For the first time, Clemson will meet Texas on the gridiron. The matchup is part of the first round of the first-ever 12-team playoff for FBS College Football. The Longhorns will host the game in Texas Memorial Stadium. It will be a homecoming for Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik, who is from Austin. Texas is heavily favored going into the game, but Clemson could pose a better matchup than many think. Let’s look at how Clemson can wrangle the Longhorns.
The Tigers and Longhorns Get Back to the Playoffs
Texas Makes It Back to the CFP
After a second straight appearance in a conference championship game, Texas makes it into back-to-back college football playoffs. In his fourth season leading the program, Steve Sarkisian has his second shot at competing for a national championship. The Longhorns earned it, going 11-2 overall on the season. They lost to only one team all season, Georgia.
The Bulldogs beat Texas twice this season—once in the regular season and again in the SEC Championship Game. While Georgia has been the biggest test for the Longhorns, Sarkisan’s team has handled business against all other competition. This includes wins over Arkansas and Michigan and a blowout win in the Red River Rivalry over Oklahoma.
This was Texas’ first season in the SEC, and it finished with only one conference loss and an SEC Championship berth. Great defense and efficient offense helped Texas get back into the CFP. The Longhorns have the second-best scoring defense and third-best total defense in the FBS. A highly motivated Clemson team makes its way into Austin though. The Tigers have not lost a road game yet in 2024.
Clemson Makes Its Return to the CFP
From the inception of the College Football Playoff system in 2014 to the start of the current decade Clemson was an annual member of the four-team bracket. The Tigers took a bit of a dip in performance the last few seasons though and have not made the playoffs since 2020. Still, Dabo Swinney has kept his team winning nine-plus games a year during that time. Yet, the program has not displayed the same level of dominance it did for much of the 2010s.
This has caused many to question if the program is behind the times in adjusting to the new landscape of college football. After hearing the chatter about the state of the program and how they had zero transfers from the portal this past offseason, the Tigers kept winning. They went 9-3 overall, 7-1 in the ACC and won the ACC Championship for the eighth time in 10 years. This helped Clemson sneak into the CFP with an automatic bid.
It may not have been the most convincing path into the playoff, but it did show the fight and belief the Tigers have. It is the same belief they felt after losing to Georgia in week one. The 2024 team does not execute at the same level as the 2016 or 2019 Clemson teams. But, the same heart still exists in the program. It showed in the performance against SMU to get the win and berth into the CFP. The Tigers are going to have to take the intensity and momentum from Charlotte and bring it to Austin to survive and advance.
Quarterback Battle in Round One
One of the great gifts of the expanded playoff, besides more college football overall, is the ability to see more great quarterback play from some of the best in the nation. Two very talented quarterbacks will be meeting in this matchup.
Quinn Ewers has been one of the best in the position for the last couple of seasons. Although he has not been as consistent as he was last season, he has still played at a high level. Ewers’ 25 touchdown passes are tied for the ninth most touchdown passes in the FBS. He also has 2,665 passing yards which is fifth best in the SEC.
Klubnik on the other hand had a rough 2023. He has exploded on the scene in 2024 though. Klubnik has grown this season showing what made him a five-star recruit coming out of high school. He has the third most passing touchdowns in the FBS with 33 scores through the air. This was second most in the ACC behind Heisman finalist Cam Ward. The junior also has 3,303 passing yards which is 11th most in the FBS. His passion and leadership are infectious to the Tigers who play at the best when Klubnik is at his.
This game could come down to which quarterback steps up more for his team. Both seem to be prepared for the moment.
Deeper Dive into the Matchup
Looking deeper into the matchup, this game has the potential to be closer than some may believe. Clemson’s biggest weakness this season has been stopping the run. Texas can run the ball well, but not to the level of the teams that gave the Tigers their biggest problems. If Clemson can defend the Longhorns run game, they could cause problems for Texas. Clemson’s pass rush is fierce. The more the Tigers put the Longhorns in passing situations, the more chances Clemson will give itself to win. If Clemson wants to wrangle the Longhorns, the Tigers will have to make them one dimensional.
The Tigers will also need to mix things up in the run game on offense. Phil Mafah is hurt and hasn’t looked like himself toward the end of the regular season. As long as he can go, the Tigers have to use him. However, he shouldn’t be the only one carrying the football. Let Klubnik use his legs on more designed runs. Try jet sweeps and counters with Antonio Williams, Troy Stellato, and others. Whatever it is the Clemson offense can’t be one dimensional in any phase.
For Texas to win the game, the Longhorns need to be able to run the ball. If the Longhorns get the run game going, they will make it a long afternoon for the Tigers. Texas safety Andrew Mukumba, who’s tied for the second most interceptions in the SEC with four, transferred to Austin from Clemson. While there’s no hard feeling from either side, he did mention when asked in the offseason why he made the move that one reason was because he felt the Clemson program wasn’t where it needed to be for him and the team to be successful. Mukumba along with his Texas team have the chance to prove that statement true.
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