Five Takeaways from Clemson’s College Football Playoff sealing ACC Championship win

Clemson football’s 34-31 victory over No. 8 SMU in the ACC Championship delivered one of the most dramatic finishes in program history.

Freshman kicker Nolan Hauser nailed a record-breaking 56-yard field goal as time expired, securing the Tigers’ College Football Playoff berth. The kick came after SMU tied the game with just 16 seconds left, but Adam Randall’s electrifying 45-yard kickoff return and Cade Klubnik’s sharp 17-yard pass to Antonio Williams set the stage. Klubnik was pivotal, throwing for 262 yards and four touchdowns, while Bryant Wesco shined with 134 receiving yards and two scores.

Despite a strong comeback from SMU’s Kevin Jennings, Clemson maintained its poise and proved to everyone they belong in the first 12-team College Football Playoff. Here are five takeaways from Clemson’s massive ACC Championship win.

There’s not denying freshman kicker Nolan Hauser etched his name in as a legend of the program with that 56-yard game winner. The magnitude of that kick is wildly significant, even if Clemson were to lose in the first round of the College Football Playoff. A win like this can get a program back on track, as it allows Swinney and the Tigers to make a run and reap the benefits of what comes from it.

Beyond what it does for Clemson, this could do wonders for Hauser’s career. The clutch shown hitting this kick was ridiculous and it could be the spark plug behind a fantastic run with the Tigers. What a kick and what a moment for Hauser.