CLEMSON, S.C. -- SMU avenged its only loss to an ACC team since joining the conference over a year ago.

The Mustangs (5-2, 3-0) traveled to Death Valley and defeated Clemson (3-4, 2-3) 35-24, 10 months after losing to the Tigers in the 2024 ACC championship game.

SMU has now won 11 straight ACC regular-season games since entering the conference and is one of just three ACC teams to control its own destiny without a loss yet in conference play.

Here are five thoughts from the Mustangs' win.

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Neither starting quarterback at full strength

Clemson was without starting quarterback Cade Klubnik for the first time in 34 games. Klubnik was ruled out last minute with an ankle injury he suffered during the Tigers' game against Boston College last week.

Sophomore Christopher Vizzina started in his place, and the Clemson offense struggled at times. Clemson totaled just 55 yards of offense in the first quarter and only scored a lone touchdown by halftime.

SMU's defense was able to capitalize on a shorthanded Clemson offense, but the Mustangs weren't at full strength on offense after the first drive either.

Mustang quarterback Kevin Jennings was sacked on 3rd down and 3 on SMU's first drive and came up limping. ACC Network said he suffered a left ankle injury on the play after already battling through an ankle injury during non-conference play.

The injury certainly impacted Jennings' ability to run. He didn't appear to be running at full speed or as frequently as he normally does. But it didn't hinder his ability to lead the Mustangs offense and even throw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Hudson two drives later.

Jennings finished with 290 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 23 of 43 passing. He had 20 yards rushing on six attempts.

Mustang defense excels in short yardage and on critical downs

SMU's defense may have had its best half of the year in the first half Saturday, holding Clemson to just seven points and coming up with many important stops.

The Mustang defensive line has taken some time to jell early this season but appeared to have on Saturday. It stopped Clemson on third and short on three of its first four drives. Defensive end Jahkai Lang recovered a fumble forced by linebacker Brandon Miyazono on the other.

In the second quarter, SMU's defense also stopped Clemson on 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 from its own 39-yard line on back-to-back plays, forcing a turnover on downs and leading to an SMU field goal.

Clemson finished just 8 for 19 on third down (just 2 for 8 in first half) and 1 for 2 on fourth down.

When Clemson offense picked up, SMU had an answer

Clemson's offense started to come together in the second half, scoring on back-to-back drives late in the third quarter.

Vizzina hit TJ Moore for a 62-yard touchdown, Moore's second score of the day. On the next drive, Clemson added a field goal when SMU's defense made a red zone stop.

But each time Clemson cut the SMU lead to one possession, SMU responded.

After the touchdown, it was a 35-yard run by Derrick McFall. After the field goal, Jennings found tight end Matthew Hibner for a 22-yard score.

SMU held a 29-17 lead with 12:30 to play.

Clemson marched downfield and scored another touchdown late in the fourth quarter with Vizzina throwing a 23-yard touchdown pass to Tristan Smith on fourth down. It was a five-point game.

But SMU's offense managed to stay on the field and eat clock on the following drive. Yamir Knight drew a pass interference call on a fourth down conversion attempt, and Jennings later converted on 3rd and 10 to set up first and goal. Chris Johnson Jr. capped the drive off with a six-yard touchdown run.

Clemson got the ball back with just 1:03 remaining down 11 and no timeouts.

SMU played complementary football. Its defense carried its offense early on, and when its defense started to give up some big plays late in the game, the offense made sure Clemson could never fully catch up.

AdvertisementBreakout game for kicker Sam Keltner

SMU's kicking situation has been a major concern this season, as the Mustangs were just 5 for 11 on field goals entering Saturday's game.

SMU used two different kickers early this season, switching from longtime starter Collin Rogers to redshirt Sam Keltner after Week 2. Rogers has since left SMU's program.

Keltner was the last kicker left on the roster. Backup tight end Stone Eby was seen kicking 50-yarders in warmups Saturday to serve as the emergency backup.

But the Mustangs appeared to have found their guy in Keltner. After going 4 for 7 before Saturday and 1 for 4 from 40+, Keltner hit three field goals -- two from 48 yards and one from a career-long 51.

He helped SMU build a two-possession lead by halftime when the Mustang offense continued to stall between the 30- and 40-yard line. He made 2 of 3 extra points he attempted, but the one miss was 15 yards further than normal after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Hudson.

Saturday was a big confidence-building game for the young kicker, especially in a road environment that isn't easy to play in.

SMU overcomes difficult road environment in Death Valley

Saturday's environment was one of the most difficult road environments SMU has ever had to play in, and the Mustangs handled it just fine.

In last year's postseason, SMU allowed the moment to get too big at times, falling into an early deficit against Clemson in Charlotte, which felt like a road game, and against Penn State in a whiteout game in State College.

But a more experienced and mature SMU team maintained its poise even when the Clemson crowd of over 80,000 made that difficult. SMU committed just one false start, which was on its first drive. Jennings did turn it over once in the fourth quarter but looked much more comfortable in a difficult road environment than he had earlier in his career. He kept the Mustang offense on the field for a touchdown drive late in the game, not giving Clemson enough time to close the gap.

It also didn't hurt that the Clemson crowd, which was already frustrated with the team's start to the year, started booing the Tigers' struggling offense at times.

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5 thoughts from SMU-Clemson: Mustangs avenge ACC title loss, beat Tigers in Death Valley