Just one more game week, and we are into the playoffs. However, conference championships are on the line this Saturday. We have SMU facing off against Clemson to clinch the ACC title. A lot has been made out of this game following the committee’s decision to have Alabama at No. 11 in the latest CFP rankings. Of course, Miami deserved it, or Ole Miss deserved it, or South Carolina deserved it. A lot of possibilities that went down in the drain. What do we have? Dabo Swinney taking on Rhett Lashlee. A consistent SMU Mustangs team against an iffy Clemson Tigers. Lashlee’s team is a 2-point favorite. Not a lot, but any edge is significant. However, analysts do not seem to give that edge to SMU.

In the latest episode of the David Pollack show, Pollack hosted Stanford Steve, and guess what? He dropped a bombshell while talking about the upcoming ACC championship game. Pollack started by addressing how many times these teams have played in a conference championship game and took a jab at SMU for the times they have been in these games. “Clemson, I found this really funny; by the way, this is their [Clemson] 10th ACC championship game appearance, and Steve, SMU doesn’t even have 10 games of experience in the ACC. So, I just think that’s absolutely outstanding, and Clemson could really be the only one that kind of throws a wrench in this thing this weekend and makes it really fun to watch the show.”

Pollack asked Steve for his views on the game, and Steve didn’t mince his words to explain the flaws of the SMU Mustangs. However, he started by praising their last game but straightforwardly denied that SMU has a chance against Clemson in this Saturday’s game.

“I have a question I want to be able to ask you. When I watch Clemson, it is amazing how much faster they play defensively on the defensive line, while it’s a pass like they are, twitching almost, when they know they’re in a pass situation and they can put their hand in and go. In the run game, I think they’re kind of passive. Now Jennings is super elusive. The thing that worries me about SMU is Jennings played so off-script so much and gets in a rhythm-based off of that.”

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Kevin Jennings is the face behind SMU’s successful season for last Saturday’s game; he threw for 225 yards with two touchdowns and one in the 38-6 win against Cal. In one of his notable games, Jennings completed 17 of 25 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-25 victory over Pittsburgh. So far this season, he has thrown for 1594 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions, along with 321 yards and three scores on the ground. Though he had a blast this season, Steve just can’t agree he can pull out the same magic against a strong Clemson defense.

“Clemson, this is not the old Christian Wilkins defense, but they’re pretty sound in their lanes when they rush the pass or their gap integrity. I think they’re going to give SMU problems. And when I go back and look at SMU, what’s the best defense they played, what’s the best offense they played? And it’s not their fault. They play. They’re the first to be at the conference, and they play the schedule that the conference gave them. So I give Clemson the edge here, just knowing defensive personnel. They play enough, guys. And I really think the way Jennings plays off script is going to benefit Clemson in attacking him.” 

Clemson’s defense is one of the best in the nation right now. While the one thing they can do against SMU is to focus on stopping the run game. Though they faced a little issue there during their 14-17 loss to South Carolina last weekend, they still are far better at it. To secure a win, they have to better control the line of scrimmage. Even for the South Carolina game, their defense was quite good till the third quarter. While these analysts are hyping up the Clemson Tigers, winning against SMU, what happens if they actually lose?

What if Rhett Lashlee’s squad loses the conference championship game?

Although there’s no clear answer to that question, the only people who can tell how badly it’s going to cost SMU are the playoff selection committee, and they won’t tell us right now. Meanwhile, Stanford Steve shared his views on it.

“Is this an elimination game? You think? I don’t. I don’t see it as long as SMU keeps it close, I think they can’t do this at ACC again, will they? That’s right, two years in a row. I mean, and everybody just wants to talk to Bama, because it is Bama and that whole entourage and what that brings. But if you just go back a couple of years, TCU lost it and stayed in the playoffs ahead of Alabama. So, there’s precedent there.”

Especially now, after Crimson Tide’s playoff rankings were revealed and Bama fans know that they are on No. 11, some of them believe Bama is going to be on the final list. The only way Bama can squeeze in is if SMU wins over Clemson. Furthermore, as per Warde Manuel’s recent comments, Miami, Ole Miss, and South Carolina are out of this race.