Tag: Clemson

Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman (10) runs by Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) for a touchdown during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, November 4, 2023.

Clemson, Notre Dame set 12-game football series

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Powerhouse football programs Clemson and Notre Dame agreed to a 12-game, home-and-home series beginning in 2027.

The schools already had games scheduled at Clemson, S.C., in 2027, 2031 and 2037, with contests in South Bend, Ind., also previously set for 2028 and 2034. The series now will run through the 2038 season.

“We strive to consistently create a football schedule that positions us for success in the College Football Playoff, and that goal requires us to form historic partnerships like this one with Clemson,” Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua said Tuesday. “This rivalry has already produced some of the most memorable moments in recent college football history, and our fans deserve these matchups to continue to make those indelible memories.”

The two teams have met eight times in the past, with the Tigers winning five of them. In their most recent game, Clemson defeated 12th-ranked Notre Dame at home, 31-23, in 2023.

Among schools that have faced Notre Dame at least twice, Clemson is one of just six programs with a winning record against the Fighting Irish.

Either Clemson or Notre Dame has been ranked in the top 15 ahead of each of the previous eight meetings. Both have been in the top 15 five times, and three times both were in the top five.

“We have immense excitement for the creation of this 12-year series between these two premier programs, as we know these will be must-see matchups for fans at Memorial Stadium and Notre Dame Stadium as well as television audiences nationwide,” said Graham Neff, Clemson’s athletic director.

Series of a dozen or more games are rare.

Clemson has had three opponents it played at least 12 consecutive years, most recently Georgia (1973-87). Notre Dame played Michigan in 18 consecutive seasons from 2002-19.

The pedigree of each program is unquestioned.

The Fighting Irish lost to Ohio State in the CFP title game at the conclusion of the 2024 season but has won 11 national championships and has 962 total victories, fourth in college football history.

Clemson has three national titles and is 13th all-time with 808 wins.

–Field Level Media

Feb 26, 2025; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson senior forward Ian Schieffelin (4) watches a free throw sink near Notre Dame forward Tae Davis (7) and Notre Dame guard Logan Imes (2) during the second half at Littlejohn Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images

Clemson’s Ian Schieffelin shifting from basketball to football

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After 134 games in a Clemson basketball jersey, power forward Ian Schieffelin is changing uniforms. But not schools.

Schieffelin announced Friday he has taken Tigers football coach Dabo Swinney up on his offer to play tight end on his team.

The 6-foot-8 Schieffelin posted a photo on Instagram that showed him clad half in a basketball jersey, half in a football one, with the caption, “Next chapter.”

He wasn’t a major NBA draft prospect — an overseas team or the G League was more likely — so he decided to see where football could take him.

“I’ve been just training for basketball, getting ready for the next level,” Schieffelin told ESPN. “Dabo just walked me through the opportunity he was willing to give me, and it all sounded great, something I wanted to jump on. It really just sparked my interest in wanting to try, and being able to put on a Clemson jersey again was very enticing to me. To be able to be coached by Dabo and (tight ends coach Kyle) Richardson is just a huge opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

For the Tigers in 2024-25, Schieffelin averaged 12.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game last season. He started all 70 games he played in over the past two seasons.

“I’d never rule out me going back to basketball,” Schieffelin said. “I’ll see how these next six months go, see how development goes, see if I really like playing football. But I think this is a good opportunity for the next six months.”

Most famously, Antonio Gates transitioned from playing basketball at Kent State to becoming a Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end for the San Diego Chargers. Schieffelin told ESPN he spoke with Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo-Alie Cox, who played four seasons of basketball at VCU, about the opportunity.

Swinney apparently has thought about the idea for a while. In a news conference in the fall that coincided with the start of the college basketball season, he was asked whether Schieffelin could play football — a sport Schieffelin gave up early in high school. The answer was an enthusiastic yes.

“He could play tight end, D-end. He could play whatever he wanted to play. He’d be an unbelievable left tackle,” Swinney said. “I’ll definitely have a spot. We have a lot of rev share ready too if he wants to pass up wherever he’s going (after basketball).”

Schieffelin is in training and excited to see what the future holds.

“Maybe I’ll be really good, maybe I’ll be really bad. It’s something that was worth a shot. And being able to put a Clemson jersey on again is really special to me, and to do it this time in Death Valley is going to be amazing.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; ACC commissioner Jim Phillips during ACC Media Days at The Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

ACC, Clemson, Florida State settle litigation

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The Atlantic Coast Conference’s ongoing legal disputes with members Clemson and Florida State were settled on Tuesday with a resolution to implement a new revenue distribution model based on TV viewership.

The settlement keeps the ACC’s 18-member league potentially intact through 2036, when the league’s grant of rights contract expires. Penalties for leaving the league before 2036 are reduced significantly — which was a motivating factor for the initial litigation from the two universities.

The ACC board of directors approved the settlement, followed by approval from the boards of trustees for Clemson and FSU. The actions led to the dropping of four lawsuits.

“Today’s resolution begins the next chapter of this storied league and further solidifies the ACC as a premier conference,” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said in a statement. “As we look ahead to our collective long-term future, I want to express my deepest appreciation to the ACC Board of Directors for its ongoing leadership, patience and dedication throughout this process.

“The league has competed at the highest level for more than 70 years and this new structure demonstrates the ACC embracing innovation and further incentivizing our membership based on competition and viewership results. The settlements, coupled with the ACC’s continued partnership with ESPN, allow us to focus on our collective future — including Clemson and Florida State — united in an 18-member conference demonstrating the best in intercollegiate athletics.”

FSU first sued the league in December 2023 followed by Clemson. The ACC countersued both schools. FSU’s lawsuit came after the Seminoles failed to reach the then-four-team College Football Playoff despite being undefeated, which the university blamed on the ACC.

Before the settlement, conference members could be penalized as much as $700 million to leave, according to FSU’s attorneys. Under the new terms, the exit fee will be $165 million in fiscal year 2026 and decreased by $18 million per year to a floor of $75 million in 2030-31 and beyond, according to a presentation made at Clemson’s board meeting, The Athletic reported.

The schools also were concerned with league revenues falling too far behind those of the SEC and Big Ten, per media reports.

The league said in Tuesday’s announcement that it will build upon previously announced success or brand initiatives with a component directly focused on annual football and men’s basketball viewership. Instead of equal distribution of media rights deals among its members, the league will award bonuses to the most-viewed schools in those sports based on a five-year average of TV ratings.

“This settlement allows Clemson to remain nationally competitive at the highest levels and also makes our conference stronger,” Clemson President Jim Clements said in the statement.

The ACC’s revenue-sharing model aligns with a proposal FSU athletic director Michael Alford made 25 months ago.

“This is a great path forward that provides every team in the conference the opportunity to reach benchmarks for additional financial distribution,” Alford said in a statement on Tuesday. “FSU and the ACC have benefitted from more than 30 years of partnership. This solution, forged collaboratively by FSU, Clemson, and the ACC is a testament to our ability to work together to proactively address necessary actions for future success.”

–Field Level Media

Mar 8, 2024; Greensboro, NC, USA; General view of the ACC logo before the game between Notre Dame vs Louisville at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-Imagn Images

Reports: ACC settlement with Clemson, FSU could bring revenue hike

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Florida State and Clemson called meetings for Tuesday where university officials are expected to approve an agreement with the ACC to settle four ongoing lawsuits and implement a new revenue distribution model, according to multiple reports Monday.

The league board of directors as well as the boards of each school must agree to the settlement to move forward, and it’s expected that will happen, per the reports. The ACC’s board of directors is also expected to vote Tuesday as part of its regularly scheduled meeting.

If approved, the settlement would keep the ACC’s 18-member league through 2036, when the league’s Grant of Rights contract expires.

The deal would address financial penalties for exiting the ACC’s grant of rights and establish a new revenue structure based on TV viewership, or brand-based distribution, according to the reports. The penalties for leaving the league would be reduced significantly.

ACC presidents are expected to vote on the framework of the settlement, with the boards of FSU and Clemson to follow, per the reports.

FSU first sued the league in December 2023 followed by Clemson. The ACC countersued both schools. FSU’s lawsuit came after failing to reach the then-four-team College Football Playoff despite being undefeated, which it blamed on the ACC. The schools also were concerned with league revenues falling too far behind those of the SEC and Big Ten, per the reports.

The new revenue structure based on viewership would apply to every ACC school, with no carveouts for either Clemson or FSU, but those prominent programs could see an annual increase of up to $15 million based on terms of the proposal.

ESPN reported that FSU and Clemson would be among the ACC’s biggest winners of the new distribution on the strength of deep runs in the College Football Playoff and the NCAA Tournament.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Clemson Tigers linebacker Wade Woodaz (17) forces a fumble by Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Hykeem Williams (8) during the second half at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

ESPN picks up option on ACC contract through 2036

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ESPN has agreed to exercise its option to continue broadcasting Atlantic Coast Conference sporting events through 2036, the network reported on Thursday.

ESPN had until Feb. 1 to pick up the option on a 20-year contract it signed in 2016. The deal would have ended after the 2027 season had the network declined to do so.

While the ACC board of directors voted Wednesday, ESPN reported that the conference is working on ways of creating more marquee games in football and men’s basketball. Those “value adds” are expected to help increase a new revenue distribution model as the ACC works toward a settlement with Clemson and Florida State.

Per ESPN, a proposed plan has a percentage of the ACC’s television revenue included in a “brand” fund — with that money going to schools that annually generate the most revenue for the league in football and men’s and women’s basketball.

Should that come to fruition, Clemson and Florida State likely would drop lawsuits that they currently have against the conference. The Tigers and Seminoles are suing the ACC in an attempt to back out of the conference’s grant of rights.

With the grant of rights, which is in effect through 2036, Clemson and Florida State’s media rights are attached to the conference itself.

Per ESPN, multiple athletic directors have said that this also could affect Notre Dame as a means to create additional games against top-tier teams within the conference.

–Field Level Media

Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Jaydon Blue (23) scores a touchdown against the Clemson Tigers during the first half of the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Imagesn Images

No. 5 Texas runs away from No. 12 Clemson, off to CFP quarterfinals

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Jaydon Blue rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns, including a 77-yard score in the fourth quarter, as No. 5 seed Texas ran to a 38-24 win over 12th-seeded Clemson on Saturday afternoon in a College Football Playoff first-round game in Austin, Texas.

The Longhorns (12-2) advance to the CFP quarterfinals, where they’ll square off against fourth-seeded Arizona State, the Big 12 champion, on Jan. 1 in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

Quinn Ewers passed for 202 yards and a score and Quintrevion Wisner added 110 yards and two TDs 15 yards on 15 carries for Texas, which outgained Clemson 292-76 on the ground.

The Longhorns’ defense stopped Clemson on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 7:24 left. Texas then produced a final march that chewed up almost six minutes of the clock.

Cade Klubnik, who played his prep football in Austin, passed for 336 yards and three TDs to keep the Tigers in the game. Nine of Klubnik’s 26 completions on 43 throws went to T.J. Moore, who had 116 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.

Everything went right for the Tigers on the game’s opening possession, on which they used 12 snaps and nearly seven minutes to drive 75 yards to a 22-yard TD pass from Klubnik to Antonio Williams.

Texas responded with its own 75-yard, 12-play march that culminated in a 3-yard scoring run up the middle by Wisner with 2:04 to play in the first quarter.

The Longhorns got a 38-yard touchdown sprint by Blue with 12:49 to play in the second quarter and then a 16-yard TD run by Wisner 5 1/2 minutes later to push their lead to 21-7.

Clemson’s Nolan Hauser hit a 32-yard field goal with 1:33 left in the second quarter. Texas answered with a 19-yard TD pass from Ewers to Gunnar Helm that extended the Longhorns’ lead to 28-10 at the break.

Bert Auburn added a 22-yard field goal on the Longhorns’ opening drive of the third quarter.

Klubnik found Jarvis Green out of the backfield for a nifty 25-yard TD pass to pull the Tigers to within 31-17 with 3:29 to play in the third. He then connected with Moore on a 7-yard scoring pass on fourth down with 11:43 remaining to bring Clemson to within seven points.

On the second play of Texas’s ensuing drive, Blue broke free and streaked down the left sideline to lift the Longhorns back up by two scores.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Andre Turrentine (2) takes a peak into the backfield against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

College Football Playoff notebook: Tennessee’s Andre Turrentine returns to Ohio State

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No. 9 seed Tennessee will make its first visit to No. 8 Ohio State on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN), but Volunteers safety Andre Turrentine will be in a familiar setting at Ohio Stadium for the first-round matchup of the College Football Playoff.

He played in four games for the Buckeyes (10-2) as a freshman in 2021 before the Nashville native joined the Vols.

“I know a lot of guys on that team, so just having that brotherhood and camaraderie from being a freshman there is going to be big in this game and big for me personally,” said Turrentine, a redshirt junior.

He has 35 tackles and one interception in starting all 12 games for the Vols (10-2) this season.

Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles feels prepared for Tennessee’s fast-paced offense, which averages 74.6 plays per game to rank 11th nationally.

“Our defense is built for tempo,” he said.

–No. 7 Notre Dame (11-1) quarterback Riley Leonard loves the idea of playing for a national championship, but as he told Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports, the matchup with the No. 10 Hoosiers (11-1) on Friday in South Bend, Ind., (8 p.m., ABC/ESPN) is also about regional pride.

“It’s huge for the state of Indiana. We’ve been talking about it becoming a football state,” he said. “It’s notorious for basketball, for obvious reasons.”

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti on how the game will play out: “I think we’re plus-15 on turnover ratio, and they’re plus-16. So, ball security for us and them is going to be really important — winning the turnover battle.”

–Even though No. 6 Penn State (11-2) lost to No. 1 Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game, the Nittany Lions were buoyed by running for 292 yards. Now, they host No. 11 SMU (11-2), which is ranked fourth nationally at 93.4 rushing yards allowed per game.

“Our expectation is that that’s what we’re supposed to do every single game,” Penn State center Nick Dawkins said. “I don’t think it matters the opponent that we played against.”

SMU coach Rhett Lashlee on the perceived advantage Penn State will have with a forecast high of 28 degrees: “They have to play in it just like we do and I don’t think they’ve played a game at home on Dec. 21, either. I don’t think the weather is a big deal.”

–No. 5 Texas coach Steve Sarkisian expects big things from quarterback Quinn Ewers when the Longhorns (11-2) host No. 12 Clemson on Saturday (4 p.m., TNT/MAX).

“We’ve all got to take our game to another level, and he’s no different, right?” Sarkisian said. “He’s got to do it.”

Actor Matthew McConaughey is a Longhorns super fan but that doesn’t mean much to defensive lineman T.J. Parker of Clemson (10-3).

“I don’t know who that is,” the sophomore said on Tuesday. “I may know his face, but not by name. I don’t know him.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 7, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) celebrates after winning the 2024 ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Storylines galore when No. 5 Texas, No. 12 Clemson clash in playoffs

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No. 5 seed Texas and No. 12 seed Clemson are set to clash in a captivating first-round matchup in the College Football Playoff on Saturday afternoon in Austin, Texas.

The winner will advance to the CFP quarterfinals, with fourth seed Arizona State awaiting in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta on Jan. 1. Texas opened as a 10 1/2-point favorite in the first-ever meeting between the storied programs, the largest favorite of any first-round game.

The Longhorns (11-2) look to rebound from a 22-19 overtime loss to then-No. 5 Georgia in the Southeastern Conference championship. The Tigers (10-3) earned the final spot in the CFP with a last-second 34-31 win over then-No. 8 SMU in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship.

Texas battled to the end and beyond in the loss to Georgia, dominating the first half despite quarterback Quinn Ewers playing with a sprained right ankle and with left tackle Kelvin Banks (who won the Outland Trophy as college football’s best interior lineman) on the shelf, also with an ankle injury.

Both are expected to be healthy for Saturday’s game. Ewers was asked Monday about his health and his role as the focal point of the Longhorns’ offense.

“I feel good. It was good to get some time off,” Ewers explained. “I just try to get the ball to the playmakers and let them go to work at the end of the day. It sounds like a simple answer, but that’s how simple it is.”

Both of Texas’ losses this season have been to Georgia, and the two setbacks cost the Longhorns the chance to capture a SEC championship in their first year in the vaunted league.

“To come off two weeks after the SEC championship, this game is pretty exciting,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “One of the concerns always for us as coaches is that long layoff. How do you keep your team sharp and how do you keep them competitive, yet in the same token heal and get healthy?”

The Tigers used their considerable big-game experience, the arm and legs of quarterback Cade Klubnik and a 56-yard final-play field goal from freshman kicker Nolan Hauser to advance to the CFP.

Clemson battled through a campaign in which it was routed by Georgia in the season opener and lost at home to Louisville and South Carolina.

To advance, the Tigers will have to play their best in what’s sure to be an unfriendly venue.

“It’s hard when you have everything against you, but it’s fun too,” said Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, a two-time national champion. “This is as good as it gets. Somebody asked me today, ‘What it’s going to be like?’ I said, ‘Well, it’s going to be like a normal road game, times a million.’”

Klubnik has completed 63.7 percent of his throws this season, racking up 3,303 yards and 33 touchdowns to just five interceptions. He’s added another 458 yards and seven TDs on the ground.

The Tigers’ junior signal-caller is from Austin and he was a prep star at Austin Westlake, the school that also produced quarterbacks Drew Brees and Nick Foles. Klubnik and Ewers went head-to-head in a high school state championship game, with Klubnik leading Westlake to the victory.

Ewers, who led Texas to the four-team CFP a year ago, threw for 2,665 yards and 25 TDs this season.

Swinney said Tuesday that Clemson running back Phil Mafah (1,106 rushing yards, eight rushing TDs in 2024) will play against the Longhorns despite a shoulder injury that will require surgery after the season.

“Mafah’s going to give us everything he’s got,” Swinney said. “He’s a guy we have to have play well for sure.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 7, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; DUPLICATE***Clemson Tigers cornerback Shelton Lewis (2)***Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) celebrates after winning the 2024 ACC Championship game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Meet the 12 CFP Title Contenders: No. 12 Clemson

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12. Clemson Tigers
10-3 (7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season)

What’s next: First-round at No. 5 seed Texas, Dec. 21

Head coach: Dabo Swinney (17th season, 180-46 overall)

About Swinney: The 55-year-old, who is 6-4 in the CFP, took over during the 2008 season and has won two national titles (2016, 2018). He will take the Tigers to the CFP the first time since the 2020 season and the seventh time overall.

Resume
The Tigers, the only three-loss team in the 12-team field, were in a must-win situation in the ACC championship game, prevailing on a last-second, 56-yard field goal to defeat SMU 34-31. Clemson lost two games to SEC opponents (Georgia and South Carolina) this season. The Tigers’ other defeat came at home to Louisville. The matchup with Texas will be Clemson’s first true road game against the SEC this season.

Postseason history
A nine-time winner of the ACC Championship Game, the Tigers notched a double-figure win total for the 13th time in the last 14 seasons. Along with its two national titles, Clemson reached the title game two other times (2019 and 2015). This will be the first Clemson-Texas matchup.

The road to Atlanta
It will be a tricky road for the Tigers to reach the CFP title game in Atlanta at a venue familiar to Clemson fans. The Tigers will take at least two and maybe three trips outside of their own time zone to qualify for the final.

Names to know
QB Cade Klubnik

Klubnik, a Texas native, has been taking snaps in crucial situations since a limited role as a freshman in 2022, when he rescued the Tigers in an ACC Championship victory vs. North Carolina.

Sporting a 19-8 career record as a starter, Klubnik has thrown for 3,303 yards and 33 touchdowns along with five interceptions this season. He tossed four TDs in the ACC title game Dec. 7 against SMU after receiving All-ACC honorable mention following the regular season.

“He’s battle-tested,” Swinney said. “He has got a lot of experience under his belt. He has had some failure, which has made him better.”

RB Phil Mafah

The senior has racked up 1,106 rushing yards with eight touchdowns this season and has 28 career scores. Mafah has averaged fewer than 17 carries per game, so he makes the most of his opportunities, and at 230 pounds he can be a load to bring down.

DE T.J. Parker
He’s been disruptive on a regular basis, racking up 19 tackles for loss (11 sacks) this season. The 265-pound sophomore helped set the tone in the ACC title game when the Tigers feasted on early SMU mistakes. Parker is tied for the Division I lead with six forced fumbles this season.

K Nolan Hauser

The freshman joined the Tigers this season with great acclaim and produced a career highlight with a 56-yard game-winning field goal — the longest in ACC title game history — to beat SMU at the buzzer.

–Field Level Media

Dec 7, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) runs during the second quarter against the Southern Methodist Mustangs in the 2024 ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Nolan Hauser’s FG sends No. 17 Clemson past No. 8 SMU as time expires

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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.

Before tying the game at 31-all, the Mustangs saw their deficit shrink thanks to Jennings’ 20-yard TD pass to Matthew Hibner and a 46-yard field goal from Collin Rogers.

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. Brashard Smith rushed for 113 yards on 24 carries, and Daniels finished with eight catches for 97 yards and the score.

SMU pulled within 24-14 with 11:04 left in the third quarter on a 10-yard TD pass from Jennings to Smith before the Tigers built their 31-14 lead.

It was all Clemson in the first half, as the Tigers took a 24-7 cushion into the break.

After Jennings lost a fumble on the game’s first drive, Klubnik opened the scoring with a 35-yard scoring strike to Wesco.

Briningstool made it 14-0 with 10:47 to play in the first quarter, grabbing a 5-yard TD.

SMU countered with a 75-yard drive, which ended when Jennings ran into the end zone from 24 yards out. But Clemson went the same distance on its ensuing possession, with Wesco scoring on a 43-yard reception.

The Tigers’ lead grew to 24-7 by halftime on Hauser’s 44-yard field goal with 5:22 left in the second quarter.

–Bob Sutton, Field Level Media