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CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -- Kevin Jennings threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns, Chris Johnson Jr. put the game away with a late 6-yard scoring run and SMU defeated Clemson 35-24 on Saturday to avenge last year's heartbreaking loss in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

Jordan Hudson finished with seven catches for 131 yards and a touchdown for the Mustangs (5-2, 3-0 ACC), who've won three straight.

Clemson played without first-team Preseason All-American quarterback Cade Klubnik, who sat out with ankle injury. Christopher Vizzina made his first start for the Tigers (3-4, 2-3) and completed 29 of 42 passes for 317 yards with three touchdowns, including two to T.J. Moore.

Moore had five catches for 124 yards, including a one-hand snag on a 62-yard touchdown reception.

Clemson beat SMU 34-31 last December for the ACC title on a walk-off field goal, and this game provided similar drama.

SMU led 29-17 in the fourth quarter when Clemson's Ricardo Jones intercepted Jennings near midfield with 10 minutes remaining.

Facing a fourth-and-21, Vizzina found a leaping Tristan Smith for a 23-yard touchdown strike between two defenders to cut the Mustangs' lead to 29-24 with 6:44 left and pumping life into the home crowd.

But SMU drew a crucial pass interference penalty on a fourth-and-3 at the Clemson 39 to move the chains on the ensuing possession and Jennings followed with a 26-yard strike along the right sideline to Hudson on third-and-10. With Clemson needing stop to force a field goal and keep it a one-possession game, Johnson plowed into the end zone with 1:03 left to seal the victory.

SMU outgained Clemson 139-35 on the ground.

Clemson trailed 16-7 at the break and looked like it might get back in the game after Moore reached out and snagged a one-handed grab on a long ball from Vizzina and raced to the end zone.

But SMU answered with a pair of 75-yard scoring drives on its next two possessions to take a 29-17 lead as McFall took a pitchout and raced 35 yards around right end untouched to the end zone and tight end Matthew Hibner hauled in a one-handed grab on a crossing route for a walk-in 22-yard TD.

Aside from his one interception, Jennings was on target for most the game and made several solid decisions in the pocket for SMU, which remained in the hunt to return to another ACC title game.

It was tough sledding for most of the game on the ground for the Tigers, with Adam Randall limited to 29 yards rushing on 10 carries. Clemson had just 35 yards rushing on 30 carries.
 

• SMU 35, [-/rv] Clemson 24
• SMU (5-2, 3-0 ACC), Clemson (3-4, 2-3 ACC)
• Memorial Stadium – Clemson, South Carolina

• At Wake Forest - Saturday, October 25 – 12pm ET/11am CT – Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium – Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• TV: The CW
• Radio: KTCK "The Ticket" 96.7 FM/1310 AM | SMU Mobile App/Varsity Network | Sirius XM
• SMU Tickets: https://smumustangs.com/tickets

• SMU has won a program-record 20 consecutive league regular-season games, which is the nation's longest active streak
• SMU has won 9 consecutive road conference games (program record is 12 from 1981-84)

• SMU had three scoring drives under two minutes
  • scored on a 70-yard TD pass from Kevin Jennings to Jordan Hudson at 3:52 1^st Qtr (1 play, 70 yards, 0:09)
  • scored on a 48-yard FG from Sam Keltner at 1:09 2^nd Qtr (8 play, 8 yards, 1:44)
  • scored on a 35-yard rushing TD from Derrick McFall at 7:29 3^rd Qtr (4 play, 75 yards, 1:19)
  • 12 scoring drives this season under 2 minutes (10 TD drives under 2 minutes)

• SMU punted on the first two possessions, then scored on 4 of next 5 to go up 16-7 at halftime
  • TD (70 yards), punt, FG (51 yards), FG (48 yards), FG (48 yards) 

• SMU had 3 plays go for 30 or more yards, including two 30+ yard touchdown plays 
  • Jordan Hudson 70-yard touchdown reception
  • Derrick McFall 35-yard rushing touchdown
  • Chris Johnson 30-yard rush
• Derrick McFall (#0, RB, Fr.) – Doak Walker Award Watch List
  • 4-47 rushing with 1 TD (has scored a TD in three straight games)
• Chris Johnson Jr. (#6, RB, RS So,)
  • 6-59 rushing with 1 TD (has scored a TD in back-to-back games)
  • 6-yard rushing touchdown with 1:03 left in the game to seal the win 

• Jordan Hudson was 7-131 receiving with 1 TD, his first career 100-yard receiving game
• Career high receiving yards
  • Second Mustang this season with a 100-yard receiving game (Romello Brinson 2 100-yard+ games)

• Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, RS Jr.) -- Maxwell Award Watch List, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, Manning Award Watch List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Third Team
  • 15-5 as a starter
  • 23-43 passing for 290 yards with 2 TDs
    • TD passes to: Jordan Hudson (70 yards), Matthew Hibner (22 yards)
    • Multiple passing TDs in 14 of his past 18 games, including 6 of 7 games this season
• 7 different receivers caught a pass
  • At least 7 players have a catch in 35 of the past 38 games
  • Jordan Hudson, 7-131, 1 TD
  • Chris Johnson Jr., 4-40
  • Matthew Hibner, 2-29, 1 TD

• SMU held Clemson to just 35 rush yards on 30 carries
  • SMU held Clemson to 0 net rushing yards in the second half on 16 carriers
    • 11-10 yards in the 3^rd, 5-(-10) in the fourth
  • SMU had eight tackles for loss
  • Clemson's Adam Randall led the Tigers with 29 yards

• SMU's defense held Clemson to 8-19 on third down attempts and 1-2 on fourth down attempts
  • SMU opponents are now 14-23 on fourth down this season
  • Clemson 2-8 on third down in the first half.

• SMU handed Clemson their 8^th home loss in the College Football Playoff era and their 13^th ACC loss since 2015.
  • Clemson is now 71-8 in Death Valley  
  • Clemson is now 82-13 against ACC opponents, including postseason play, since 2015.

• Captains: Matthew Hibner (#88, TE, Sr.), Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, Jr.), Alexander Kilgore (#54, LB, Jr.), Isaiah Nowkobia (#23, S, Sr.)
• SMU is 5-2 this season
  • SMU is 34-14 under Rhett Lashlee
  • SMU is 24-3 in last 27 regular-season games
  • SMU is 25-6 in the last 31 games overall
  • SMU is 13-2 in the last 15 road games
• SMU is 30-3 under Rhett Lashlee when scoring 30+ points
  • 3-1 this season when scoring 30+ points
  • SMU was 3-3 in the red zone (10-10 in ACC games this season, 19-22 overall this season) 
• SMU had 4 sacks, 8 TFLs and 6 pass breakups
  • 4 Sacks: Isaiah Smith (1.5), Cameron Robertson (0.5), D.J. Warner (0.5), Jeffery M'ba (1), Terry Webb (0.5)
  • 8 TFLs: Isaiah Smith (2.5), Alexander Kilgore (1), Jeffery M'ba (1), Marcellus Barnes Jr. (1) Brandon Booker (0.5), Cameron Robertson (0.5), D.J. Warner (0.5), Brandon Miyazono (0.5), Terry Webb (0.5)
  • 6 PBUs: Deuce Harmon (2), Brandon Miyazono (1), Ahmaad Moses (1), Isaiah Nwokobia (1), Terry Webb (1)
• SMU had 1 takeaway (1 fumble)
  • Fumble recoveries: Jakai Lang
  • Forced Fumble: Brandon Miyazono (1^st of career)
  • Have 15 takeaways this season (entered the game 1^st ACC / 2^nd NCAA FBS in takeaways – 14) 

• ACC Network
  • Kevin Jennings 70-yard TD pass to Jordan Hudson
  • Sam Keltner 51-yard FG
  • Sam Keltner 48-yard FG
  • Kevin Jeninngs 22-yard TD pass to Matthew Hibner
  • Chris Johnson 6-yard TD run 
  • Full game highlights
• SMU Football (@SMUFB)
  • Kevin Jennings 70-yard TD pass to Jordan Hudson
  • Sam Keltner 48-yard FG
  • Derrick McFall 35-yard TD run
  • Kevin Jeninngs 22-yard TD pass to Matthew Hibner
  • Chris Johnson 6-yard TD run
• SMU Highlights and Head Coach Rhett Lashlee postgame radio | SMU Radio Network on KLIF 570 AM (Rich Phillips pxp, Scott Garner analyst, Steve Lansdale sideline) – Courtesy Learfield / SMU Athletics
  • Highlights
  • Rhett Lashlee postgame
• SMU Postgame Press Conference

• Jordan Hudson (#2, WR, Sr.) - East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Second Team
  • 7-131 receiving with 1 TD

• Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, RS Jr.) -- Maxwell Award Watch List, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, Manning Award Watch List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Third Team
  • 23-43 passing for 290 yards with 2 TDs

• RJ Maryland (#82, TE, Sr.) -- John Mackey Award Watch List, College Football Comeback Player of the Year Watch List, Senior Bowl Top 300 List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Second Team, Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas First Team
  • 3-33 receiving 

• Isaiah Smith (#1, DE, Sr.) - Phil Steele All-ACC Fourth Team
  • 1.5 sacks, 5 tackles, 2.5 TFL

• Zakye Barker (#33, LB, RS Jr.) — East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List
  • Had 2 tackles
• Marcellus Barnes Jr. (#8, CB, Fr.)
  • Had 4 tackles, including 1 TFL
    • Tied his tackle career high
    • 1^st career TFL
• TJ Harden (#27, RB, Sr. ) - East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List
  • 11-16 rushing
  • 2-10 receiving
• Matthew Hibner (#88, TE, Gr.) - John Mackey Award Watch List
  • 2-29 receiving with 1 TD (also had a TD at TCU)
    • Sixth career TD
• Alexander Kilgore (#54, LB, Jr.) - Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee, Athlon Sports All-ACC Fourth Team
  • Career high 11 tackles
  • 1 TFL
• Jahkai Lang (#52, DE, RS So.)
  • 1 tackle , 1 fumble recovery
    • 1^st career fumble recovery  
• Derrick McFall (#0, RB, Fr.) – Doak Walker Award Watch List
  • 4-47 rushing with 1 TD
    • has scored a TD in three straight games
• Sam Keltner (#95, K, Fr.)
  • 2-3 PAT
  • 3-3 FG (made 51, 48, 48)
    • 51 is career long
    • 3 FGs is a career high
• Ahmaad Moses (#3, S. Sr.) -- Senior Bowl Top 300 List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Athlon Sports All-ACC First Team, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, ACC DB of the Week (9/2)
  • Had 6 tackles and a pass breakup
• William Nettles (#0, CB, Fr.)
  • Had 4 tackles
• Addison Nichols (#63, OL, RS Jr.) -- Rimington Trophy Watch List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Phil Steele All-ACC Third Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Third Team
  • Started 7 games at RG at SMU (started all 12 games at Arkansas in 2024)
• Isaiah Nwokobia (#23, S, RS Sr.) - Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, Bronco Nagurski Trophy Watch List, Chuck Bednarik Watch List, Senior Bowl Top 300 List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Walter Camp All-America Second Team, Sporting News All-America Second Team, Athlon Sports All-America Third Team, Phil Steele All-America Fourth Team, All-ACC Team, Phil Steele All-ACC First Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC First Team, Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas First Team
  • Had 5 tackles, 1 pass breakup
• Logan Parr (#71, OL, Gr.) -- East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Second Team, Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas First Team
  • Has started 33 of the 34 games played at SMU
• Cameron Robertson (#9, DE, Sr.) - Athlon Sports All-ACC Third Team
  • Had 7 tackles including 0.5 sacks
• Terry Webb (#4, DT, 5th Yr. ) - East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas Second Team
  • Had 3 tackles including 0.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup
• Aakil Washington (#58, DE, RS Sr.) - East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List
  • DNP
• PJ Williams (#59, OL, RS Jr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Athlon Sports All-ACC First Team, Phil Steele All-ACC Fourth Team, Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas Second Team
  • Has started the last 22 games he has played