Game day is here, and the stakes couldn’t be higher as No. 17 Clemson battles No. 8 SMU in the ACC Championship in Charlotte.
With a College Football Playoff spot and potentially a quarterfinal bye on the line, both teams are ready for what promises to be an intense showdown. The Tigers (9-3) look to rebound from a gut-wrenching rivalry loss to South Carolina, while the Mustangs (11-1) bring one of the most explosive offenses in the country into this primetime clash.
Clemson, led by Dabo Swinney, enters as a 2.5-point underdog and faces a tough task against a red-hot SMU team that has defied expectations all season. ESPN’s College GameDay crew added to the drama, with Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and celebrity guest Timothée Chalamet picking SMU to win. However, Kirk Herbstreit and Nick Saban cast their votes for Clemson, showing faith in the Tigers’ ability to rise to the occasion.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on ABC at Bank of America Stadium. With the ACC title and CFP dreams hanging in the balance, all eyes will be on this high-stakes matchup between two teams fighting for their spot among college football’s elite.