Watch: Clemson wins ACC championship on walk-off field goal

Clemson Tigers placekicker Nolan Hauser (81). Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Watch: Clemson wins ACC championship on walk-off 56-yard field goal

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Dec 7, 2024 11:56 PM ET

It probably was not the way they drew it up, but the Clemson Tigers are the 2024 ACC champions and on their way to the College Football Playoff, thanks to a 34-31 win over SMU on Saturday night.

It was a game that featured one of the best finishes of the season, including a walk-off 56-yard field goal from kicker Nolan Hauser.

He absolutely drilled it.

Have a look.

.@nolanhauser CALLED GAME! TIGERS WIN! https://t.co/afPgKzB8SY pic.twitter.com/9a5zypOar0
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 8, 2024

That ending came after SMU had erased a 31-14 fourth-quarter deficit, tying the game with just 16 seconds to play in regulation.

But following that touchdown, Clemson was able to get a 41-yard kickoff return from Adam Randall to put itself in a position to get into field goal range.

That happened when quarterback Cade Klubnik found Antonio Williams on a 17-yard pass to the SMU 38-yard line.

That set the stage for Hauser to make the biggest kick of his career. People will be talking about that one at Clemson for years.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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