Alabama football won't be in action in the SEC championship this weekend, but the Crimson Tide will be keenly watching another conference championship on Saturday night: the ACC title game between No. 8 SMU and No. 17 Clemson.

No. 18 Clemson has another chance to make the College Football Playoff when it plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game against No. 8 SMU on Saturday.

SMU may enter Saturday’s ACC championship contest as a 2.5-point favorite over Clemson, but in many ways, the Mustangs are underdogs. They’re taking on a blue-blood program with more ACC championship game wins than any other team in the conference.