Clemson at Texas: College Football Playoff first round live updates, score, highlights
The eyes of the college football world turn to Austin on Saturday afternoon. That’s where Texas will host Clemson in the third of four first-round College Football Playoff games.
The Longhorns came in as the No. 5 seed in the final 12-team bracket, setting up the matchup with the No. 12-seeded Tigers. Clemson stole a bid in the new-look College Football Playoff field by defeating SMU in the ACC Championship. That means, even though the Tigers finished as the No. 16-ranked team, they sealed a spot in the field as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions.
Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET on TNT from DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. The winner of Clemson at Texas will punch its ticket to the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Peach Bowl, where Arizona State awaits.
FINAL: Texas 38, Clemson 24
12/21/2024 06:36:40 PMClemson got one final drive, but Cade Klubnik’s fourth-down pass in Texas territory fell incomplete. The Longhorns will now advance to the Peach Bowl in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal after the 38-24 victory.
Texas holds strong at the goal line
12/21/2024 06:13:40 PMClemson again marched down the field and got as far as Texas’ 1-yard line, looking to get back within one score. But the Longhorns held strong, keeping Keith Adams out of the end zone to maintain a 38-24 lead with 7:24 to play in the game.
Jaydon Blue breaks off 77-yard TD run
12/21/2024 05:58:38 PMClemson looked like it was making a charge, and Texas was backed up in its own territory after the kickoff. But Jaydon Blue broke free, rattling off a 77-yard touchdown run to put the Longhorns back up two scores, 38-24, with 10:48 left.
Clemson scores on 4th down, gets within 1 score
12/21/2024 05:52:33 PMOn 4th-and-6 from the 7-yard line, Clemson opted to go for it. It paid off as Cade Klubnik found a wide-open TJ Moore for his third touchdown of the day – and, just like that, Texas’ lead was trimmed to 31-24 with 11:43 left in the game.
END 3Q: Texas 31, Clemson 17
12/21/2024 05:45:10 PMTexas holds a 31-17 lead after three quarters of play. Clemson will have 1st and 10 from the Longhorns’ 47-yard line after the break.
Texas stopped on 4th down, Clemson takes over
12/21/2024 05:43:54 PMTexas went for a 4th-and-2, but Quinn Ewers’ pass fell incomplete. That gave Clemson the ball back at its own 41-yard line, trailing by two scores with 55 seconds left in the third quarter.
Clemson not done yet
12/21/2024 05:35:33 PMClemson got back on the board with 3:29 to go in the third quarter. Cade Klubnik threw his second touchdown pass of the day, this time connecting with Jarvis Gren for a 25-yard score to make it a 31-17 Texas lead.
Texas 31, Clemson 10
12/21/2024 05:16:56 PMAfter being held out of the end zone, Texas got the scoring started on its first drive of the second half. Bert Auburn made a 22-yard field goal to extend the lead to 31-10 with 8:10 to go in the third quarter.
Second half underway
12/21/2024 05:07:48 PMClemson’s second-half kickoff went out the back of the end zone for a touchback. Texas will start at its own 30-yard line.
END 1H: Texas 28, Clemson 10
12/21/2024 04:45:28 PMClemson ran out the clock to end the first half, trailing Texas 28-10 at the break. The Longhorns will get the ball to start the second half.
Texas 28, Clemson 10
12/21/2024 04:40:40 PMQuinn Ewers and Texas took over with 1:33 to go, and they made quick work. Ewers connected with Gunnar Helm for a 19-yard touchdown to make it a 28-10 Longhorns lead with 28 seconds remaining before halftime.
Texas 21, Clemson 10
12/21/2024 04:34:57 PMClemson settled for a field goal after the interception. Nolan Hauser drilled the 32-yard attempt to cut the Texas lead to 21-10 with 1:33 left in the first half.
Quinn Ewers picked off, Clemson penalty negates pick-six
12/21/2024 04:25:29 PMRJ Mickens intercepted Quinn Ewers and took it back to the end zone, but a blindside block penalty took the touchdown off the board. Clemson still kept the ball after the interception and will take over at its own 46-yard line.
Clemson defense holds strong on 4th down
12/21/2024 04:16:19 PMWith a short field, Texas had an opportunity to break the game open. But Clemson’s defense stood strong as freshman Sammy Brown took down Jaydon Blue on 4th-and-1, giving the Tigers the ball back at their own 18-yard line.
Cade Klubnik picked off
12/21/2024 04:13:08 PMAs Clemson tried to respond after three unanswered scores, Cade Klubnik threw his first interception of the day. The ball got tipped at the line of scrimmage and Colin Simmons was there to pull it out of the air, giving Texas the ball back at the Clemson 26-yard line.
Highlight-reel catch sets up another Texas TD
12/21/2024 04:06:44 PMMatthew Golden hauled in a spectacular 43-yard catch to put Texas in prime scoring territory. Three plays later, Quintrevion Wisner scored his second touchdown of the day to extend the Longhorns’ lead to 21-7 with 7:26 to go in the first half.
Jaydon Blue breaks free, Texas takes lead
12/21/2024 03:51:06 PMAfter Texas got the ball back on a Clemson punt, Jaydon Blue capped off a quick scoring drive. He broke free for a 38-yard touchdown to give the Longhorns a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.
END 1Q: Clemson 7, Texas 7
12/21/2024 03:44:21 PMBoth offenses were on full display as Clemson and Texas sat tied 7-7 after the first quarter. The Tigers face a fourth-and-short out of the break after initially lining up to go for it.
Texas answers back on Quintrevion Wisner TD
12/21/2024 03:34:31 PMAfter converting on fourth down, Texas went back to the ground game on a handoff to Quintrevion Wisner. He scored the 3-yard touchdown to help the Longhorns respond and tie things up at 7-7 with 2:04 left in the opening quarter.
Clemson strikes first
12/21/2024 03:22:54 PMClemson got on the board first when Cade Klubnik connected with Antonio Williams for a 22-yard touchdown. That capped off a 12-play, 75-yard drive to put the Tigers on top, 7-0, with 8:14 to go in the first quarter.
Coin toss
12/21/2024 03:11:03 PMTexas won the toss and deferred to the second half. Clemson will receive the opening kickoff to get Saturday’s game underway.
Isaiah Bond out
12/21/2024 02:49:34 PMTexas will play Saturday’s game without wide receiver Isaiah Bond due to an ankle injury. He was in street clothes during warmups and will not be able to play, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Weather update
12/21/2024 02:33:42 PMAfter two first-round games in the cold and snow, Texas and Clemson will square off in much warmer conditions. With 30 minutes to go before kickoff, the temperature reads 60 degrees in Austin, according to AccuWeather. “Plenty of sunshine; a nice afternoon for the playoff game,” the forecast reads.
Final line
12/21/2024 02:30:43 PMTexas closed as a 13.5-point favorite over Clemson, according to FanDuel. The over-under also closed at 49.5.