Dabo Swinney is rarely at a loss for words. After Swinney and the Clemson Tigers won Friday night’s ACC Championship Game to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff, he had a lot to say.
For much of the game, it looked as though the Tigers would handily defeat No. 8 SMU. But the Mustangs clawed back to erase a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit, tying the game with 16 seconds remaining. But following a 41-yard kickoff return from Adam Randall, the Tigers had a chance to go for the win in regulation. Cade Klubnik and Antonio Williams connected on a 17-yard pass, setting kicker Nolan Hauser up with a 56-yard field goal attempt as time expired.
He did not miss.
“GOOD. AT THE BUZZER. CLEMSON WINS THE ACC.”
Sean McDonough on the call for Nolan Hauser’s 56-yard field goal as time expired.
The Tigers won the ACC Championship and are headed to the CFP. pic.twitter.com/Sx6f0uPq0I
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 8, 2024
In the commotion, Swinney was interviewed by Molly McGrath. Sharing the views of Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy, who called the game for ABC, Swinney quickly made it clear that he felt SMU belonged in the CFP.
“What a game,” Swinney said. “Listen. That’s a playoff football team. SMU, they better be in the dang playoffs. What a comeback by those guys.”
“Listen. That’s a playoff football team. SMU, they better be in the dang playoffs. What a comeback by those guys.”
Dabo Swinney on SMU pic.twitter.com/rNAvG0evAM
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 8, 2024
Later in the interview, McGrath brought up how much things have changed for the Tigers since their CFP hopes season were seemingly squashed with a 17-14 loss to South Carolina in the final game of the regular season.
“We all thought that the door closed on us,” Swinney said. “But this was God’s plan for us. That’s all I can tell you. God just opened the door and they fought their butts off.”
Swinney continued, quoting Lloyd Christmas, the character played by Jim Carrey in the 1994 movie, Dumb and Dumber.
“Now we got a chance,” he said. “I think Lloyd Christmas said it best. ‘So you’re saying there’s a chance.'”
“Now we got a chance. I think Lloyd Christmas said it best. ‘So you’re saying there’s a chance.'”
Dabo Swinney on Clemson’s chances in the CFP. pic.twitter.com/XaIg24jfBx
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 8, 2024
Clemson owes that chance to Syracuse. Following the loss to the Gamecocks, the Tigers were not likely to get an at-large bid into the CFP. They still had a chance to reach the ACC Championship Game but needed an unranked Syracuse to upset No. 6 Miami. Those chances seemingly died when the Hurricanes jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the second quarter. But Syracuse got back into the game and eventually completed the upset with a come-from-behind win. After the game, Orange coach Fran Brown shouted Swinney out, telling the Clemson coach, “Congrats, I got you in, baby!”
As the Tigers were receiving the ACC Championship Trophy, Swinney returned the shoutout to Brown.
“I wanna go right back at Fran Brown and give Fran Brown a shoutout. We appreciate the opportunity to be here tonight,” Swinney said.
Dabo Swinney: “I wanna go right back at Fran Brown and give Fran Brown a shoutout. We appreciate the opportunity to be here tonight.” pic.twitter.com/AWvTRIGHNS
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 8, 2024
Swinney then continued to advocate for SMU’s place in the playoff.
“This was a championship game. Hey, I want to congratulate SMU and Rhett Lashlee. There’s no way they shouldn’t be in the playoffs. Both of these teams deserve to head to the playoffs. It was a great, great performance by SMU.”
We will learn on Sunday if the College Football Playoff Committee shares Swinney’s view on the Mustangs. Regardless of how that turns out, Saturday night was quite eventful for Clemson’s football coach.
