Austin, TexasIn the first round of the expanded College Football Playoffs, Texas defeated Clemson 38-24 on Saturday thanks to 146 yards and two scores from Jaydon Blue, the last of which was a 77-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Cade Klubnik’s third touchdown pass helped Clemson rally from a 31-10 deficit to a 31-24 lead, which was followed by Blue’s touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Texas (12-2) will meet Big 12 champion Arizona State in the January 1 Peach Bowl.
In the second quarter, Blue scored a 38-yard cut-and-dash as well. With just eleven minutes remaining, he outran three more to the end zone after diving into the line and shaking a tackler on his second.
Quintrevion Wisner gave Texas two first-half scores and 110 yards of rushing. Quinn Ewers scored a touchdown and gained 202 yards with his pass.
Austin native Klubnik led the Tigers (10-4) in the second half against a Texas team that had allowed just four passing touchdowns this season after passing for 336 yards.
Texas, which finished second in the SEC, is the only one of the four playoff teams from the previous season to qualify for the new 12-team field. In order to qualify for the playoffs, Clemson won the ACC championship. In their first appearance since 2020, the Tigers were ranked sixth overall and as the No. 12 seed.
KEY LESSONS
Clemson: In the fourth quarter, the Tigers had three significant fourth-down opportunities. When Klubnik threw to T.J. Moore, they converted the first one into a touchdown. On the next two, however, they failed. With just over a minute remaining, Klubnik’s pass at the Texas 26 was incomplete, and Keith Adams Jr. was smothered at the Texas 1.
Texas: With more games to come, the Longhorns’ injury scares could be concerning. In two plays in the second quarter, Wisner, center Jake Majors, and starting offensive lineman Cam Williams all exited the field. After hobbling off, Wisner managed to come back for a few carries in the second half. Majors and Williams did not return after Williams needed assistance leaving the field.
UPCOMING
Next season, Clemson will aim to secure its ninth postseason berth and defend its ACC championship.
In the following round, Texas will take on Arizona State. Before Arizona State joined the Big 12 this season, the Longhorns were not a part of it.
— AP Sports Writer Jim Vertuno
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