No. 18 Clemson (9-3, 7-1 ACC, No. 17 CFP) vs. No. 8 Southern Methodist (11-1, 8-0, No. 11) at Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, 8 p.m. EST (ABC)
BetMGM College Football Odds: SMU by 2 1/2.
Series record: First meeting.
SMU faces a simple scenario: win and complete a perfect first run through its new league home, along with likely first-round bye in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Clemson needs to win to make the CFP, which would then raise at least the question of whether a losing SMU team would make the ACC a two-bid league.
SMU QB Kevin Jennings vs. Clemson secondary: Jennings made his first start as SMU’s quarterback in last year’s American Athletic Conference championship game after Preston Stone broke his left leg in the regular-season finale. Jennings has thrown for 2,746 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing two-thirds of his passes (196 of 294). He's also the team’s second-leading rusher with 344 yards and four TDs. Clemson's defense loves to play man-to-man, but Jennings has been very good beating that all season.
Clemson: QB Cade Klubnik has had breakout season with a career-high 29 touchdown passes. He’s also excelled with his running ability with six rushing TDs, including a 50-yard scoring run with 1:16 left at Pitt for a 24-20 win three games ago that ultimately got Clemson into the ACC title game.
SMU: RB Brashard Smith has run for 1,157 yards and 14 touchdowns this season and should present a formidable challenge for the Tigers. He also has 29 catches for 269 yards and three scores, so he is a threat coming out of the backfield.
Clemson is playing in its ACC-record 10th league title game. … Tigers are 8-1 in the previous nine, the lone loss under Dabo Swinney coming to Georgia Tech in 2009. … Clemson reached the ACC title game after Miami was upset by Syracuse last week. ... Klubnik was MVP of Clemson’s 39-10 victory over North Carolina in the Tigers' last title game appearance in 2022. … Clemson is seeking its 31st victory over an AP Top 10 opponent in No. 8 SMU. … Clemson has had six games where it has rushed for 200 yards and thrown for 200 yards. ... SMU has won nine games in a row, all since Jennings took over as the starting quarterback. ... The Mustangs have averaged 40.8 points a game during that stretch, all since an 18-15 home loss to 10-win BYU from the Big 12 on Sept. 6 in their third game.
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Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) rushes for a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Sam Schroder has won his fourth consecutive quad wheelchair title at the Australian Open after defeating fellow Dutchman Niels Vink 7-6 (7), 7-5 on Saturday.
Second-ranked Vink went into the match with a 23-12 won-lost record against the top-ranked Schroder.
“I think it’s very special for me to once again having won a tournament,” Schroder said. “After the first one, you want the second one. Unbelievable to have won the fourth one. It’s really crazy when I think about it.”
There are three categories in wheelchair tennis — men, women and quads, with each category having singles and doubles tournaments. The quad is the newest division and for players who have substantial loss of function in at least one upper limb, and which may also include various other disabilities besides quadriplegia.
In the women’s singles final, Yui Kamiji of Japan beat Dutch player Aniek van Koot 6-2, 6-2. The later men's wheelchair singles final was a rematch of the final from the last two years, with Japan’s Tokito Oda taking on Britain’s Alfie Hewett.
In the junior girls title match, Vitoria Miranda of Brazil recovered from being shut out in the opening set to beat American Sabina Czauz 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4). In the boys final, American Charlie Cooper beat Alexander Lantermann of Belgium 6-2, 6-2.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Yui Kamui of Japan plays a backhand return to Aniek Van Koot of the Netherlands in the women's wheelchair final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Aniek Van Koot of the Netherlands plays a forehand return to Yui Kamui of Japan in the women's wheelchair final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Aniek Van Koot of the Netherlands plays a forehand return to Yui Kamui of Japan in the women's wheelchair final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Sam Schroder of the Netherlands celebrates after defeating compatriot Niels Vink in the men's quad wheelchair final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Sam Schroder, right, of the Netherlands is congratulated by compatriot Niels Vink after winning the men's quad wheelchair final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Sam Schroder of the Netherlands poses with his trophy after defeating compatriot Niels Vink in the men's quad wheelchair final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Yui Kamui of Japan plays a forehand return to Aniek Van Koot of the Netherlands in the women's wheelchair final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Sam Schroder of the Netherlands poses with his trophy after defeating compatriot Niels Vink in the men's quad wheelchair final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
