clemson,鈥� Swinney said.
Jennings鈥� journey
SMU quarterback will be playing in his second straight conference championship game.
Jennings was pressed into his first career start last year in the AAC after Preston Stone broke his leg in the regular-season finale. He responded by leading the Mustangs to a 26-14 win, accounting for 266 yards from scrimmage along with a touchdown pass.
Jennings began this season behind Stone on the depth chart, but and has gone 9-0 since with the Mustangs averaging 40.8 points per game. Jennings has thrown for 2,746 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions and is the team鈥檚 second-leading rusher with 344 yards and four TDs.
鈥淚鈥檓 a lot more confident now for sure,鈥� Jennings said.
Clemson stumbles in
Clemson enters the title game last week. Linebacker Wade Woodaz said players have put that behind them.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got another opportunity and we鈥檝e got to be grateful for that," Woodaz said. "Sitting here and dwelling on the loss to South Carolina isn鈥檛 going to help us Saturday. Yes, we have to learn from it, got to look at our mistakes and where we messed up. But in the end, we have another shot and we鈥檝e got to take full advantage of it.鈥�
SMU's adjustments
Brashard Smith, , was a receiver before transferring to SMU this season.
He has 1,157 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing, and also has 29 catches for 269 yards and three more scores. In the regular-season finale against California, he had 134 total yards (68 rushing and 66 receiving) with two touchdowns.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a matchup problem. He鈥檚 a good player and defensively you鈥檝e got to account for him,鈥� Lashlee said of Smith. 鈥淗e's an all-purpose player.鈥�
SMU lost two of its top receivers to season-ending injuries midway through its conference schedule: tight end RJ Maryland 鈥� the son of former No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Russell Maryland 鈥� and receiver Jake Bailey.
Michigan transfer Matthew Hibner took over as the starting tight end and has 15 catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns the last five games after only two catches for 31 yards the first seven. When Bailey got hurt, the Mustangs moved Roderick Daniels Jr. back to receiver from running back, and he has caught 15 passes the last three games.
Clemson鈥檚 offense
The Tigers were one of the country鈥檚 most dynamic offenses for a six-game stretch 鈥� all victories 鈥� early September through October.
Clemson averaged better than 48 points a game during that run. That average has dropped to less than 27 points a game in the last five contests.
