The No. 3 Texas Longhorns face the No. 16 Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday, the first-ever meeting between the programs. The game is a homecoming for Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and a reunion for Texas defensive back Andrew Mukuba, who transferred from Clemson in spring 2024.
Mukuba has been a key addition to Texas’ defense, earning Jim Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week honors after Texas’ win over Michigan. The Austin native, a former Freshman All-American at Clemson, has posted multiple standout performances this season, including interceptions against Michigan, Georgia, and Florida.
Mukuba reflected on his decision to transfer to Texas, calling his decision tough. He said that Swinney was understanding. Mukuba added on the “Behind The Facemask” podcast that he also suffered from a lack of player development.
“My time there at Clemson, I just felt like I wasn’t really getting better,” Mukuba said in an interview on the Behind The Facemask podcast. “I wasn’t being pushed enough to where I could reach my potential and my peak. The program wasn’t where it needed to be for me and the whole team to be successful. After my junior year, I felt like it was the same thing. After that, it was only right for me to transfer.”
A Lyndon B. Johnson High School graduate, Mukuba excelled as a two-way player and was a four-star recruit. Now, he looks to help Texas secure a playoff victory against his former team. The Texas Longhorns and Clemson Tigers are set for kickoff on TNT/Max on Saturday at 3pm from Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.