ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg has shared his picks for every bowl game this postseason (subscription required), including the 12-team College Football Playoff. For Clemson’s first-round matchup against Texas, he’s predicting a 24-16 win for the Longhorns.
Rittenberg praised Clemson’s turnaround after being counted out earlier in the season but noted the challenge they face in Texas’ stout defense. The Longhorns have been dominant all year, allowing just 12.1 points per game and excelling at shutting down the run and pressuring quarterbacks. He believes those strengths will be the difference, even with Cade Klubnik—an Austin native—leading Clemson in front of a hometown crowd.
Rittenberg expects Texas tight end Gunnar Helm to play a big role, catching two touchdowns from Quinn Ewers as the Longhorns eventually clamp down on the Tigers’ offense. The game will kick off on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 4 p.m. ET on TNT, marking the first-ever meeting between these two storied programs.
As for the rest of the playoff, Rittenberg has Notre Dame, Penn State, and Ohio State advancing, with Oregon ultimately defeating the Irish to claim the national title.