AUSTIN, TX— The Texas Longhorns got to host a College Football Playoff game in the first round against the ACC Champion Clemson Tigers. This was the first December home game for the Longhorns since 1990.
Clemson started out the game impressively after receiving the ball by going 12 plays for 75 yards and a 22-yard touchdown pass from Cade Klubnik to Antonio Williams to make the score 7-0 Clemson with 8:14 left in the opening quarter.
Texas then took their opening drive 12 plays for 75 yards and took more than six minutes off the clock that was capped by a 3-yard touchdown run by Quintrevion Wisner to nod the score up at seven late in the first. After Texas forced Clemson to punt, Jaydon Blue scored on a 38-yard touchdown run to put the Longhorns up, 14-7 with 12:49 left in the second quarter.
The Longhorns added another rushing touchdown, the second of the day by Wisner and Texas took a 21-7 lead with 7:25 left in the half. After Clemson got the ball back, Klubnik threw an interception to freshman phenom Colin Simmons to set up Texas at the Clemson 26 yard line.
Clemson’s defense stepped up and stopped the Longhorns on a fourth and two to get their offense the ball back, still down 14. After another empty drive for Clemson, the Tigers’ defense intercepted Quinn Ewers on Texas’ next possession and started in Texas territory on the 45 yard line. Clemson converted a field goal by Nolan Hauser from 32 yards out to make the score, 21-10 Texas with 1.28 to go in the second.
Texas then took their next drive for another touchdown, this one a pass from Ewers to Gunnar Helm for 18 yards to give the Longhorns a 28-10 lead at the end of the first half.
Texas received the ball to start the third quarter and drove all the way to the Clemson two yard line before kicking a field goal to make the score 31-10 over Clemson with 8:10 left in the quarter. On Clemson’s next dsrive, Klubnik hit Jarvis Green for a 28-yard touchdown pass to pull Clemson within 14 points of Texas with 4:17 to go in the third.
Clemson regained possession late in third after Texas fans led to convert another fourth down attempt and Klubnik threw his third touchdown pass of the night, this one to TJ Moore for six yards and the Tigers trailed, 31-24 with 12:19 left in the fourth quarter.
Texas responded quickly with a 2-play, 83 yard drive that was spearheaded by Jaydon Blue’s 77-yard touchdown run to put the Longhorns up, 38-24 with 10:48 remaining in the contest. Clemson threatens to pull back within seven, but were stonewalled at the one yard line and Texas took over, still up by 14, with 7:24 to go.
Texas ended the game after that by running the clock out and advances to the Peach Bowl with a 38-24 win over Clemson. Blue and Wisner both went over 110 yards rushing with two touchdowns each on yhe night. The Longhorns tallied over 300 yards rushing in the game as well. Arizona State awaits the Longhorns on New Year’s Day.
