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Booger McFarland gives surprising College Football Playoff take on Alabama vs. non-ACC champion SMU

Wade-Peeryby: Wade Peery12/08/24
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Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The SMU Mustangs and Clemson Tigers are battling it out on Saturday night in the ACC Championship. And Clemson is currently throttling the Mustangs, leading 24-7 at halftime. And that has plenty of people on social media already debating. If SMU loses on Saturday night, will Alabama be in the upcoming College Football Playoff or will the Mustangs be in?

ESPN’s Booger McFarland gave his take on the matter during halftime. “I’m not going to penalize SMU in that game, Kev. They’re playing for a conference championship. And in this scenario, I’ll put SMU in. Alabama will be out. And everybody in the South will be mad at Boog,” McFarland explained.

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SMU battled back in the second half, to ensure they bolstered their chances to make the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Mustangs lost 34-31, in an absolute classic, after Clemson drilled a 56-yard field goal at the buzzer to clinch their spot in the College Football Playoffs. SMU outscored the Tigers 17-3 in the fourth quarter, making for a thrilling finish. And a beautiful end to the college football regular season.

Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings completed 31 of 50 passes for 304 passing yards, while tossing in three touchdowns and just one interception. SMU running back Brashard Smith had 24 carries for 113 yards. It was an impressive comeback for the Mustangs, and they battled valiantly until the end.

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Trailing 31-14 with 23 seconds left in the third quarter, SMU rattled off 17 straight points to tie the game up with 16 seconds remaining. Kevin Jennings connected with Roderick Daniels, Jr. on a four-yard touchdown toss to make it 31-31.

But Clemson was able to answer in the final seconds of the game thanks to a big kick return. That put them in position for a Nolan Hauser 56-yard field goal. He drilled it right down the middle of the uprights as time expired, finding freon coursing through his veins in crunch time.

We’ll have to wait and see what the committee decides on Sunday at noon EST. One thing is for certain. Either the SMU Mustangs or the Alabama Crimson Tide are going to be upset after their Sunday selection show.