SMU rallied from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough.

Clemson kicked a 56-yard field goal as time expired to earn a 34-31 win in the ACC title game and secure an automatic berth in the College Football Playoff.

The Tigers were ranked 17th nationally, so at least one team in the top 12 will get the boot out of the playoffs.

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(LR) Head coach Rhett Lashlee of the SMU Mustangs and head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers speak before the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

SMU, ranked No. 8 nationally heading into the title game, may now be just an underdog and looking inward.

The fate of the ponies rests in the hands of the CFP committee, but if Dabo Swinney were there, his decision would be clear.

“This is a playoff team. SMU, they better be in these damn playoffs,” he told ESPN on the field after the game.

“There’s no way they should be in these playoffs.”

Swinney and Rhett Lashlee shared a long embrace at midfield as the game-winning field goal went through the uprights, and it’s hard to imagine Swinney not sharing those sentiments with the SMU head coach.

Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers speaks to his team during the first half of the ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (David Jensen/Getty Images)

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SMU tied the game with 16 seconds left after a 16-play drive, but Adam Randall returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to his own 45 yards. Cade Klubnik then found Antonio Williams for 17 yards, and the Tigers called a timeout and brought out Nolan Hauser, who drilled the 56-yarder with plenty in reserve.

Clemson and Arizona State will battle for a final berth in the quarterfinals – the Sun Devils defeated Iowa State on Saturday afternoon in the Big 12 Championship.

Nolan Hauser #81 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game-winning field goal after the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

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Of course, the committee decided to move to 12 teams to allow more room for error; Given the controversy over leaving out Florida State last year, who would have thought this would still be difficult?

The full field will be announced on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET.

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