Who is playing in the ACC Championship Game? Schedule, venue and predictions

The conference championship stages are set after a hectic Week 14 slate of college football matchups. Several losses in the Atlantic Coast Conference contributed to creating a conference championship matchup between the SMU Mustangs and the Clemson Tigers.

The Mustangs clinched a spot in the ACC Championship Game with a 38-6 win over Cal on Saturday. SMU finished the regular season with an 11-1 record and an undefeated 8-0 record in conference play.

As for Clemson, the Tigers suffered a 17-14 upset loss versus South Carolina but clinched a spot in the ACC Championship thanks to Miami's 42-38 loss versus Syracuse, setting the stage for the matchup versus SMU.

The ACC Championship will have major playoff implications, with both teams building respective arguments to receive a playoff bid in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. Here are the full details for the 2024 ACC Championship game.

Who is playing in the ACC Championship Game?

The 11-1 Mustangs will take on Clemson, who finished the regular season with a 9-3 record, on Dec. 7. SMU enters the matchup as the No. 8 team in the country, moving up one spot in the Week 15 AP Poll. Following their loss, Clemson dropped six spots, checking into this week's Top 25 as the No. 18 team in the country.

ACC Championship Game Prediction

The SMU Mustangs enter the ACC Championship as a 2.5-point favorite over the Clemson Tigers. Given Clemson is much closer to Bank of America Stadium than SMU, the Tigers could see a better turnout from fans.

Still, Clemson has suffered three significant losses, one of which came against Louisville, who SMU beat 34-27 on Oct. 5. The Tigers' defense has been a massive question mark throughout the season, giving the Mustangs the upper hand in our predictions. We'll take SMU to top Clemson and clinch their first College Football Playoff appearance.

Where is the ACC Championship Game being held?

The 20th ACC Football Championship game will be held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clemson is looking to win their ninth ACC Championship, while SMU will eye their first conference championship in their first season in the ACC. Kickoff for this matchup is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST on Saturday. Broadcasting coverage will be available on ABC.