Clemson Edges SMU in High-Scoring ACC Matchup
Clemson defeated SMU 34-31 in Week 15, covering the 3-point spread in a competitive contest that exceeded the over-under of 56 points.
The Tigers dominated early, jumping to a 21-7 first-quarter lead behind quarterback Cade Klubnik, who connected with Bryant Wesco Jr. for two touchdown passes of 43 and 35 yards. Clemson's offense controlled the first half before SMU mounted a fourth-quarter comeback, cutting the deficit to three points.
Klubnik led Clemson's passing attack with 262 yards. The high-octane first quarter featured multiple explosive plays, with SMU's defense recording several high-impact defensive stops early in the game. Despite the defensive struggles early, SMU fought back with Kevin Jennings scoring a rushing touchdown and later connecting with Matthew Hibner for a fourth-quarter touchdown reception.
The game remained competitive throughout, with two lead changes and a maximum win probability swing of 53.3 percentage points, indicating tight competition down the stretch. Hibner led SMU receivers with 69 yards, while Jennings rushed for 35 yards. Clemson's balanced offensive attack proved sufficient to secure the road victory.
AI-generated recap · Aug 26, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Clemson | 21 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
 SMU | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 31 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Clemson | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 24-41 | 32-52 |
| Pass Yards | 262 | 319 |
| Rush Yards | 63 | 149 |
| Total Yards | 325 | 468 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| 3rd Down | 7-17 | 8-17 |
| Penalties | 0-0 | 6-65 |
| Possession | 31:50 | 27:51 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Brashard Smith run for 13 yds to the SMU 38 for a 1ST down
Brashard Smith run for 3 yds to the SMU 41
Kevin Jennings sacked by T.J. Parker for a loss of 8 yards to the SMU 33 Kevin Jennings fumbled, forced by T.J. Parker, recovered by CLEM T.J. Parker , return for 0 yards
Cade Klubnik sacked by Elijah Roberts for a loss of 2 yards to the SMU 35
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 35 yds for a TD (Nolan Hauser KICK)
Brashard Smith run for a loss of 1 yard to the SMU 24
Roderick Daniels Jr. pass incomplete to Romello Brinson
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Roderick Daniels Jr.
Isaac Pearson punt for 40 yds , Antonio Williams returns for 21 yds to the SMU 45 SMU Penalty, Personal Foul (-15 Yards) to the SMU 28
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 11 yds to the SMU 17 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to T.J. Moore for 12 yds to the SMU 5 for a 1ST down
Phil Mafah run for no gain to the SMU 5
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Jake Briningstool for 5 yds for a TD (Nolan Hauser KICK)
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Roderick Daniels Jr.
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Moochie Dixon for 12 yds to the SMU 37 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Moochie Dixon for 15 yds to the CLEM 48 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Jordan Hudson for 1 yd to the CLEM 47
Brashard Smith run for 10 yds to the CLEM 37 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Brashard Smith
Brashard Smith run for 2 yds to the CLEM 35
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Romello Brinson for 10 yds to the CLEM 25 for a 1ST down
Brashard Smith run for 1 yd to the CLEM 24
Kevin Jennings run for 24 yds for a TD (Collin Rogers KICK)
Jay Haynes run for 2 yds to the CLEM 27
Cade Klubnik run for 6 yds to the CLEM 33
Cade Klubnik run for 3 yds to the CLEM 36 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Jake Briningstool
Jay Haynes run for a loss of 1 yard to the CLEM 35
Klubnik, Cade pass incomplete to Williams, Antonio, PENALTY SMU roughing passer 15 yards to the 50 yardline, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN CLEMSON.
Jay Haynes run for 3 yds to the SMU 47
Jay Haynes run for 4 yds to the SMU 43
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 43 yds for a TD (Nolan Hauser KICK)
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Roderick Daniels Jr. for 18 yds to the SMU 43 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete
Brashard Smith run for 1 yd to the SMU 44
Kevin Jennings pass intercepted Khalil Barnes return for no gain to the SMU 47
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Jake Briningstool
Jay Haynes run for 7 yds to the SMU 40
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Jake Briningstool for 8 yds to the SMU 32 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Antonio Williams for a loss of 1 yard to the SMU 33
Cade Klubnik pass complete to T.J. Moore for 8 yds to the SMU 25
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to T.J. Moore
Nolan Hauser 44 yd FG MISSED
Brashard Smith run for 13 yds to the SMU 38 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Roderick Daniels Jr. for 19 yds to the CLEM 43 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Jordan Hudson for 9 yds to the CLEM 34
Brashard Smith run for 2 yds to the CLEM 32 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Roderick Daniels Jr. for a loss of 6 yards to the CLEM 38
Kevin Jennings sacked by Cade Denhoff for a loss of 1 yard to the CLEM 39
Brashard Smith run for 3 yds to the CLEM 36
Collin Rogers 53 yd FG MISSED
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Antonio Williams for no gain to the CLEM 36
Cade Klubnik run for 14 yds to the 50 yard line Cade Klubnik fumbled, forced by Ahmaad Moses, recovered by CLEM Jake Briningstool , return to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Jay Haynes for 3 yds to the SMU 47
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Jake Briningstool
Aidan Swanson punt for 39 yds, downed at the SMU 8
Brashard Smith run for 9 yds to the SMU 17
Brashard Smith run for no gain to the SMU 17
Brashard Smith run for no gain to the SMU 17
Isaac Pearson punt for 42 yds, fair catch by Antonio Williams at the CLEM 41 SMU Penalty, Personal Foul (-15 Yards) to the SMU 44
Cade Klubnik run for 3 yds to the SMU 41
Phil Mafah run for 5 yds to the SMU 36
Phil Mafah run for 4 yds to the SMU 32 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 7 yds to the SMU 25
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Phil Mafah
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to T.J. Moore
Nolan Hauser 44 yd FG GOOD
Brashard Smith run for 20 yds to the SMU 45 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Moochie Dixon
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Jordan Hudson for 5 yds to the 50 yard line
Kevin Jennings run for a loss of 3 yards to the SMU 47
Isaac Pearson punt for 47 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the CLEM 6
Phil Mafah run for 8 yds to the CLEM 14
Phil Mafah run for a loss of 4 yards to the CLEM 10
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Bryant Wesco Jr.
Aidan Swanson punt for 49 yds , Roderick Daniels Jr. returns for no gain to the SMU 41 Roderick Daniels Jr. fumbled, recovered by SMU
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Romello Brinson for 9 yds to the 50 yard line
Brashard Smith run for 5 yds to the CLEM 45 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Brashard Smith
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Matthew Hibner for 6 yds to the CLEM 39
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Jordan Hudson for 4 yds to the CLEM 35 for a 1ST down
Jennings, Kevin pass incomplete to Dixon, Moochie, PENALTY SMU ineligible downfield on pass 5 yards to the CLEMSON40, NO PLAY.
Kevin Jennings run for a loss of 1 yard to the CLEM 41
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Brashard Smith
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Key'Shawn Smith
Isaac Pearson punt for 40 yds, downed at the CLEM 1
Cade Klubnik run for no gain to the CLEM 1
Cade Klubnik run for 1 yd to the CLEM 2
Cade Klubnik run for 2 yds to the CLEM 4
End of 2nd Quarter
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Cole Turner
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 16 yds to the CLEM 32 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Antonio Williams
Cade Klubnik run for 1 yd to the CLEM 33
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Bryant Wesco Jr.
Aidan Swanson punt for 41 yds, downed at the SMU 26
Kevin Jennings run for 1 yd to the SMU 27
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Romello Brinson for 12 yds to the SMU 39 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Romello Brinson for 6 yds to the SMU 45
Kevin Jennings run for 6 yds to the CLEM 49 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Roderick Daniels Jr. for 37 yds to the CLEM 12 for a 1ST down
Brashard Smith run for 2 yds to the CLEM 10
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Brashard Smith for 10 yds for a TD (Collin Rogers KICK)
Phil Mafah run for 4 yds to the CLEM 15
Cade Klubnik pass complete to T.J. Moore for 12 yds to the CLEM 27 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 8 yds to the CLEM 35
Phil Mafah run for 4 yds to the CLEM 39 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Bryant Wesco Jr.
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 15 yds to the SMU 46 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Jake Briningstool for 5 yds to the SMU 41
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Cole Turner for a loss of 1 yard to the SMU 42
Cade Klubnik sacked by Jahfari Harvey and Cameron Robertson for a loss of 10 yards to the CLEM 48
Aidan Swanson punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Roderick Daniels Jr. at the SMU 13
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Roderick Daniels Jr. for a loss of 3 yards to the SMU 10
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Key'Shawn Smith
Isaac Pearson punt for 48 yds, fair catch by Antonio Williams at the CLEM 42
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Jake Briningstool
Phil Mafah run for 1 yd to the CLEM 43
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Antonio Williams for 32 yds to the SMU 25 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Josh Sapp for 10 yds to the SMU 15 for a 1ST down
Phil Mafah run for 4 yds to the SMU 11
Cade Klubnik run for 5 yds to the SMU 6
Phil Mafah run for 2 yds to the SMU 4 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik run for 2 yds to the SMU 2
Phil Mafah run for a loss of 3 yards to the SMU 5
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Jake Briningstool for 5 yds for a TD (Nolan Hauser KICK)
Kevin Jennings run for 8 yds to the SMU 33
Brashard Smith run for 1 yd to the SMU 34
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Roderick Daniels Jr. for a loss of 48 yards to the SMU 48 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Matthew Hibner for 30 yds to the CLEM 22 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Key'Shawn Smith
Kevin Jennings run for 2 yds to the CLEM 20
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Matthew Hibner for 20 yds for a TD (Collin Rogers KICK)
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Phil Mafah for 2 yds to the CLEM 27
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to T.J. Moore
Cade Klubnik sacked by Jared Harrison-Hunte for a loss of 8 yards to the CLEM 19
Aidan Swanson punt for 45 yds , Roderick Daniels Jr. returns for 9 yds to the SMU 45
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete
Brashard Smith run for 4 yds to the SMU 49
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Brashard Smith
Isaac Pearson punt for 51 yds for a touchback
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Antonio Williams for 2 yds to the CLEM 22
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to T.J. Moore
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Aidan Swanson punt for 28 yds, downed at the 50 yard line
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Romello Brinson for 8 yds to the CLEM 42
Brashard Smith run for 4 yds to the CLEM 38 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings run for 7 yds to the CLEM 31
Brashard Smith run for 5 yds to the CLEM 26 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Romello Brinson for 6 yds to the CLEM 20
SMU Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the CLEM 25
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Matthew Hibner
Jennings, Kevin pass complete to Smith, Key'Shawn for 1 yard to the CLEMSON24, PENALTY SMU holding 10 yards to the CLEMSON35, NO PLAY.
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Brashard Smith for 6 yds to the CLEM 29
Collin Rogers 46 yd FG GOOD
Cade Klubnik run for 3 yds to the CLEM 28
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 8 yds to the CLEM 36 for a 1ST down
Phil Mafah run for 3 yds to the CLEM 39
Phil Mafah run for no gain to the CLEM 39
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Antonio Williams
Aidan Swanson punt for 40 yds, fair catch by Roderick Daniels Jr. at the SMU 21
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Jordan Hudson
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Matthew Hibner for 5 yds to the SMU 26
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Brashard Smith for 7 yds to the SMU 33 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Roderick Daniels Jr. for 14 yds to the SMU 47 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Moochie Dixon
Brashard Smith run for 6 yds to the CLEM 47
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Brashard Smith for 7 yds to the CLEM 40 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Brashard Smith for no gain to the CLEM 40
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Key'Shawn Smith for 13 yds to the CLEM 27 for a 1ST down
Brashard Smith run for 5 yds to the CLEM 22
Brashard Smith run for 4 yds to the CLEM 18
Brashard Smith run for 2 yds to the CLEM 16 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Key'Shawn Smith
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Brashard Smith for 4 yds to the CLEM 12
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Matthew Hibner for 8 yds to the CLEM 4 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Roderick Daniels Jr. for 4 yds for a TD (Collin Rogers KICK)
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Antonio Williams for 17 yds to the SMU 38 for a 1ST down
Nolan Hauser 56 yd FG GOOD