With the new 12-team format, everyone knew the ACC Championship in Charlotte was a de facto play-in game, but beating an excellent SMU team would take a lot of work. Clemson had lost all three prior contests against teams that finished with 8+ wins, which made a matchup with 11-win SMU daunting. Fortunately for Clemson, they seem to play their best football in Bank of America Stadium. The Tigers certainly looked comfortable in the setting where they’d won their last seven appearances. They dashed out to a 21-7 lead and went into halftime ahead 24-7.
Freshman Bryant Wesco played a huge role in Clemson’s hot start.