CHARLOTTE — Nolan Hauser kicked a 56-yard field goal as time expired, Cade Klubnik threw four touchdown passes and No. 17 Clemson pulled out a 34-31 victory against No. 8 SMU on Saturday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
The game appeared destined for overtime after Kevin Jennings capped a 16-play, 79-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Roderick Daniels Jr. with 16 seconds left in the fourth quarter to pull the Mustangs (11-2) even at 31.
However, Adam Randall returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards before Klubnik completed a pass for a gain of 17. Hauser then came out and booted the longest field goal in ACC title game history. Hauser’s kick spoiled a wild comeback by SMU, which trailed 31-14 with 23 seconds to go in the third quarter following a 5-yard scoring connection between Klubnik and Jake Briningstool.
Briningstool and Bryant Wesco Jr. each hauled in two touchdowns for Clemson (10-3). Wesco went off for eight receptions for 143 yards. Klubnik finished 24-for-41 passing for 262 yards. Jennings threw for three touchdowns, an interception and 304 yards on 31-for-50 passing for SMU. Brashard Smith rushed for 113 yards on 24 carries, and Daniels finished with eight catches for 97 yards and the score.
Big Ten: No. 1 Oregon 45, No. 3 Penn State 37
Dillon Gabriel threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns and the Ducks likely clinched the top seed for the College Football Playoff by beating the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten championship in Indianapolis.
Gabriel completed 22 of 32 passes for the 13-0 Ducks, connecting with Tez Johnson 11 times for 181 yards and a touchdown. Oregon is expected to earn a bye into the CFP quarterfinals on either Dec. 31 or Jan. 1 when the 12-team field is announced on Sunday.
Drew Allar completed 20 of 39 passes for 226 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for the Nittany Lions (11-2). Allen rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts in the loss. Nicholas Singleton added 105 rushing yards on 10 carries for Penn State, which will probably play a CFP first-round game at home on Dec. 20 or 21.
SEC: No. 5 Georgia 22, No. 2 Texas 19 (OT)
Trevor Etienne rushed for a game-winning 4-yard score in overtime, clinching the Southeastern Conference Championship for the Bulldogs with a win over the Longhorns.
Etienne rushed for 94 yards and two scores, as Georgia (11-2) won despite starting quarterback Carson Beck missing the entire second half with an injury. Beck completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards before replacement Gunner Stockton threw for 71 yards and an interception.
Quinn Ewers completed 27 of 46 passes for 358 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions for Texas (11-2), which fell to Georgia for a second time.
Big 12: No. 15 Arizona State 45, No. 16 Iowa State 19
Cam Skattebo rushed for 170 yards and accounted for three touchdowns as the Sun Devils clinched a College Football Playoff spot with a rout of the Cyclones in the Big 12 title game at Arlington, Texas.
Skattebo rushed for two scores and also had a receiving touchdown for the Sun Devils (11-2), who won their sixth consecutive game. Sam Leavitt completed 12 of 17 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for a score for Arizona State. Sun Devils star receiver Jordyn Tyson (left arm) missed the game but Xavier Guillory stepped up to make two touchdown catches.
Rocco Becht completed 21 of 35 passes for 214 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the Cyclones (10-3), who saw their chances for a playoff spot come to an end. Jaylin Noel and Carson Hansen caught touchdown passes and Jayden Higgins had seven catches for 115 yards.
–Field Level Media
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