SMU’s Playoff Hopes Hang in the Balance After Heartbreaking Loss to Clemson
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee didn’t hold back after his team’s gut-wrenching 34-31 loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship game on Saturday night. With emotions running high, Lashlee called it “criminal” to even consider leaving the No. 8 Mustangs (11-2) out of the College Football Playoff (CFP) after their valiant effort.
“It’d be criminal if we’re not in,” Lashlee said during his postgame press conference. “It’d be wrong on so many levels. Not just our team. It’d be wrong to what college football stands for. Our team deserves a chance to be in. It doesn’t matter what I say, but it would set a really bad precedent. It would break all the principles of what we’ve been told. We showed up and we competed our butts off. We should be in. They know we should be in. So we’ll see what happens.”
SMU’s Rollercoaster Night
The Mustangs entered the ACC Championship as the only undefeated team in league play during the regular season. But their hopes of securing an automatic playoff berth were dashed in dramatic fashion. After trailing 24-7 at halftime, SMU clawed their way back into the game, tying it at 31 with just 16 seconds left on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Jennings to Roderick Daniels Jr..
But Clemson wasn’t done. Adam Randall returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards, and quarterback Cade Klubnik connected with Antonio Williams for a 17-yard completion with just three seconds remaining. That set the stage for kicker Nolan Hauser, who drilled a 56-yard field goal as time expired, sealing Clemson’s eighth ACC title in the last 10 years.
As Clemson celebrated their victory, SMU players walked off the field, visibly dejected. Some paused to watch the Tigers revel in their triumph, knowing their own playoff fate now rests in the hands of the CFP selection committee.
What’s Next for SMU?
The final CFP rankings will be revealed starting at noon ET on Sunday, and the Mustangs are anxiously awaiting their fate. Lashlee expressed concern about how his players are feeling after such a crushing loss.
“I’m just hurting for our guys,” Lashlee said. “I’m hurting because, I think for good reason, their faith in the system is shaken right now. I think they’re all in there wondering, ‘Are they going to be in tomorrow? Is the fix in or is the right thing going to be done?’ That’s the truth.”
He continued, “They’re hurt because they lost the game. They’re hurt because they want to win a championship. They’re hurt because they know they could have won, and they clawed their way all the way back, and then the last minute, (Clemson) made a great play. They’re hurting because there’s not been a lot of confidence given to them that they did what they were supposed to do, and it’s been enough. Hurt for them, and I hope in 11 hours, I won’t be.”
Selection Committee’s Dilemma
Selection committee chair Warde Manuel left the door open earlier in the week when asked if SMU could fall behind No. 11 Alabama (9-3) with a loss. His response? “Potentially yes.”
Last season, the ACC experienced the sting of being left out of the playoff when the committee chose Alabama over undefeated ACC champion Florida State. With the expanded 12-team playoff format, there are no guarantees for at-large bids outside of the automatic berth for the ACC champion.
SMU athletic director Rick Hart remains optimistic, saying, “That game could have gone either way. I didn’t see anything tonight, I haven’t seen anything recently, actually, that would change where we were slotted.”
When asked if he had faith in the selection committee, Hart added, “I have faith that they’re good people who are well intended.”
Voices of Support
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips also backed SMU, releasing a statement late Saturday night. “With SMU finishing the regular season at No. 8 in the CFP rankings, and as I’ve consistently stated, they have unequivocally earned a spot in the playoff,” Phillips said. “Penalizing a team that finished the regular season ranked No. 8, and played an additional game for a conference championship, would create dangerous repercussions to the sport by rewarding teams that don’t have to play an additional game.”
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, who played a key role in the near-comeback despite two early turnovers, echoed his coach’s sentiments. “Hopefully we showed what we can do all year and they put us in (the playoff),” Jennings said. “But (there’s) no telling. So I’m praying we get the spot.”
Key Takeaways
- SMU finished the ACC regular season undefeated in league play.
- The Mustangs lost the ACC Championship to Clemson on a last-second 56-yard field goal.
- SMU is ranked No. 8 in the CFP rankings, but their playoff fate is uncertain.
- The final CFP rankings will be announced at noon ET on Sunday.
For now, SMU will forgo a team watch party on Sunday, with Lashlee instead addressing the media later in the afternoon. The Mustangs have done everything they can, and now, they wait.
Originally Written by: Andrea Adelson
