One year after leaving Georgia football to be Syracuse coach, Fran Brown remains tight with Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart. What Smart said on his success

The ACC championship game next weekend is set, and while we already knew No. 9 SMU would be playing for a title in its first season in the conference, Saturday’s games led to No. 12 Clemson officially being the Mustangs’ opponent. And it’s all thanks to Syracuse — at least, according to the Orange’s head coach Fran Brown.

Syracuse came back from 21 points down to upset Miami and put a serious damper on the Hurricanes' College Football Playoff hopes.

When the ESPN cameras were pressed in his face on a delirious evening at the Dome, Fran Brown proclaimed something that might seem premature but is impossible to argue. “Syracuse is back!” It was the viral statement that jolted through the college football atmosphere,

Clemson entered this weekend needing Syracuse to beat Miami to make the ACC Championship, regardless of the result of its game. So even after falling 17-14 to South Carolina, the Tigers still had a slim chance if the Orange could manage to pull off the upset.

Kirby Smart was mighty proud of his former assistant who got a huge victory that is sure to shake up the CFP rankings.

Syracuse head coach Fran Brown gave a shoutout to Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney after No. 6 Miami suffered a 42-38 upset loss to the Orange on

The implications of Syracuse’s 42-38 win over No. 6 Miami on Saturday was not lost on Orange coach Fran Brown. “Hey Dabo Swinney, congrats,” he said. “I got you in, baby!” Kyle McCord and Syracuse knocked the Hurricanes out of ACC title contention — and possibly ended the Hurricanes’ CFP hopes — by rallying from a 21-0 deficit.

Dabo Swinney got calls from players, peers and Syracuse coach Fran Brown when Clemson clinched an ACC championship berth. Here's how Swinney reacted.

Syracuse's Fran Brown shouted out Dabo Swinney on Saturday after beating Miami to put Clemson in the ACC championship game:

Following the game, in an interview with ESPN, Brown made sure Dabo Swinney knew what the Orange did for Clemson. It is now on Clemson to take advantage, who will face No. 9 SMU next Saturday in Charlotte for the ACC Championship and an automatic bid to the playoff.