Some games leave a scar. They become part of a program's DNA, a moment replayed in the collective memory of fans and players alike, fueling an offseason of "what ifs." For SMU, that moment was a 56-yard field goal sailing through the uprights in Charlotte as time expired.
Now, the rematch is here.
Less than a year after Clemson snatched the 2024 ACC Championship from their grasp in a Hollywood finish , the SMU Mustangs will walk into the one place in the ACC they have yet to visit: Death Valley. On Saturday afternoon, the Tigers and Mustangs won't just be playing for conference positioning; they'll be settling a score in one of the most anticipated rematches of the college football season.
After a shaky start to the 2025 campaign, Clemson (3-3) has found its footing with back-to-back road wins. SMU (4-2), meanwhile, has been nearly perfect in conference play since joining the ACC, with one glaring exception: a 1-0 record in Clemson's favor. This isn't just a game; it's a battle for ACC supremacy between the two winningest programs in the league since the Mustangs' arrival.
Get ready for a clash that promises drama, history, and a little bit of revenge. Here's everything you need to know.
How to Watch: Clemson vs. SMU
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 18
- Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ACC Network
- Announcers: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Steve Addazio (analyst), Dana Boyle (sideline)
How to Listen
- Clemson Radio: Clemson Athletic Network (Don Munson, Tim Bourret, Reggie Merriweather)
- National Radio: Westwood One Sports (Nate Westwoodh Gatter, Derek Rackley)
- Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 106 or 193
Top Storylines to Watch
1. The Rematch of a Classic
You couldn't have scripted a better ending to the 2024 ACC Championship Game. After Clemson jumped out to a 24-7 halftime lead, SMU staged a furious comeback, tying the game 31-31 with just 16 seconds left. It looked like overtime was a certainty.
But then, chaos. A 41-yard kickoff return by Adam Randall and a quick 17-yard pass from Cade Klubnik set up freshman kicker Nolan Hauser for a moment of destiny. Hauser drilled a 56-yard field goal—the longest in ACC Championship Game history—as time expired to give Clemson a 34-31 walk-off win. It was a gut-punch for the Mustangs and a legendary moment for the Tigers. Now, SMU enters Memorial Stadium for the first time ever, looking to exorcise the ghosts of that Charlotte night.
2. SMU's ACC Kryptonite
Since joining the ACC prior to the 2024 season, SMU has been a wrecking ball. The Mustangs are a combined 10-0 against every ACC opponent they have faced... except one. Their only conference loss came in that championship thriller against Clemson. The Tigers are the only program to hand SMU an ACC loss in the Mustangs' two seasons of membership. This game is SMU's chance to prove they can finally solve their Clemson problem and assert themselves as the undisputed power in the conference. For Clemson, it's about re-establishing the league hierarchy and proving that the path to the ACC title still runs through Death Valley.
3. Dabo's Déjà Vu
This game carries a strange and powerful sense of history for Clemson's head coach. By a remarkable coincidence, Saturday's contest falls on the 17th anniversary of Dabo Swinney's first-ever game as head coach—a 21-17 home loss to Georgia Tech on October 18, 2008. It's the latest stop on what's become a nostalgia tour for Swinney this month. On Oct. 4, he coached his 300th total game at Clemson, and on Oct. 11, the Tigers won at Boston College, the very site of his first head coaching victory back in 2008. Will this anniversary bring another milestone, or will SMU play spoiler on a date etched in Swinney's personal history?