AUSTIN, Texas – No. 12-seed Clemson (10-4) cut a 21-point deficit to a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but fifth-seeded Texas (12-2) held off a pair of potential scoring drives late to hold on for a 38-24 win at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in the College Football Playoff First Round. The Tigers piled up the most passing yards (336), yards of total offense (412) and highest yards-per-play average (6.1) surrendered by the Longhorns this season in the defeat.
The Tigers had two fourth-quarter drives stall as they made a bid to cut into the lead again, including a fourth-down stop on the one-yard line. Texas ran 48 times for 292 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, including a 77-yard touchdown run two plays after the Tigers cut the lead to 31-24.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik, playing in his hometown, threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns, while freshman wideout T.J. Moore had career highs of nine receptions and 116 yards, and added a touchdown.
Linebacker Sammy Brown led Clemson with 10 tackles (1.0 for loss). Defensive tackle Tré Williams recorded 2.0 sacks, and safety R.J. Mickens recorded a second-quarter interception of his high school teammate, Quinn Ewers. The interception initially went for a touchdown, but was called back due to a penalty on the return.
Clemson received the opening kickoff and opened the scoring, as Klubnik connected with Antonio Williams for a 22-yard touchdown on a crossing route on third down to cap a 12-play, 75-yard drive, which spanned the first 6:46 of the contest. Klubnik completed 6-of-7 passes for 60 yards on the drive and picked up a key third down with his feet.
Texas responded on its first possession of the game, as Quintrevion Wisner rushed for a two-yard touchdown to finish a 12-play, 75-yard drive and tie the game at 7-7 with 2:04 remaining in the first quarter.
After forcing Clemson to punt on its next drive, Texas took a 14-7 lead with a 38-yard rushing touchdown by Jaydon Blue to finish a five-play, 65-yard drive. After a Clemson punt, Texas pushed its lead to 21-7 with a 16-yard rushing touchdown by Wisner with 7:26 remaining in the first half.
Texas forced the first turnover of the game on the next drive, as Klubnik’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by Colin Simmons to give the Longhorns the ball at the Clemson 26. However, Brown recorded a tackle for loss on fourth down on the Longhorns’ ensuing possession to force…