Clemson is Going to the ACC Championship: Charlotte Bound!

Clemson will face the SMU Mustangs on Saturday night in Charlotte for the ACC Championship, with an automatic bid to the College Football Playoffs (CFP) on the line.

In a wild turn of events on Saturday, the Tigers went from losing a heartbreaking rivalry game to earning an automatic invitation to the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte. This was thanks to Syracuse’s thrilling upset over Miami, which opened the door for Clemson to control its own destiny in the CFP.

The Path to a Bye and Top-Four Seed

If Clemson wins, they have a couple of scenarios that could secure them a top-four seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs:

• Defeating SMU: A victory over the Mustangs would be a significant résumé builder. SMU is currently the highest-ranked team among the four teams in the ACC and Big 12 Championship games. A Clemson win could be seen as more impressive than a victory in the Big 12 Championship, where Arizona State faces Iowa State.
• Boise State Losing to UNLV: Another factor that could help Clemson is if Boise State loses to UNLV. This scenario could clear the path for Clemson to secure a top-four spot.

Shaking Off the Rivalry Loss

Saturday was a whirlwind of emotions for Clemson fans. In just a couple of hours, the Tigers went from the disappointment of losing to South Carolina to earning a chance to compete for the ACC Championship. Now, the team must refocus, shake off the loss to the Gamecocks, and prepare for the Mustangs.

Before Saturday’s events, ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) gave Clemson only a 9% chance to win the ACC. However, the Tigers defied those odds, aided by Miami’s shocking loss to Syracuse.

Focus on the ACC Championship

While there are many scenarios in play for Clemson to make the CFP, the Tigers must focus on the immediate task at hand: winning the ACC Championship. Everything else will fall into place after that.

How to Watch the ACC Championship

Get Ready for an Electric Night

Bank of America Stadium is always an electric venue, and the ACC Championship promises to be an incredible atmosphere. ESPN’s FPI gives SMU a 54% chance to win, but with so much on the line, the Tigers will undoubtedly be playing with a chip on their shoulder after the rivalry loss.

Clemson has been in this championship game more than any other ACC team, and now it’s time to silence the doubters and get the job done. In less than a week, we’ll know if the Tigers will once again make their mark in the CFP.