Alabama football fans will be locked into the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship Game this weekend as an opportunity for the Crimson Tide to enter the 12-team College Football Playoff hinges on the matchup.
Clemson battles Southern Methodist University (SMU) in a marquee contest to get into the playoff field. Dabo Swinney of Clemson has the coaching advantage in this conference title showdown, but he’s also been in the CFP before with national championships in 2016 and 2018.
The Tigers have a good team, but does SMU have better pieces to topple them and send Alabama into the playoff as the at-large bid? The Mustangs have one of the best offenses in college football.
SMU does not have the “Pony Express” of Eric Dickerson and Craig James in the backfield; however, it has an attack that’s put it in position for a playoff spot. Kevin Jennings, SMU’s starting quarterback, has 23 total touchdowns to seven interceptions. The Mustangs have a 1,000-plus yard running back (Brashard Smith) and five players with 20-plus catches from a receiving aspect.
SMU has nothing but speed offensively to a tune of averaging 39.2 points per game. It had a good offense, but the Mustangs also have a defense that’s allowed 30 or more points only once this season.
SMU has allowed 19.8 points per game.
What are Alabama football’s chances to make playoff if SMU loses
Kobe Wilson, a senior linebacker, has a team-high 95 total tackles, while Jahfari Harvey and Isaiah Smith are the leaders in tackles for loss and sacks.
SMU has a productive secondary that forces takeaways as the Mustangs have 15 interceptions, including 10 from its secondary.
Clemson’s defense gives up a little more than SMU’s, allowing 21.6 points a game.
The Tigers possess a good offense with Cade Klubnik at quarterback. He has 3,041 passing yards and 36 total touchdowns. Clemson has a 1,000-plus running back (Phil Mafah) and five receiving options with 20-plus catches. Antonio Williams, a senior, leads the offense with 66 receptions for 788 yards and 10 touchdowns. T.J. Parker is Clemson’s leader for sacks (10) and tackles for loss (15.5), while Sammy Brown has 10.5 tackles for loss.
Clemson’s secondary accounts for 11 of the team’s 14 interceptions.
Both teams are even, so it will come down to coaching. Alabama needs SMU to be on point and pull out a victory to send it to the 12-team playoff.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
