Game Review: Clemson vs. SMU ACC Championship Game

Clemson outlasted the SMU Mustangs after a terrific first quarter showing; however, a lack luster three quarters followed allowing the Mustangs back into the game. The Tigers gave up 17 fourth quarter points because of a lack of ability to move the ball and get stops, and SMU tied the game with 16 seconds left. Clemson was down to their third string Kick Returner, Junior WR Adam Randall, but Randall made the play of his career. Randall took the kick out and got Clemson 41 yards, giving Klubnik and Co. a chance to get in field goal range with 9 seconds remaining. Klubnik proceeded to hit Antonio Williams on a quick curl route to put Clemson on the SMU 38 yard-line. With just three seconds remaining, Dabo gave Freshman Kicker Nolan Hauser and the struggling FG Unit a try to win the game. Hauser and the entire unit performed the best they have all season allowing Hauser’s low kick to get over the line, and the kick flew through the up-rights with just a few feet to spare. The Tigers won the ACC Championship Game 34-31 securing a spot in the 12-team Playoff and giving Coach Dabo Swinney his ninth ACC Championship which is now the all-time record for Clemson.

Key Tiger Takeaways:

Cade Klubnik: Quarterback Cade Klubnik was returning to the place that gifted him his current starting role after replacing D.J. U. in the 2022 ACC Championship Game as Klubnik led the Tigers to a 39-10 victory over North Carolina. Klubnik finished that game 20/24, 279 passing yards, 1 TD, while rushing for 30 yards and 1 TD on 7 carries (ESPN). Cade Klubnik picked up right where he left off to start this game taking advantage of short field position. The Tigers put up a quick 21 points on the Mustangs striking just as fast as the beginning of the season, and it looked like the game was going to get ugly. However, Clemson proceeded to lose some rhythm throughout the game within a trustworthy rushing attack because of a injury riddled Running Back room. But despite these struggles that let SMU back into the game, Cade Klubnik made plays down the stretch to keep Clemson ahead. After two abysmal rushing play calls within the SMU 10 yard line, the Tigers had a long 3 and Goal near the end of the third quarter. Klubnik connected with TE Jake Briningstool for his 4th passing TD of the game putting the Tigers up 10 which ended up being a very important pass. Klubnik ended the day with 262 passing yards and 4 TDs while rushing for 21 yards on 14 carries (ESPN). He has been Clemson’s golden egg throughout this entire season, and he will be the reason the Tigers can make some noise in the Playoffs.

Hometown Hero: The obvious hero of the game was Freshman Kicker Nolan Hauser. Hauser came into Clemson as one of the top rated Kickers in the country as he holds the record for most FGs made in a high school career. However, he was walking into one of the most dysfunctional field goal units in the country after Clemson disastrous field goal kicking last season. Hauser was an immediate difference maker, but blocked FGs haunted his season as 6 of his kicks were blocked. Those were his only misses on the season until the Hauser missed a 44-yarder near the beginning of the second quarter. However, the hometown player did not let the disappointment from that miss deter him as he came right back and made the same exact 44-yarder just 10 minutes later in the game. The Charlotte native was prepared all week to play in his town, but he would have never expected to end the game hitting a career long FG at 56 yards. Hauser lifted the Tigers to their first Playoff appearance since 2020, and he had all the confidence in the world about that 56-yarder winking at the camera before going to make the kick.

24’ Standouts: Clemson has been very dependent on their 24’ Freshman class all season long, and as many expected, some of those guys were heavily involved in the Tigers Victory. Freshman Linebacker Sammy Brown, ACC Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, played an appropriate amount of snaps for the first time all season long. Brown has been all over the field when given the opportunity, and DC Wes Goodwin finally let the kid loose all game for the first time all season. The Tiger leaned into 3 Linebacker Sets all game to insure they could stop the run, and Sammy Brown dominated the stat sheet as usual. Brown ended the day leading the Tigers in tackles with 14 while also having a pass deflection and half of a TFL (ESPN). Brown is an immediate difference maker and a must play player for almost every snap. On the Offensive side of the ball, Freshman WR Bryant Wesco Jr. had his first complete game as the top target for Clemson. Wesco started the day for Clemson catching a 35-yard TD pass off of a backyard QB Draw play from Cade Klubnik, and just 10 minutes later Wesco caught a 43-yard TD pass breaking two tackles in route to the endzone (ESPN). He was the go-to Receiver all night for Klubnik as he constantly got open against the SMU Secondary allowing for 8 catches 143 yards and 2 TDs (ESPN). Everyone was saying all season Bryant Wesco Jr. is going to be the difference maker this season, and he helped the Tigers get back to the top of the ACC last night.

PLAYOFFS: Clemson has been able to control their own destiny on three different occasions throughout this season, and up till this past weekend the Tigers were 0-2 in being successful. However, despite being only ranked 16th in the country, Clemson won the ACC and guaranteed a spot in the Playoffs. While the Tigers season was underwhelming, everything is in front of us now and anything can happen. Clemson will travel to Austin, TX to play Texas with a hope to continue playing football this year.

Tale of Two Halves: Coach Swinney and his team have been unable to sustain successful throughout a whole game so far this season against higher levels of competition, and it has allowed opposing teams to hang in and even win. Clemson allowed South Carolina to stay in the game and despite not trailing for 59 minutes, the Tigers lost. They also almost lost to the SMU Mustangs despite a quick start because of a lack of production during the last three quarters of the game. Clemson cannot continue this style of play for the rest of this year or any future season if the Tigers ever want to put away teams of higher caliber. The Tiger Offense has struggled to produce with a lead whether its because of play calling, lack of RB production, or missed reads, but their lack of production infects the Defense and short fields allows opposing teams to score quick. Clemson needs to look in the mirror before this next game and in the off-season to fix this issue.

Worrisome Ending: As mentioned above, the Tigers allowed the SMU Mustangs to stay in the ACC Championship despite a big lead. The Mustangs scored 17 4th quarter points to tie the contest with 16 seconds remaining, and Clemson has Tiger Fans feeling the same as last week against South Carolina. While Clemson was able to pull out the win, letting up 10+ 4th quarter points in back-back games is absolutely unacceptable. The points let up in both game were not just on the Defense either because in both games the Offense was useless. During the SMU game, Clemson had 27 total yards in the 4th quarter. During the South Carolina game, the Tiger total 12 total yards before the last drive which totaled 57 (ESPN). These two performances are unacceptable and cannot continue as it completely diminishes Clemson’s chances to win. The 4th quarter is normally when the Tigers do their work, but as of late, it has been where Clemson tries to lose their games.

Sources:

ESPN. “ESPN.” ESPN.com, 2019, www.espn.com/.

“Clemson Tigers | Clemson University Athletics.” Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site, clemsontigers.com.