Steve Sarkisian describes the meaning of Michael Taaffe's performance in CFP vs. Clemson

Texas‘ 38-24 win over Clemson in the College Football Playoff on Saturday was personal for Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe. The junior DB was the high school teammate of Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik.

While Taaffe and Klubnik may have love for one another off the field, they showed no signs of friendship on Saturday night. After the game, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian discussed how Taaffe’s connection to Klubnik motivated the DB.

“I’m sure it meant a ton,” Sarkisian said. “Sometimes you have your most fun competing against those that are closest to you, and I can say that. I had an opportunity to compete against Pete Carroll after I had been an assistant for him for almost eight years, and to compete against him — I had an opportunity to compete against Nick Saban a couple different times who I respect so much.

“The ones you respect and then you get a chance to compete against them and then kind of come out on top, I know that — I’m sure it feels great for him because of the respect that he has for Cade and the great wins they had when they were together at Westlake.”

Taaffe and Klubnik won two state championships together at Westlake before the former moved on to the next level. Klubnik didn’t allow Taaffe’s absence to slow him down, winning the school’s third-straight state title in 2021.

Taaffe only recorded two tackles against Clemson on Saturday but he was the one who put the nails in Clemson’s coffin. With 1:17 left in the game, Clemson trailed Texas 38-24 and was 4th-and-6 on the Longhorns’ 26-yard line.

On the play, Klubnik delivered a dart to a receiver across the middle, only for Taaffe to blow up the target, forcing an incomplete pass. Following the win, Sarkisian praised Michael Taaffe for his gutsy performance.

“I’m proud of Michael. I joked with him, I said, I think you dropped that interception on 3rd down just so you could make the play on 4th down,” Sarkisian said.

“But man, the guy just continues to play at a high level. I’m so glad that the media recognized him from an All-American standpoint. I know the coaches in the SEC didn’t, and I think they missed the mark on that guy not being an All-SEC player. But you guys surely did, and I think he’s more than deserving of the accolades that he gets.”