Clemson and SMU to Meet in 20th ACC Football Championship Game
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The top two teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference – No. 8 SMU and No. 17 Clemson – will face off in the 2024 ACC Football Championship Game in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday, December 7, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. This is the 15th time in the last 16 years that the game will be held in primetime.
Purchase Tickets and Premium Hospitality Options Today
Tickets to the 2024 ACC Football Championship Game are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets through the following ways:
- ACC official website – Click Here
- SMU Athletics Ticket Office – Click Here
- Clemson Athletics Ticket Office – Click Here
- Ticketmaster – Click Here
New this year are several premium hospitality options such as a full-service package with field-side seating in The Vault, and both pregame and postgame on-field experiences.
Fans interested in purchasing or learning more about these exclusive offerings can visit the ACC Football Championship Page – Click Here.
This marks SMU’s first trip to the ACC Football Championship Game having joined the league on July 1, 2024. SMU is the first football team to reach the ACC Football Championship Game in its first season in the conference. The Mustangs will be the 14th ACC program to play in the championship game since the inaugural title game in 2005.
The Mustangs head into the championship game as one of only six Power 4 (plus Notre Dame) teams with one or loss this season. In their first year in the ACC, the Mustangs went 11-1 overall and 8-0 in the ACC.
SMU, which has nine wins over Power 4 teams on the season, has won nine straight games entering the championship contest on Saturday and is 5-0 in games away from their home stadium this year.
It is the Tigers’ 10 appearance in the ACC Football Championship Game with their last trip in 2022. The 10 championship game appearances are the highest among all ACC teams, with the next highest being Florida State and Virginia Tech with six appearances each.
Clemson will be looking to win its league-leading 22nd ACC football championship title and aims for its ninth victory in the ACC Championship Game. Since the championship game’s inception in 2005, the Tigers won the ACC Football Championship Game in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022.
The Tigers have an 8-1 record overall in the ACC Championship Game, including an 8-0 record in their last eight appearances from 2011-22 after losing their ACC Championship Game debut in 2009.
Clemson enters the championship game at 9-3 overall and 7-1 in ACC play. The Tigers have seven wins over Power 4 teams and were one of only six Power 4 teams with one loss or less in conference play over the regular season.
The championship contest will be the first-ever meeting between SMU and Clemson on the football field. The Mustangs will also be the eighth different opponent to face Clemson in at least one of the Tigers’ 10 all-time ACC Championship Game appearances, joining Virginia Tech (two), North Carolina (two), Georgia Tech, Miami, Pitt, Virginia and Notre Dame.
The ACC Football Championship Game will feature the top two teams for the second straight year based on the highest winning percentage in regular-season conference play.
This year marks the first of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The new format will include the five highest-ranked conference champions plus the next seven highest-ranked teams as determined by the CFP Selection Committee.
Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, has been the site of 13 of the last 14 ACC Football Championship Games. In 2018, the ACC, Charlotte Sports Foundation and Carolina Panthers announced a 10-year agreement to keep the ACC Football Championship Game in Charlotte through the 2030 season.
Not including the 2020 game, which had limited attendance due to the pandemic, ACC Football Championship Games played at Bank of America Stadium have had an average attendance of nearly 70,000 fans. The game’s attendance record is 74,514 for the 2015 contest between Clemson and North Carolina, which also set an attendance record for Bank of America Stadium at the time.
The ACC Champion has gone on to play in the National Championship Game or compete in the College Football Playoff in eight of the last 11 seasons, with two teams making the playoff in 2020. The ACC has won the second-most national titles since the CFP began in 2014 and is one of only two conferences to have a .500 or better winning percentage in the playoffs. The ACC has had three different teams to reach the CFP - Clemson (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020), Florida State (2014), and Notre Dame (2020), who competed as a full ACC member in 2020.
The Vault
The Vault is a premium hospitality package that immerses fans right in the heart of the action.
This all-inclusive package ensures that dedicated fans have everything they need on gameday through the postgame trophy celebration on the field at Bank of America Stadium. Fans will enjoy luxurious field-side seating, access to a climate-controlled lounge, and a wide selection of food and beverages. The Vault is situated directly behind the sideline of SMU, allowing fans of all ages to experience the action up close.
The features of The Vault hospitality package will include motorcoach transportation to Bank of America Stadium as part of the team police escort caravan on gameday, a pregame field experience as teams take the field just minutes before kickoff, and an exclusive opportunity to participate in the postgame trophy celebration.
Click Here for more information and to purchase The Vault seating.
Pregame Field Experience
Experience the thrill of the game like never before! Open to fans of all ages and teams, our pregame field experience offers an incredible opportunity to watch warmups up close with exclusive field passes. Imagine standing right on the field, just feet away from your favorite players as they gear up for the ACC Football Championship Game. Don’t miss this unforgettable moment! The experience starts as soon as the gates open and lasts until about 25 minutes before kickoff. Must have a valid game ticket in addition to purchasing this experience.
Click Here for more information and to purchase a Pregame Field Experience.
Postgame Trophy Presentation Field Experience
What better way to enjoy your team's championship victory than being on the field as they lift the ACC Football Championship trophy? The Postgame Trophy Presentation Field Experience gives fans exclusive access to the field, along with authentic team-issued championship gear during the unforgettable postgame celebration.
When purchasing, be sure to select your team, as this incredible experience is designed specifically for fans of the winning team. For instance, if you buy a pass for Team A but Team B emerges victorious, your purchase will be fully refunded after the game. Must have a valid game day ticket in addition to purchasing this experience.
Other Exciting Fan Offerings
In addition to the 2024 ACC Football Championship Game, ACC fans of all ages can take part in weekend festivities including Fan Fest, which will take place in uptown Charlotte at Romare Bearden Park on Friday, December 6, from 3-9 p.m. ET and Saturday, December 7, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. ET. Free and open to the public, fans can enjoy pre-game fun with appearances by ACC Mascots, tailgate games, giveaways, and more!
Fan Fest is the premier destination in uptown Charlotte on Friday and Saturday leading up to the 2024 ACC Football Championship Game. Enjoy the excitement of other championship games on our LED screens, along with a beer garden and a variety of food trucks.
Situated just one block from Bank of America Stadium at Romare Bearden Park, Fan Fest offers pregame fun for fans of all ages!
ACC fans of all ages will find plenty to do including:
- Appearances by ACC Network personalities, Chalk Talk
- Live performance by national recording artist Chris Lane
- ACC Mascot and school band performances
- QB Challenge, Field Goal Kick, Football Pong
- Tailgate games, Photo Ops, Free Giveaways
- Purchase game day merchandise from Event1
- Extra Yard for Teachers Foundation Activation