CLEMSON — Though Christopher Vizzina gave it all he could against SMU on Saturday, Kevin Jennings and the Mustangs offense was too much to keep up with.

Jennings threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns in leading SMU to a 35-24 victory over the Tigers at Memorial Stadium. The loss was Clemson’s fifth straight to a Power 4 opponent, the first time that has happened at Clemson since 1970 and 1971 when the Tigers lost six straight.

Vizzina, who was playing for the injured Cade Klubnik, tried to keep pace with Jennings. The Clemson quarterback threw for 317 yards and two TD passes to wide receiver T.J. Moore of 32 and 62 yards.

He later threw a 23-yard TD pass to Tristan Smith with 6:44 to play. The TD pass came on a fourth-and-21 play from the SMU 23. The 8-play, 49-yard scoring drive was setup by a Ricardo Jones interception.

Moore finished the game with five catches for 124 yards and 2 TDs. Vizzina finished his night completing 29 of 42 passes to go with his three scores.

Clemson falls to 3-4 overall and 2-3 in the ACC. SMU improves to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the ACC.

Streak ends

Klubnik’s 34-game streak as a starter came to an end when he was ruled out just before the game with an ankle injury.

Bad D

Clemson’s defense could not stop SMU when it mattered most. The defense allowed SMU touchdowns after each one of Clemson’s four scores. The Tigers had a chance to get off the field with 2:44 to go, but on fourth-and-four from the Clemson 39, safety Ronan Hanafin was charged with a pass interference while trying to cover receiver Yamir Knight.

Jennings later found Jordan Hudson, who he connected with for a 70-yard TD in the first quarter, for 26 yards to the Clemson 9-yard line on third-and-10 just before the two-minute timeout. That pass sealed the win for the Mustangs.

Undefeated in ACC play

By avenging their loss to Clemson from last year’s ACC Championship Game, the Mustangs are now 11-0 in regular season ACC games. They have won 20 straight conference games in a row dating back to when they were in the AAC in 2023.

Stop the run

SMU ran for just 37 yards in the first half. In the second half, the Mustangs ran for 102 yards.

More bad history

Clemson lost its third home game of the season. It marks the first time since 2001 Clemson has lost three home games in a season. The Tigers are 12-7 at Memorial Stadium in their last 19 home games.

It has been a full year since Clemson last beat a Power 4 team at home. Sunday will mark one year since they beat Virginia at home on October 19, 2024.

Injuries

Besides Klubnik, starting left tackle Tristan Leigh (ankle) did not play on Saturday. Wide receiver Bryant Wesco, Jr., left the game in the third quarter after taking a hard hit on a punt return. He was taken to the hospital in nearby Seneca for observations and head coach Dabo Swinney said the injury is a serious one.

Left guard Collin Sadler was carted off the field with 11:55 remaining and did not return to the game. He sustained an ankle injury and tests came back negative for anything serious.

Up Next

Clemson will take the next week off before hosting Duke on Nov. 1 at Memorial Stadium.