Texas up 28-10 against Clemson in first round of College Football Playoff

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Longhorns and Clemson Tigers are battling it out in the first round of the College Football Playoff in Austin as the Longhorns lead 31-24. 

The Tigers received the ball first and quarterback Cade Klubnik pieced together an impressive 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard passing touchdown to Antonio Williams. 

Texas was quick to answer back, putting together their own 75-yard drive that ended with a three-yard rushing TD from running back Quintrevion Wisner, knotting things up at 7-7. 

A quick three-and-out from the Tigers gave Texas the ball back with decent field position. The Longhorns took just five plays to score their second TD of the game, this time behind the legs of Jaydon Blue as he rushed 38 yards to the endzone. 

With under eight minutes to go in the first half, the Longhorns continued their big-play magic as QB Quinn Ewers connected with Matthew Golden 43 yards down the field. Three consecutive runs later, Wisner and the Horns found themselves in the endzone again, up 21-7. 

The Tigers managed to stop the Longhorns on downs but were forced to punt after a quick three-and-out. However, a tipped pass by Ewers resulted in a Clemson interception, setting up a short field goal which the Tigers knocked through the uprights. 

The Longhorns got the ball back with under 1:30 to go in the second quarter and were able to go on a seven-play, 62-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard touchdown to TE Gunnar Helm, putting the Horns up 28-10.

On Texas’ first drive out of the locker room, they managed to go 71 yards in 14 plays but ultimately settled for a Bert Auburn field goal after stalling out in the red zone. 

A couple of possessions later, the Tigers forced a Texas punt and got the ball back with favorable field position. Klubnik connected with two different receivers for big plays including a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jarvis Green that cut the lead down to 31-17. 

Clemson’s defense continued to stand tall, forcing another Texas turnover on downs, which turned into a methodical 10-play drive that ended in wide-open touchdown pass to T.J. Moore.

Texas currently leads 31-24 in the fourth quarter. 

The first round of the expanded College Football Playoff pits ACC champion Clemson against SEC runner-up Texas. The Tigers are the No. 12 seed. Texas is No. 5 and the Longhorns earned the right to host a home game with their higher seeding. The winner advances to play No. 4 seed and Big 12 champion Arizona State in the next round.

Quarterbacks Quinn Ewers of Texas and Cade Klubnik of Clemson last met in the Texas Class 6A state championship in January 2021 when both were two of the highest-rated recruits in the nation. Klubnik won that day and comes back to his hometown looking to keep the Tigers on the march for an even bigger prize.

Clemson: Senior running back Phil Mafah has rushed for nearly 1,200 yards but his production dropped off over the last month with a nagging shoulder injury. The Tigers need a solid game from him against one of the country’s toughest run defenses.

Texas: Klubnik faces an intimidating Texas secondary. Cornerback Jahdae Barron won the Thorpe Award. Safety Michael Taaffe is a second-team AP All-American. Safety Andrew Mukuba transferred from Clemson for his final season and has anchored the back end of the secondary with hard tackling.

Texas has scored just one touchdown in the six quarters …. Longhorns offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. won the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy, awards given to the nation’s most outstanding lineman. He missed the SEC championship game with an ankle injury but is expected to play Saturday … Klubnick has 33 passing touchdowns. Texas has surrendered just four passing TDs all season … Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser booted a 56-yard game winner against SMU in the ACC championship. Texas kicker Bert Auburn is just 6 of 13 on field goal attempts beyond 40 yards.

This article was created with contributions from The Associated Press.