IT Roundtable: Key matchups, College Football Playoff insight, Texas vs. Clemson score predictions

We write Roundtables as long as Texas is playing over at Inside Texas. Here’s how the IT Staff sees Saturday’s game including key matchups, players to know, what to watch for in other College Football Playoff games, and more.

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What type of environment are you expecting at DKR for the first-round game?

Eric Nahlin – December football in DKR? With good, cool weather? An inspring defense? It’s going to be insane.

Justin Wells – With the weather and anticipation, it should be loud early and often. The fans have brought it this season.

Ian Boyd – A wild one. I don’t think it will reach Georgia levels but it should be good.

Joe Cook – I expect this to be another packed crowd with more than 104,000 in attendance. The real question is how engaged will the crowd be? Will those in attendance treat this game like the win or go home contest that it is or will it be just another top-15 home game for DKR regulars? If it’s an engaged crowd, it could go down as one of the best atmospheres in UT history.

Paul Wadlington – A good one? Curious to see how raucous it is with a lot of the students gone for Christmas.

Charlie Williams – I’m expecting the crowd to be loud and match 2022 Alabama and 2024 Georgia, but without the bottle throwing

RT Young – I laid out my great expectations here.

Evan Vieth – Nothing different than what you’ve been used to this past season. It probably won’t be as raucous as a white out in State College, but Texas fans have sold out games and been active when the Longhorns hit the turf.

James Hayden – Should be pretty raucous, tickets are fairly priced and a lot of students stayed in town for the game.

What’s the key to making sure Cade Klubnik and the Tiger offense has a poor day?

Eric Nahlin – Box him in, tight coverage on his favorite receiver Antonio Williams, and hit him when he runs.

Justin Wells – Contain the QB, tackle in space, and prepare for vertical threats Bryant Wesco and TJ Moore.

Ian Boyd – No big plays, don’t bite on quarterback run play action.

Joe Cook – Give him a few (legal, non-targeting) licks early when he does decide to run the football and stay close on Bryant Wesco and Antonio Williams.

Paul Wadlington – Make him feel the weight of carrying the offense and don’t give up cheapies over the top.

Charlie Williams – Do not let him beat you with his legs. He does a great job extending plays.

RT Young – Do what the Longhorns defense does well, limit explosive plays and put the quarterback on the ground. What Clemson is good at is precisely what Pete Kwiatkowski‘s defense excels in taking away.

Evan Vieth – Getting to the passer is really important in this game. Klubnik has some wheels, but it’s not the same gameplan as what you had set up for Marcel Reed or Diego Pavia. You can throw Colin Simmons off the edge a lot easier in a game like this where Clemson may drop back 50 times.

James Hayden – Set the edge and don’t allow the QB run game.

How do Quinn Ewers and Texas’ offense score the needed points to move on?

Eric Nahlin – First, don’t turn the ball over. Second, keep the penalties to a minimum. Third, find a way to establish balance between the run-pass. The big thing is to quit the self-inflicted wounds.

Justin Wells – Score touchdowns instead of field goals in the red zone. Maybe more Gunnar Helm and Jerrick Gibson at the 20.

Ian Boyd – The normal formula of hitting them with new and unexpected designs in the opening script and some new wrinkles in the run game to secure the game late.

Joe Cook – Run the ball effectively a la Texas A&M, play a little ball control through the air a la Michigan.

Paul Wadlington – If I knew, I’d tell Sark. Yardage hasn’t been lacking between the 20s, but the passing game has too many turnovers and the offense gets listless as the script runs out.

Charlie Williams – Be able to run the football effectively and almost at will. It sets up the RPOs and gives the playmakers 1-on-1 looks. Also, no red zone blues.

RT Young – When Quinn Ewers is healthy and Steve Sarkisian has time to prepare, this offense looks different. Think Michigan and Florida, but also Oklahoma and the tricks Texas had up its sleeve, successful or not. The win or go home nature of the playoff further incentivizes Sark and Ewers to hold nothing back.

Evan Vieth – The key to consistent offense has always come from the run game this season. Tre Wisner needs to hit that 4.5 yard per carry number to help Quinn feel comfortable in the pocket and convert on third and manageables.

James Hayden – Finish. In. The. Red. Zone.

Indiana vs. Notre Dame prediction

Eric Nahlin – 24-17, Golden Domers

Justin Wells – 26-16, Notre Dame (Hoosiers was better than Rudy)

Ian Boyd – I have Notre Dame but narrowly.

Joe Cook – 21-0, Notre Dame

Paul Wadlington – 31-21, Notre Dame

Charlie Williams – 31-27, Notre Dame

RT Young – 31-6, Notre Dame

Evan Vieth – 17-14, Notre Dame

James Hayden – Cignetti by a million.

SMU vs. Penn State prediction

Eric Nahlin – 31-21, Penn State

Justin Wells – 42-39, Penn State #RememberTheFive

Ian Boyd – The Mustang up tempo spread catches Penn State from behind late

Joe Cook – 38-28, Penn State

Paul Wadlington – 30-17, Penn State

Charlie Williams – 36-27, SMU

RT Young – 28-27, SMU

Evan Vieth – 35-24, Penn State

James Hayden – 24-13, Penn State

Tennessee vs. Ohio State prediction

Eric Nahlin – 20-17, fOSU

Justin Wells – 28-20, Ohio State. Jeremiah Smith begins his 2025 Heisman campaign

Ian Boyd – I think Tennessee can replicate the Michigan approach but I don’t feel great about this pick.

Joe Cook – 21-13, Ohio State

Paul Wadlington – 21-20, Tennessee

Charlie Williams – 27-20, Ohio State

RT Young – 20-17, Ohio State

Evan Vieth – 22-15, Ohio State

James Hayden – 27-17, Ohio State

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Clemson vs. Texas prediction

Eric Nahlin – 24-13, Texas

Justin Wells – 16-13, Texas

Ian Boyd – 27-24, Texas

Joe Cook – 28-14, Texas

Paul Wadlington – 27-17, Texas

Charlie Williams – 27-17, Texas

RT Young – 34-20, Texas

Evan Vieth – 24-10, Texas

James Hayden – 31-17, Texas