ACC Football Championship Game Notes: Clemson vs SMU

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On Saturday night, the ACC Championship Game will be played. The new kids on the block, the SMU Mustangs (11-1, 8-0) will look to take down the Clemson Tigers (9-3, 7-1) in primetime at Bank Of America Stadium. A lot is riding on this game. For the Tigers, a spot in the college football playoff is on the line. For the Mustangs, an undefeated conference season is a stake, along with a spot in the playoff.

For the league, this will be the 15th time in the last 16 years that the title game will be held in primetime. This year’s edition will feature two teams that have been ranked in the top 12 in the CFP rankings. Clemson may be on the outside looking in after last weekend’s loss to South Carolina. The Tigers will need a win on Saturday night to get in. SMU is at #9 and hanging on. For both teams, a loss in this game could mean being left out of the playoffs. SMU will be the home team and Clemson the visitors.

For the Tigers, this will be their 10th trip to the Championship Game. That is the most appearances in the title game. The next highest is Florida State and Virginia Tech who both have been there six times. They will be looking for their ninth ACC title. The last time they won it all was in 2022. Clemson has been ranked all season long in both the Associated Press Poll and the US LBM Coaches Poll. They have been a top-12 offense in both total and scoring offense. They come into this game averaging 35.7 points per game. Clemson is the only team in the country ranked in the top 26 nationally in passing yards per game (275.1) and in rushing (190 a game). They are the only team in the country that is averaging these numbers in both passing and rushing.

SMU’s ranking of #9 is their highest since 1985. They have been on quite a roll having won nine in a row entering Championship Saturday. Their offense is averaging 40.8 points per game. SMU has been great on the road having won their last 10 road games, the second-longest active streak in FBS. Their defense has forced a turnover in nine of their past 11 games and 19 of their past 22. The unit is ranked 23rd in the country in turnovers caused with 21 on the year. They are fifth in defensive touchdowns with four. Their passing offense has spread the ball around with at least seven receivers catching passes in 26 of the last 29 games. This will be the first time that these two programs have met on the football field.

The league has been a staple when it comes to playing for national titles and has had teams in the playoffs in eight of the past 11 years, with two teams playing for it in 2020. The conference has the second-most national championships and is one of two leagues to have a .500 or better record in the playoffs.

On Saturday night, we will find out who this year’s ACC Football Champion is and where they get slotted in the 12-team College Football Playoff.