Conference championship weekend did not disappoint as teams across the country looked to punch their ticket to the inaugural College Football Playoff. Recap the action from the chaos on championship weekend below:
No. 17 Clemson wins ACC title on walk-off field goal over No. 8 SMU
Clemson upset No. 8 SMU in the ACC championship on a walk-off 56-yard field goal— the longest field goal in ACC championship history.
This is the Tigers' eighth ACC title in 10 years, and Dabo Swinney's squad has likely secured a bid to the College Football Playoff.
Clemson jumped out to a 24-7 lead at the break, powered by two SMU turnovers. The Mustangs out-gained the Tigers 193 to 186 in the first 30 minutes, but SMU had little to show for it.
It appeared as though Clemson was going to run away with the title, but SMU found its groove in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 unanswered points to tie the game 31-31 with just 16 seconds to play. Probability would say this game was destined for OT, but Clemson's Adam Randall returned the Mustang's kickoff 41 yards, putting the Tigers just a pass away from the edge of field goal range.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik connected with Antonio Williams for 17 yards on first down, setting up kicker Nolan Hauser's game-winning field goal from the midfield logo.
. CALLED GAME! TIGERS WIN!
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB)
Clemson has all but guaranteed a bid to the playoffs with the win, and SMU put up a serious fight in its first season in the ACC. It will be interesting to see how the CFP committee views this effort from the Mustangs when the final decisions are released tomorrow.
No. 5 Georgia wins SEC title, defeating No. 2 Texas 22-19 in OT
Georgia has secured the SEC title, defeating Texas 22-19 in the first overtime game in SEC championship history.
The Bulldogs have likely secured a spot as a top-four seed in the College Football Playoff as they took down the Longhorns for the second time this season. Texas will likely still earn a berth in the 12-team playoff as an at-large bid, holding just two total losses.
This game was a defensive battle, as Texas led 6-3 heading into the break. The Longhorns out-gained Georgia 260 to 54 total yards in the first 30 minutes of play, but Texas was unable to convert in the red zone, connecting on two field goals and missing another.
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck was injured on the final play of the first half, forcing Kirby Smart to toss in backup quarterback Gunner Stockton for the second half. The Bulldogs drove 75 yards for a touchdown to open the second half, more than doubling their yards in the first half of play.
The Longhorns responded early in the fourth quarter as Quinn Ewers connected with DeAndre Moore for a 41-yard touchdown catch, tying the game 13-13. Each team would trade field goals in the final five minutes of play, forcing the first overtime in SEC championship history.
The Bulldogs won the toss and elected to defend as they prepared for their second-straight week in overtime after an 8OT thriller against Georgia Tech the week before.
Texas settled for a field goal on its first possession in OT, giving Georgia an opportunity to win the game with a touchdown.
The Bulldogs pushed the ball inside the five-yard line before Trevor Etienne punched it in for the win from the four.
Each defense was swarming all night, as the two teams combined for 25 tackles for loss, nine sacks and five total turnovers. The Longhorns tallied 358 yards through the air to Georgia's 136, but the Bulldogs ran for 141 total yards to Texas' 31.
Georgia and Texas will now wait for the College Football Playoff committee to decide where they will be placed in the inaugural 12-team playoff.
No. 10 Boise State wins Mountain West title
No. 10 Boise State secured its second straight Mountain West Conference championship on Friday, beating No. 20 UNLV, 21-7, behind another Heisman-like performance from running back Ashton Jeanty.
Additionally, the Broncos' win likely secures an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff. Boise State was seeded No. 4 going into the week's games.
The first half was all Boise State. Up 21-0 and recording 246 yards, the Broncos got everything they wanted and more before halftime.
The Rebels sat on the other end of the spectrum, producing just 78 yards and a 1 for 6 third down conversion percentage.
Jeanty put the final exclamation point of the second half, breaking away for a 75-yard rushing touchdown on the first play of the drive. He finished with 209 rushing yards and the touchdown.
ASHTON JEANTY 75-YARDS TO THE HOUSE 💨
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport)
14 carries, 132 yds, 1 TD in the 1st half 😤
UNLV kept Boise State scoreless in the second half and orchestrated a nine-play, 81-yard touchdown drive in the fourth, but the Rebels couldn’t sustain the momentum enough to mount a complete comeback.
Arizona State takes Big 12, blows out Iowa State
In its biggest matchup of the season, No. 15 Arizona State rose to the occasion, winning the Big 12 crown over No. 16 Iowa State, 45-19 — its third-biggest margin of victory of the year. They secured the program’s first outright conference title since 1996.
The Sun Devils kept their foot on gas pedals all game, putting points on the board in seven of 11 drives. The first half was all running back Cam Skattebo, bouncing off defenders like a pinball and rushing for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
Although the Cyclones kept above water level in the first quarter behind 10 straight points, Iowa State found itself down 24-10 by the break.
Arizona State broke the doors off its hinges in the third quarter, scoring on three straight forced turnovers to start the second half. Iowa State got back on the board in the fourth with a touchdown and field goal, but the contest’s result was already set in stone.
In their first year as a member of the Big 12, the Sun Devils bounced back from 3-9 records in both 2022 and 2023 to likely secure a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff. In Tuesday's rankings show, the Sun Devils were the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion (projected) and were the No. 12 seed.
