Clemson Eyes ACC Championship, Potential Playoff Path
In a season defined by twists, turns, and improbable outcomes, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney reflected on the chaos of college football as his Tigers prepare for their 10th ACC Championship appearance in the last 16 years. Despite a bitter 17-14 loss to in-state rival South Carolina to close the regular season, Clemson earned their spot in Charlotte after Syracuse’s improbable 42-38 comeback win over Miami.
The stakes in Saturday’s championship clash with SMU have grown even higher. A win over the Mustangs would not only secure the ACC title but also place Clemson into the College Football Playoff (CFP)—possibly as one of the top four seeds. That positioning would grant the Tigers a first-round bye under the CFP’s expanded 12-team format.
“First of all, college football, it's a crazy world,” Swinney said. “Obviously, we had a range of emotions yesterday, and with a disappointing rivalry game loss, but you’ve got to play them all out, and then you count them up at the end.”
Clemson, who finished 7-1 in ACC play, faces a high-flying SMU team led by head coach Rhett Lashlee. The Mustangs are unbeaten in conference play and carry an 11-1 record into their first-ever ACC Championship appearance.
“For us, we're super excited to be back in this conference championship for the 10th time in the past 16 years—and we earned it,” Swinney emphasized. “You play them all. We all get eight games, and we went 7-1. I want to congratulate SMU on going 8-0 in the league, what a great year they've had. Congratulations to Rhett on the job he's done. I look forward to competing against them in a great matchup at one of the best venues that you can play in up there in Charlotte. It should be a heck of a game. Thankful to have the opportunity to be playing this week.”
With a playoff berth and a potential first-round bye on the line, Clemson’s path forward is clear: win and solidify their spot among the College Football Playoff’s elite. For Swinney, the immediate focus remains on seizing the opportunity to claim another ACC title.
“I'm proud of our team. We had a good regular season, but we didn't finish great the way we wanted to,” Swinney said. “Now it's all about the postseason; you get what you qualify for, and we qualified for our league championship. We've earned that. Now we will see if we can go find a way to win this thing.”
As for SMU, they’ve built a strong case for inclusion, and Swinney didn’t hesitate to advocate for the Mustangs’ spot in the postseason regardless of Saturday’s result.
“I think for SMU, I know they want to win the game, but I think they should be in no matter what,” Swinney remarked. “I think they've earned that. I don't think that they should be punished with whatever the outcome in this game is. I know the system is what it is, and it's been set up. They're an 11-1 football team, and they have done an awesome job.”
The ACC’s depth and competitiveness have been focal points throughout the season, and Swinney lauded the league’s strength as Clemson prepares for a chance to represent it on the national stage.
“The ACC has had a great year. There's a bunch of teams that I think are eight, nine plus wins,” Swinney said. “There's gonna be a bunch of bowl-eligible teams. It's been a very competitive year in the league. You’ve seen teams that have competed at a high level outside of the league.”
The season marked the first with 17 teams in the ACC, and Swinney celebrated Clemson’s ability to navigate a challenging schedule to secure their place in the championship game.
“For us to be one of the two that qualified to go play in this league championship, again, I'm really proud of that,” he said. “I think the league deserves the recognition, and we'll see how it all plays out, but for us, we know, I mean, it's pretty simple with us, we got to go win.”
With the chaos of Selection Sunday looming, Clemson’s path to the postseason is straightforward. A victory over SMU would likely position the Tigers among the Top 4 seeds and set them up for a first-round bye.
“Obviously, for us, we got to win. It's playoff football for us,” Swinney said. “As crazy a day as yesterday was, for the first time since before the Louisville game, we control our destiny. If we'd had a great regular season, then maybe we would have that opportunity, but we've got to win.”
