CHARLOTTE, N.C. — SMU’s impressive debut in the Atlantic Coast Conference featured an undefeated regular season and a significant position in the league championship. However, their remarkable journey concluded with a heartbreaking defeat in the final moments after a thrilling comeback.
Now, the Mustangs, ranked eighth, are left wondering if this loss will hinder their chances of making it to the College Football Playoff.
“It would be criminal if we’re not in,” stated SMU’s head coach Rhett Lashlee following their 34-31 loss to No. 18 Clemson.
The Mustangs initially fell behind by 14 points within the first five minutes and found themselves down by as many as 17 in the third quarter. However, they rallied back, scoring a touchdown in the final minute to level the game. Unfortunately, Nolan Hauser’s 56-yard field goal at the last second secured a win for the Tigers. This stunning conclusion came shortly after Kevin Jennings had found Roderick Daniels Jr. for a tying 4-yard score with just 16 seconds left on the clock.
As Clemson’s players rushed onto the field to celebrate, SMU’s team was left in shock, some players collapsing in despair. Linebacker Ahmad Walker stood still amid the celebratory chaos, gazing at the end zone where Hauser’s record-breaking kick for the ACC championship game soared through the uprights, holding his helmet down at his side.
This marked the first loss in the conference for the Mustangs (11-2), who began the season ranked seventh in the league but managed to finish the regular season with an impressive 8-0 record. Throughout the season, they trailed in only four games, with the largest deficit being 11 points against Nevada in their opener.
As they wait to see if their current CFP ranking (No. 8) remains stable enough for the announcement of the 12-team playoff bracket this Sunday, the pressure mounts.
In the lead-up to the game, the possibility of playoff selection had been a hot topic. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, advocating for the league after last year’s disappointment of the unbeaten Florida State being left out of the four-team playoff, asserted that SMU deserved a spot regardless of the outcome against Clemson. He emphasized that no team should be penalized for a single game after a season filled with achievements.
Lashlee had previously dismissed notions of avoiding the championship game to protect their playoff standing out of fear of losing. “I don’t get how you could punish anybody for that, I just don’t,” he expressed prior to the game.
The game seemed to be slipping away when they trailed 31-14 late in the third quarter, a daunting gap for their playoff aspirations. However, driven by Jennings’ dynamic performance (310 yards passing, three touchdowns), the Mustangs fought back.
Ultimately, they came just one play shy of clinching the ACC title, while the Tigers now look forward to a chance at the national championship.
