Despite three losses, the Clemson Tigers can clinch a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff this Saturday.
Clemson (9-3 overall) fell 17-14 to the rival South Carolina Gamecocks last Saturday in what looked to be a final blow to the Tigers’ playoff hopes. But the Miami Hurricanes suffered a 42-38 upset loss at Syracuse hours later, giving Clemson a spot in the ACC title game.
The Tigers will face the SMU Mustangs (11-1, 8-0) Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte with a playoff berth on the line. The winner will have a near lock on a first-round bye.
RELATED: Clemson football 2025 early signing day tracker
On Thursday, USA TODAY Sports’ college football experts released their predictions for every conference championship game this week, including Clemson vs. SMU.
Only one member of the six-man panel of Paul Myerberg, Dan Wolken, Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus, Jordan Mendoza and Scooby Axson picked the Tigers to beat SMU. Myerberg picked Clemson to win while his five colleagues all favored the Mustangs.
ESPN Analytics’ updated Matchup Predictor currently gives SMU a 53.8 percent chance to beat Clemson.
Kickoff for Clemson vs. SMU is set for 8 p.m. ET Saturday. The game can be seen on ABC, with Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy calling the action from Charlotte. It will mark the first time the Tigers and Mustangs have ever met on the gridiron.
Clemson is in search of its ninth ACC title under Dabo Swinney and its first since 2022. The Tigers won six straight conference championships from 2015-2020. Clemson fell five spots to No. 17 in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll. SMU moved up two spots to No. 7.
SMU clinched a berth in the ACC title game on Nov. 23 when the Mustangs defeated Virginia, 33-7. Coach Rhett Lashlee’s team defeated Cal, 38-6, last Saturday in Dallas.
Contact/Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson news and notes, plus opinions.