Clemson football has earned its way back to the ACC Championship Game, setting up a clash with No. 8 SMU (11-1, 8-0) in Charlotte on Saturday.
The 17th-ranked Tigers (9-3, 7-1 ACC) clinched their spot despite a loss to South Carolina in the regular-season finale, thanks to Syracuse’s win over Miami that handed the Hurricanes their second conference loss.
The unexpected turn of events gave Clemson a renewed chance to extend its season and fight for a championship. Quarterback Cade Klubnik described the opportunity with a familiar childhood analogy. “It’s like you’re outside playing with your siblings or your friends or whatever, and your mom tells you you’ve got to come in, but she gives you five more minutes,” Klubnik said. “We’re getting five more minutes to go play. We’re getting one more game to go play and another opportunity, and we’re so excited.”
The Tigers now control their path for the first time since their second loss to Louisville last month. A win against SMU would not only secure another ACC title but also position Clemson for a potential College Football Playoff spot, depending on the results of other games.
Klubnik emphasized how meaningful this chance is to the team. “There’s only eight Power Four teams in the country that are going to play a game this week, and we’re one of those eight. Everybody else is at home,” he said. “We’re excited to go play. We’re excited to go play for a championship and something that we’ve earned. In a big league like we have, to be in this championship is definitely a big deal, and we’re excited.”
With another shot at glory on the line, Clemson is determined to make the most of its extended season and leave no doubt on Saturday.