Hauser kicks #Clemson into the CFP with 56-yarder at the buzzer, Tigers 34-SMU 31 for ACC Title (AUDIO/VIDEO)

**Nolan Hauser with the 56 yard game-winner that sent Clemson to the CFP (Clemson Athletics)**

Story by Nikki Hood

CHARLOTTE: – Welcome home, Nolan Hauser. Welcome home.

After all the kicking woes Clemson and Hauser have faced this season, all the freshman needed was to come back home to Charlotte to nail a 56-yard field – an ACC Championship Game record – as time expired to clinch the championship and punch Clemson’s ticket to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020.

With 20 seconds remaining, Adam Randall – who was in for an injured Jay Haynes – returned the kickoff 41 yards to the 45-yard line. Cade Klubnik then completed a quick 17-yard pass to Antonio Williams to set up Hauser’s heroics.

This was the first walk-off win in ACC Championship Game history.

Klubnik completed 24-of-41 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns. Bryant Wesco led all receivers with eight catches for 143 yards and two scores.

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings completed 32-of-51 passes for 310 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also had 35 yards rushing and a touchdown.

The Mustangs outgained Clemson 458 to 326 in total yardage.

For the second consecutive week, TJ Parker sacked the quarterback jarring the ball loose and recovered the fumble on the opponent’s opening drive. This time, however, the Tigers took advantage of the turnover with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Klubnik to Wesco for a quick 7-0 Clemson lead with 13:35 to play in the first quarter.

The forced fumble was Parkers’ sixth of the season breaking the previous record of five in 2009 by Brandon Maye.

Clemson’s defense forced a three-and-out on SMU’s second possession. Williams returned the ball 17 yards to the 43, but a 15-yard unnecessary roughness flag moved the ball to the 28. A pop pass to Wesco picked up 11 yards and Klubnik hit Moore in the middle of the of the field for another 12 yards. Two plays later, Klubnik hit Briningstool on a screen and Briningstool weaved five yards to the endzone for a 14-0 Clemson lead with 10:47 to go in the opening quarter.

The quarterback run continued to be a bugaboo for Clemson’s defense for the second week. SMU finally found a rhythm on its third possession, and quarterback Kevin Jennings went untouched through Clemson’s defense for a 24-yard touchdown run to cut the Tigers’ lead to 14-7 at the 7:05 mark in the first quarter.

A roughing the passer call on third-and-long kept Clemson’s next drive alive. Following the penalty, Jay Haynes had two carries before Klubnik stepped up in the pocket to give himself time to thread the needle between two Mustang to Wesco who bounced off the would-be tackler for a 43-yard touchdown and a 21-7 Clemson lead with 3:28 to go in the first quarter.

With his third passing touchdown of the night, Klubnik became the first player to throw three touchdowns in a quarter in ACC Championship Game history.

After missing an earlier 44-yard attempt, Hauser rebounded with a make with 5:22 to play before halftime to give Clemson a 24-7 lead. The scoring drive covered 19 yards in seven plays and took 2:15 off the clock.

Clemson punted on its first possession of the second half, but SMU came out roaring marching 74 yards down the field in seven plays capped off by a touchdown pass to a wide open Brashard Smith.

The Tigers finally put together a scoring drive late in the third quarter. Facing a third-and-nine, Klubnik hit Williams on a slant for a 32-yard pickup to the 25-yard line. On the next play, Josh Sapp caught a pass for 10 yards. On second-and-goal from the two, Phil Mafah lost three yards on a stretch play, but Klubnik found Briningstool just inside the goal line for a touchdown and a 31-14 lead with 23 seconds to play in the third quarter.

SMU answered with a seven-play drive that saw a triple flea flicker for a 30-yard pickup to the 22-yard line. Three plays later, Jennings hit Matthew Hibner for a 20-yard touchdown to cut Clemson’s lead back to 10 at 31-21 with 13:22 to play.

The Mustangs added a 46-yard field goal with 6:56 remaining to cut Clemson’s lead to just seven points at 31-24.

Jennings kept SMU’s hopes alive with first down throws three separate times as he led the Mustangs 79 yards down the field in 16 plays to tie Clemson at 31-31 with 16 seconds to play. Jennings found Roderick Daniels, Jr. for a four-yard touchdown pass.