Texas holds off Clemson 38-24, will face Arizona State in quarterfinals of CFP

Texas jumps out to be lead over Clemson then hangs on in the fourth quarter, 38-24 in the first-round of the CFP at DKR.

Texas powered past Clemson in its first-round College Football Playoff matchup at home, securing a 38-24 victory.  Fueled by explosive plays, dominant rushing performances and clutch defensive stands the Longhorns showcased their firepower early, building a commanding lead early in the third quarter. But a gutty performance from Clemson QB Cade Klubnik made for some nervous moments before UT finally ended the Tigers comeback attempt and punched its ticket to the Peach Bowl.

Clemson actually took the lead on the first drive.  Cade Klubnik connected with Antonio Williams for a 22-yard touchdown pass, culminating in a 12-play, 75-yard drive that spanned nearly seven minutes. Nolan Hauser’s extra point secured the Tigers’ early advantage, giving them a 7-0 lead.

Texas responded with a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Wisner, following a 12-play, 75-yard drive. Bert Auburn’s kick tied the game at 7-7. From that point on, the Longhorns gained control in the second quarter, scoring three unanswered touchdowns. Blue broke free for a 38-yard touchdown run on a five-play drive, propelling Texas ahead 14-7. Wisner continued the scoring spree midway through the quarter with a 16-yard touchdown run after a six-play, 87-yard effort.

Clemson managed to narrow the gap with a 32-yard field goal by Hauser, cutting the score to 21-10 with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. However, Texas responded with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Ewers to Gunnar Helm, securing the 28-10 lead at halftime.

Texas extended its lead early in the second half with a 22-yard field goal by Auburn, resulting from a 14-play, 71-yard drive that consumed nearly seven minutes. Clemson countered with a 25-yard touchdown reception by Jarvis Green from Klubnik, narrowing the deficit to 31-17 as the game entered the final quarter.

The Tigers staged a comeback in the fourth quarter, with Klubnik connecting with T.J. Moore for a 7-yard touchdown, narrowing the deficit to 31-24. But Texas swiftly silenced any hopes of a Tigers rally with a breathtaking 77-yard touchdown run just 55 seconds later. The Tigers attempted once more to enter the Texas endzone late in the fourth, but another fourth-down stand by the Texas defense shut the door on Austin-native Klubnik the Tigers. 

Texas will now face off against Arizona State University (11-2), the No. 4 seed, in the CFP quarterfinals on New Year’s Day. Kickoff is slated for Jan. 1 at 11am CT at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The two schools matched up in 2007 during the Holiday Bowl, where Texas defeated Arizona State 54-34.