SMU got here again from down 17 factors within the fourth quarter, however it wasn’t sufficient.
Clemson knocked a 56-yard area objective as time expired to earn a 34-31 victory within the ACC title sport, incomes an automated bid into the School Soccer Playoff.
The Tigers have been ranked seventeenth within the nation, so no less than one workforce contained in the top-12 goes to get the boot from the playoff.
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(L-R) Head coach Rhett Lashlee of the SMU Mustangs and head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers converse earlier than the 2024 ACC Soccer Championship at Financial institution of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Photos)
SMU, ranked eighth within the nation getting into the title sport, now could be on the surface wanting in.
The Ponies’ destiny is within the fingers of the CFP committee, but when Dabo Swinney have been on it, his determination can be clear.
“That’s a playoff team. SMU, they better be in that dang playoff,” he informed ESPN on the sphere after the sport.
“There’s no way they shouldn’t be in these playoffs.”
Swinney and Rhett Lashlee shared an extended embrace at midfield upon the profitable area objective going via the posts, and it is arduous to think about Swinney didn’t share these sentiments with the SMU head coach.
Head Coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers speaks to his workforce throughout the first half of the ACC Championship sport at Financial institution of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (David Jensen/Getty Photos)
SMU tied the sport with 16 seconds left after a 16-play drive, however Adam Randall returned the following kickoff 41 yards to their very own 45. Cade Klubnik then discovered Antonio Williams for 17 yards, and the Tigers known as a timeout, bringing out Nolan Hauser, who drilled the 56-yarder with a lot to spare.
Clemson and Arizona State will probably be in competition for the ultimate bye into the quarterfinals – the Solar Devils walloped Iowa State within the Large 12 championship on Saturday afternoon.
Nolan Hauser #81 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates with teammates after kicking the sport profitable area objective after the 2024 ACC Soccer Championship at Financial institution of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Photos)
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In fact, the committee determined to maneuver to 12 groups to ensure that there to be extra room for error; given the controversy of leaving out Florida State final yr, who would have thought this is able to nonetheless be troublesome?
All the area will probably be introduced on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET.
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