Sports

Longhorns take down Clemson to advance in CFP

Longhorns take down Clemson to advance in CFP

AUSTIN, Texas —

  • 1 Related

    Blue also scored on a 38-yard cut-and-dash burst in the second quarter. On his second, he dove into the line, shook a tackler and then outraced three more to the end zone with just 11 minutes left.

    Blue missed a game this season with a nagging ankle injury and saw his carries reduced over several games because of fumble problems. He clutched the ball tightly to his chest when a defender tried to rip it away.

    “It was a sign of relief after everything I’ve been going through,” Blue said. “I stayed patient, I saw a crease and it was everything [open] from there.”

    Quintrevion Wisner added 110 yards rushing and two first-half touchdowns for Texas. Quinn Ewers passed for 202 yards and a touchdown.

    Klubnik, who grew up in Austin, passed for 336 yards and rallied the Tigers (10-4) in the second half against a Texas defense that had given up just four passing touchdowns all season.

    The runner-up in the Southeastern Conference, Texas is the only one of last season’s four playoff teams to make the new 12-team field. Clemson won the ACC championship to make the playoff. The Tigers were the No. 12 seed in their first appearance since 2020 and seventh overall.

    “It’s not easy to get on this stage [again], and they earned it,” Sarkisian said. “I think college football got this one right. This idea of a home playoff game with a 12-team format was pretty special.”

    Takeaways

    Clemson: The Tigers had three big fourth-down chances in the fourth quarter. They turned the first one into a touchdown when Klubnik threw to T.J. Moore. But they came up short on the next two. Keith Adams Jr. was stuffed at the Texas 1 and Klubnik’s pass at the Texas 26 was incomplete with just over a minute left.

    Texas: The Longhorns had some injury scares that could be worrisome with more games ahead. Wisner, starting offensive tackle Cam Williams and center Jake Majors all left the field in two plays in the second quarter. Sarkisian said the coaching staff opted to keep Wisner and Majors out in the second half. Williams needed help to get off the field and will have tests on his knee overnight.

    Up next

    Clemson will try to defend its ACC title next season and earn its eighth playoff berth.

    Texas moves on to face Arizona State in the next round. The Longhorns left the Big 12 before Arizona State joined that league this season.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.