Tag: 2024 college football playoff

The Texas Longhorns have advanced to the quarterfinals of the college football playoff after holding off a stubborn Clemson Tigers team 38-24. There were a lot of great moments for the Horns. But there were also some big mistakes that frayed the nerves of UT fans everywhere.

Texas QB Quinn Ewers had an efficient game with few mistakes. His one interception game from a ball that hit DeAndre Moore Jr. in the hands and bounced off to Clemson DB R.J. Mickens. But Texas coach Steve Sarkisian went into the game with the intention of leaning on the running game.

The rushing attach has been key to keeping the offense rolling in the later stages of the season when Ewers was struggling some. But, like they did in the first meeting, Georgia shut it down. Sark understands a solid running game makes his offense balanced.

After the game, TNT’s Taylor McGregor spoke with Sark on the field. She asked him about the two great plays by Texas safety Michael Taaffe at the end of the game. “He made two good plays in a row right there. He almost got the interception and then that play right there on the crossing route. But hey, they made it hard on us. Cade (Klubnick) had a heck of a game. Heck of a goal line stand right there, earlier in the fourth quarter and then making that stop on fourth down.” Sark said.

McGregor then asked Sark about the emphasis on the running game. “Well, we committed to it. That’s probably halfway my fault before this. But we committed to it. I thought we blocked things really well. The runners trusted it and they were hitting it,” Sark said.

When McGregor asked Sark about Ewers game he said, “Well, he made a lot of plays for us when they were ‘on time’ and he made a couple plays for us ‘off schedule,’ which were critical for us as well. I thought he managed the game beautifully. Had some bad luck again on the interception, unfortunately.”

And finally, she asked Sarkisian about the atmosphere of a home playoff game. He said, “I mean it’s amazing. You know, this is great for college football. I watched those other games last night and earlier today and for us to have this environment today, I think it’s amazing for college football.”

Laura Rutledge then caught up with Ewers, who she asked about the meaning of winning a playoff game in front of the home crowd and advancing. “It’s an unbelievable feeling. I’m just so proud of this team and how we come to work every single week. You, we dealt with some adversity in the SEC Championship Game and I think we came out here showed everybody that we earned the right to be here and we deserve to be here,” Ewers said.

Rutledge asked the junior about dealing with the adversity in the game, with injuries to his offensive line and to Quintrevion Wisner and how the running game helped. Quinn said, “Yeah, we knew if we wanted to be in a good position to win this game we had to be able run the ball. We harped on it all week. And I’m just so proud of how our front five guys, and some tight ends, just put in the work the past ten days and really, really too heart to running the football.”

She told Ewers TNT was told he wouldn’t wear his ankle brace during the game and asked the Southlake product why he decided to wear it in the game. Ewers replied, “I feel good. I feel great. I just did it … I mean, it’s not going to hurt. I just decided to put it on.”

Finally, Rutledge asked Ewers about playing Arizona State in the Peach Bowl and advancing in the CFP. “Yeah, man it’s everything. Again, it’s just a testament to how hard we work every single day. I’m so proud of how our defense is playing. I’m so proud of how all these guys are playing and like you said, we get to play more ball,” he said.

It’s a big day for the Texas Longhorns. Today could be a launching pad to a national title or the final day of the season. UT plays Clemson in the first round of the college football playoffs.

The Horns are an 11.5 point favorite over the Tigers, the biggest spread in the CFP first round. The game also features the Austin return of Cade Klubnik, who went to Westlake HS and faced Quinn Ewers and Southlake Carroll in the Texas State Championships at AT&T Stadium.

Hayden Victoria’s Prediction:

I think Texas defense unit steps up here in this game, I’m going with some early tension on the quarterback front that hopefully gets roughed out by halftime. I think we see a mix of Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers. I don’t think this will be a high scoring game.

Final Score: Texas 27, Clemson14

Jamie Gatlin’s Prediction:

The Longhorns will start their playoff run in Saturday against the Clemson Tigers. Entering this matchup Texas is the heavy favorite despite losing the SEC Championship to Georgia. The Longhorns will be hungry to get back in the win column and will be led by Quinn Ewers.As the Longhorns look to eliminate Clemson they will need the offense to strike early. Against Georgia, Texas didn’t have a touchdown until the fourth quarter. A big day from the offense will make life hard for the Bulldogs.

Final Score: Texas: 20, Clemson: 17

Trey Luerssen’s Prediction:

On paper, Texas is the better team. Clemson was dominated defensively against Georgia and South Carolina and almost allowed an epic comeback by SMU in the ACC Championship Game. Certainly, Texas has had its own struggles over the past few weeks. But a bye week should get the Horns (mostly) healed up and ready to show out.

Final Score: Texas 24, Clemson 13

Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian was optimistic this week when asked about the injury status of LT Kelvin Banks Jr. and WR Isaiah Bond for Saturday’s first-round College Football Playoff contest against Clemson.

Sark was guarded as usual about player status, not wanting to give out any more information than he deemed necessary. “They’re both improving, which is great for us,” Sark said in his Thursday Zoom press conference.  “They’re both showing great progress.”

A newly crowned Outland and Lombardi Trophy winner, Banks seems the more likely of the pair to play Saturday, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The junior did reportedly practice this week.

Banks was seen walking this week without a brace or a noticeable limp. “The ankle is feeling a whole lot better,” Banks told reporters Monday. “I’ve been attacking the rehab process, so I’m feeling confident in my ankle and where I’m at in my process. I feel confident I’ll be able to play Saturday.”

Bond is suffering from an ankle injury he got in the SEC title game Georgia in Atlanta. Sark says he didn’t practice this week but, “I’m optimistic that that he’ll be able to go Saturday, but again, time always tells, especially with the injury he’s got.”

Bond has been a big part of Sark’s attack this season. “He’s a guy that can catch a bubble screen and take it the distance, and you have to account for that,” Sarkisian said. “He’s a guy that can catch a crossing route and create an explosive or get a reverse and create an explosive, not to mention all the deep shots down the field.”