Tim Tebow identifies the biggest key for Texas to defeat Clemson in College Football Playoff

The Texas defense has been lights out all season, but the Longhorns will get a tough test from Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday.

The Tigers are led by star quarterback Cade Klubnik, who has accounted for more than 3,700 total yards and 40 touchdowns on the year. He has some star power at receiver, too, with veteran Antonio Williams and emerging young stars Bryant Wesco and TJ Moore.

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ESPN college football analyst Tim Tebow joined SportsCenter Saturday morning and shared the biggest key for Texas to get a win over the Tigers. The former Florida star feels that everything starts with slowing down Klubnik and the Clemson wideouts.

“Well, on this side of the ball, I really believe that it is the biggest key to this game is stopping the explosive plays, with Williams, Wesco and Moore for Clemson,” Tebow said. “All three big-time, explosive playmakers.”

The good news for Texas is that the Longhorns appear to have the personnel to do just that. Texas is allowing only 143 passing yards per game and has surrendered just four passing touchdowns on the year, while intercepting 19 passes.

The Longhorns are also allowing just 3.1 yards per carry, and while Clemson can challenge Texas, Tebow believes the Longhorns will be up to the task.

“They’re going up against one of, if not the best defense in the country. A defense that is unreal on the back end, they’re physical on the front end. They don’t give up a lot of running yards,” Tebow said. “I think if I had to pick an edge on this side, I would go with Texas’s defense. This is a defense that has caused two or more turnovers in eight of the games this season. It’s a defense that isn’t just good on their first 11, but they have backups for days. They have backups for their backups.”

The Clemson offense won’t be easy to slow down, but Texas is No. 2 nationally defensively allowing 249.5 yards per game and leads the nation in yards per play at 4.0. Tebow expects the Longhorns to continue to play well on that side of the ball.

“This defense is for real. They’re smart, they’re physical, they’re fast,” Tebow said. “I’m so excited about this matchup, because I really believe with this receiving corps and Cade Klubnik and Phil Mafah, that they’re going to put them to the test. But I think this defense is ready for it.”