Texas outlasts Clemson comeback to advance in College Football Playoff, 38-24
(Gray Media) - The Texas Longhorns flexed their rushing muscle as they defeated Clemson 38-24 in a first-round matchup in the College Football Playoff on Saturday.
Texas averaged nearly seven yards per carry and put up around 300 total rushing yards on the Tigers.
The effort was led by junior running back Jaydon Blue’s pair of touchdowns and 146 yards on 14 carries. The Longhorns' typical starter, Quintrevion Wisner, also had over 100 yards and two touchdowns before seeing fewer snaps due to injury.
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers also continued a score along with over 200 yards ing in the win.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, meanwhile, threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns in a return to his hometown of Austin.
ONE-TWO PUNCH: After both teams traded touchdowns on their opening possessions, momentum swung for the Longhorns when Blue got free for a 38-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.
The Texas ground attack paid more dividends as Wisner scored his second touchdown on a 16-yard run minutes later to give the Longhorns more breathing room.
Clemson would add a field goal late in the first half, but Ewers connected with tight end Gunnar Helm just before halftime to make it a 28-10 deficit for the Tigers at the break.
TURNING POINT: Clemson picked up steam in the third quarter and into the early fourth with two of three Klubnik’s touchdowns to Jarvis Green and T.J. Moore.
The Longhorns almost immediately responded as Blue broke off a 77-yard touchdown run with just under 11 minutes left.
But Clemson was primed to again pull within a score, getting down to the Texas 1-yard line after a roughing the er penalty. The Tigers were instead turned away on back-to-back runs, turning the ball over on downs with 7:24 to go.
KNOCKOUT BLOW: Although Texas was able to wind some of the remaining clock down - but a fumbled snap on a fourth and short gave Clemson the ball back with less than two minutes to go.
Klubnik completed a pair of es to get the Tigers in Texas territory and seemingly give them a chance to get it back to a one-possession game. However, Clemson was stopped on their own fourth-down attempt at the Texas 25 when a Klubnik to Moore was broken up - leading to the Longhorns running the remaining time out.
NEW ROLE: Clemson wide receiver/specialist Adam Randall notably played snaps at running back, relieving typical starter Phil Mafah - who was dealing with shoulder pain.
Randall ended the contest as the Tigers' leading rusher with 44 yards on four carries.
NEXT UP: Texas will now face Arizona State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day in a CFP quarterfinal matchup.
Clemson’s season ends at 10-4.
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