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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Cade Klubnik threw for 262 yards and four touchdowns, Nolan Hauser kicked 56-yard field goal as time expired and the No. 18 Clemson knocked off No. 8 SMU 34-31 Saturday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff and position itself for a first-round bye.

Hauser's field goal was the longest in ACC championship game history.

Bryant Wesco had eight catches for 143 yards and two TDs in the first quarter for the Tigers (10-3, No. 17 CFP), who needed a win to get into the expanded 12-team playoffs. Jake Briningstool added two short TD receptions as Clemson improved to 9-1 in ACC championship games under coach Dabo Swinney.

Kevin Jennings threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns and ran a score for SMU (11-1, No. 8 CFP), which had gone 8-0 in the regular season in its first year since in the ACC after moving over from American Athletic Conference.

The mistake-filled loss cost the Mustangs a shot at a first-round bye in the CFP and potentially could keep them out of the field altogether.

Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker set the tone on the game's first series with a sack-fumble and Klubnik threw three first quarter touchdown passes as the Tigers, a 2 1/2-point underdog, bolted to a 21-7 lead. Klubnik finished the first quarter 8 of 10 for 120 yards with three TDs, including scoring tosses of 45 and 35 yards to Wesco.

Everything seemed to be going Clemson's way in the first half.

As Klubnik was trying to escape pressure on one play in the second quarter, he was hit from behind and fumbled the ball forward about 10 yards where tight end Briningstool alertly dove between two defenders to recover the ball near midfield and give the Tigers a first down.

Clemson tacked on a field goal late in the second quarter and SMU went into the locker down 24-7, its largest deficit this season.

SMU cut the lead to 31-24 with seven minutes left after Matthew Hibner hauled in a 20-yard touchdown reception from Jennings and Collin Rogers connected on a 46-yard field goal.

The Mustangs' defense forced a third straight punt on the ensuring possession, giving Jennings and the offense the ball back at their own 21 with four minutes to play. Jennings drove the Mustangs 79 yards in 16 plays, finding Roderick Daniels with a 4-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left to tie the game.

The game looked to be headed to overtime, but Adam Randall's 41-yard kickoff return gave Clemson the ball at their own 45. Klubnik found Antonio Williams for a 17-yard gain at the SMU 38 with three ticks left, setting up Hauser's winning kick.

Clemson will see if it gets a first-round bye, while SMU awaits its fate in the playoffs.
 

• ACC CHAMPIONSHIP
• [17/18/17] Clemson 34, [8/8/7] SMU 31
• Clemson (10-3), SMU (11-2)
• Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, North Carolina
• [CFP/AP/Coaches]

• SMU rallied from down 31-14 to start the 4^th quarter to tie the game 31-31
• SMU tied the game at 31-31 with 16 seconds left on a Kevin Jennings 4-yard TD pass to Roderick Daniels Jr. (Drive 16 plays, 79 yards, 3:49)

• 9 wins vs P4 Teams
• 5-2 vs above .500 teams
• 8-0 in ACC games (SMU and Oregon are only P4 teams undefeated in conference play)
• 5-0 in road games (1 of 9 teams unbeaten)
• 19.3 average margin in ACC games (3^rd among P4)
• 1 of 9 teams in the top 20 in scoring offense and scoring defense
• 1 of 8 teams in the top 20 in total offense and total defense
• SMU was just the 6th program to go at least 8-0 in the ACC (league went to 8 games in 1992)
  • Florida State (10x), Clemson (4x), Virginia Tech (2010), North Carolina (2015), Notre Dame (2020)
• This is the first time SMU has been undefeated and untied in conference play in back-to-back seasons
  • SMU went unbeaten in conference play in back-to-back seasons in 1947 (5-0-1) and 1948 (5-0-1) 

• Score: SMU 31, Clemson 34
• Total yards: SMU 458, Clemson 326 (SMU +132)
• First downs: SMU 28, Clemson 18
• Third downs: SMU 9-18, Clemson 7-17
• Rushing yards: SMU 148, Clemson 64

• SMU had 19 All-ACC honorees:
  • First Team: Brashard Smith (RB), Jared Harrison-Hunte (DT), Isaiah Nwokobia (S)
  • Second Team: Jakai Clark (C), Kobe Wilson (LB)
  • Third Team: Kevin Jennings (QB), PJ Williams (OT), Logan Parr (G)
  • Honorable Mention: Key'Shawn Smith (WR), RJ Maryland (TE), Roderick Daniels Jr. (AP), Justin Osborne (G), Elijah Roberts (DE), Kori Roberson Jr. (DT), Ahmad Walker (LB), Brandon Crossley (CB), Ahmaad Moses (S), Jonathan McGill (S), Collin Rogers (PK/SP)

• Captains: Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, So.), Jonathan McGill (#2, S, Gr.), Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Gr.), Elijah Roberts (#5, DE, Sr.), Preston Stone (#2, QB, Jr.), Kobe Wilson (#24, LB, Gr.)
• Snaps SMU's 18-game win streak against conference opponents
• SMU is 11-2
  • SMU is 29-11 under Rhett Lashlee
  • SMU is 20-3 in the last 23 games overall
• This is the 4^th 11-win season in program history and first time with back-to-back 11-win seasons
  • 12-1 in 1935
  • 11-0-1 in 1982
  • 11-3 in 2023
  • 11-2 in 2024
• Snaps a 9-game win streak, the 5^th- longest in program history
  • 14 in 1934-35 (last 2, first 12)
  • 14 in 1981-82 (last 4, first 10)
  • 13 in 1923-24 (last 9, first 4)
  • 11 in 1946-47 (last 2, first 9)
  • 9 in 2023
  • 9 in 2024
• SMU is 26-2 under Rhett Lashlee when scoring at least 30 points
• SMU had 3 sacks and 8 TFLs
  • Sacks: Elijah Roberts (1.5), Jared Harrison-Hunte (1.0), Jahfari Harvey (0.5)
  • SMU has 40 sacks this season (___ at SMU)
  • TFL leaders: Jared Harrison-Hunte (2.0), Elijah Roberts (1.5), Brandon Cossley (1.0), Iasiah Nwokobia (1.0)
• Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, So.) – Davey O'Brien Award Semifinalist, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist, All-ACC Third Team
  • Was 31-50 passing for 304 yards with 3 TDs (8^th game this season with multiple passing TDs)
    • Career highs for completions and attempts, 4^th 300-yard game
  • Passing TDs to: Roderick Daniels Jr., Matthew Hibner (TD in 3 straight games and 4 of last 5), Brashard Smith
  • 10-35 rushing with a TD (5 rushing TDs this season)
• Roderick Daniels Jr. (#13, WR, Sr.) – All-ACC Honorable Mention
  • 8-97 receiving with a TD
  • 104 all-purpose yards (8-97 receiving, 1-7 punt return)
  • 100+ all-purpose in 4 of the past 6 games
• Brashard Smith (#1, RB, Sr.) – Jet Award Watch List, Doak Walker Award Semifinalist, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist, All-ACC First Team
  • 24-113 rushing, 6-34 receiving with a TD
    • 18 total TDs this season (4 receiving)
  • 1,270 rushing yards ranks 9^th in a season at SMU
  • 1,814 all-purpose yards this season is 2nd in a season at SMU
  • 100+ all-purpose in 11 games this season

• ABC Highlights
  • Kevin Jennings 24-yard rushing TD
  • Roderick Daniels Jr. impressive catch & Brashard Smith 10-yard TD pass from Kevin Jennings
  • Kevin Jennings 10-yard TD pass to Brashard Smith in 4th quarter
  • Roderick Daniels Jr awesome toe-tapping TD ties the score for SMU
• SMU Highlights and Head Coach Rhett Lashlee postgame radio | SMU Radio Network on KTCK "The Ticket" 96.7 FM, 1310 AM (Rich Phillips pxp, Scott Garner analyst, Steve Lansdale sideline)

• Will Benton (#48, LS, Gr.)
  • Has played 54 game at SMU, T-8^th at SMU
• Brandon Crossley (#1, CB, Gr.) – All-ACC Honorable Mention
  • Has played 53 games at SMU, T-10^th at SMU
• Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Gr.) – Outland Trophy Watch List, Rimington Trophy Watch List, All-ACC Honorable Mention
  • Has played 58 games at SMU with 55 starts
  • 5^th in career games at SMU

• Collin Rogers (#41, K, Jr.) - All-ACC Honorable Mention
  • 7 points (4-4 PATs, 1-2 FGs)
    • Extends SMU CAREER SCORING RECORD – now at 352
    • 120 points this season ranks 3^rd at SMU
  • 4-4 on PATs
    • Extends SMU CAREER PAT RECORD to 175 (175-176)
    • 51 PATs this season ranks 4^th at SMU
  • 1-2 on FGs (made 46, missed 53)
    • Extends SMU CAREER FG RECORD to 59
    • Extends SMU SEASON RECORD for FGs to 23 (previously 20 by Collin Rogers in 2023)
    • Has 15 FGs of 40+ yards this season (NCAA FBS Record 16 by Josh Lambert, West Virginia, 2014)

• Brashard Smith (#1, RB, Sr.) – Brashard Smith (#1, RB, Sr.) – Jet Award Watch List, Doak Walker Award Semifinalist, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist, All-ACC First Team
  • 24-113 rushing, 6-34 receiving with a TD
    • 18 total TDs this season (4 receiving)
  • 1,270 rushing yards ranks 9^th in a season at SMU
  • 1,814 all-purpose yards this season is 2nd in a season at SMU
  • 100+ all-purpose in 11 games this season

• Romello Brinson (#3, WR, Sr.)
  • 5-45 receiving and 1-6 rushing
  • Tied career-high 5 receptions
• Jakai Clark (#53, C, Gr.) – All-ACC Second Team
  • Started at center
• Brandon Crossley - All-ACC Honorable Mention
  • Had 5 tackles, including a TFL, plus a pass breakup
• Moochie Dixon (#5, WR, Sr.)
  • 2-27 receiving
• Matthew Hibner (#88, TE, Gr.)
  • 5-69 receiving with a TD (TD in 3 straight games and 4 of last 5)
  • Tied career-high 5 receptions
• Jordan Hudson (#8, WR, Jr.)
  • 4-19 receiving
• Jared Harrison Hunte (#81, DL, Sr.) – All-ACC First Team
  • Had 3 tackles, including 2 TFLs and a sack
• Jonathan McGill (#2, S, Gr.) – Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, All-ACC Honorable Mention
  • Had 6 tackles, 3 solo
• Ahmaad Moses (#3, S, Jr.) – All-ACC Honorable Mention
  • Season-high 9 tackles, including a half TFL
  • Career-high 3 pass breakups
  • First career forced fumble
• Isaiah Nwokobia (#23, S, Jr.) – All-ACC First Team
  • Had 5 tackles, including a TFL
• Logan Parr (#71, OL, Sr.) – All-ACC Third Team
  • Has started 25 of the past 26 games played
• Kori Roberson Jr. (#92, DT, Gr.) – All-ACC Honorable Mention
  • Had 3 tackles
• Elijah Roberts (#5, DE, Sr.) - Bednarik Award Watch List, All-ACC Honorable Mention
  • Had 4 tackles, including 1.5 TFLs, and had a QB hurry
• Key'Shawn Smith (#9, WR, Sr.) – All-ACC Honorable Mention
  • 1-13 receiving
• PJ Williams (#59, OL, So.) – All-ACC Third Team
  • Started all 13 games this season
• Kobe Wilson (#24, LB, Gr.) – All-ACC Second Team
  • Team-high 15 tackles and a pass breakup
• Ahmad Walker (#34, LB, Sr.) – All-ACC Honorable Mention
  • Had 4 tackles and a QB hurry

•  SMU had 31 points 

• SMU had 458 yards of total offense

•  SMU had 1 rushing TDs

• SMU held Clemson to 64 rushing yards

• SMU held Clemson to 2.0 yards per rush attempt (32-64)

• SMU had 3 sacks

• SMU had 28 first downs