Fran Brown Shouts Out Dabo Swinney, Kirby Smart After Beating Miami To Keep Hurricanes Out Of ACC Championship
Clemson, SC - Clemson head coach Fran Brown heaped praise on fellow coaches Dabo Swinney and Kirby Smart after his team's decisive victory over Miami, ensuring the Hurricanes would not advance to the ACC Championship Game.
Brown's Tigers triumphed 45-17, extending their winning streak to six games. With the triumph, Clemson secured the Atlantic Division title and advanced to the conference championship game against the Coastal Division champion, North Carolina.
"I want to give credit where credit is due," Brown said at the post-game press conference. "Coach Swinney and Coach Smart both did an incredible job preparing their teams for this season. Their leadership and strategies played a significant role in keeping Miami out of the ACC Championship Game."
Swinney's Clemson Tigers defeated Miami 40-10 in October, while Smart's Georgia Bulldogs shut out the Hurricanes 45-0 in November. These victories helped Clemson and Georgia secure the top two spots in the Atlantic Division standings, leaving Miami with an insurmountable deficit.
Clemson's defense, led by defensive coordinator Brent Venables, played a pivotal role in the team's victory over Miami. The Tigers held the Hurricanes to just 241 yards of offense and forced four turnovers, including three interceptions.
"Our defense was phenomenal," Brown said. "They created turnovers and put our offense in great positions to score. I'm incredibly proud of the way they played."
Miami's loss to Clemson marks the end of their ACC Championship hopes. The Hurricanes finished the regular season with an 8-4 record but were unable to overcome the challenges posed by Clemson and Georgia.
"It's a tough loss," Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said. "We had high expectations for this season, but we came up short against two great teams. We'll learn from this experience and come back stronger next year."
Clemson will now prepare for the ACC Championship Game against North Carolina on December 7th. The Tigers are seeking their seventh ACC title in eight years and will aim to extend their dominance in the conference.
"We're excited about the opportunity to play in the ACC Championship Game," Brown said. "We have a lot of respect for North Carolina, but we're confident in our team. We're going to give it our all and try to bring home another championship."