After the College Football Playoff began on Friday with No. 7 Notre Dame handling No. 10 Indiana, Saturday gives us an entire day of action with three games wrapping up the first round of the 12-team format.
Penn State took care of business in Happy Valley to start the day, using two early pick-sixes to pull away with a 38-10 win against an overmatched SMU. Later, in Austin, Texas had its way with Clemson in a 38-24 game that was not as close as the final score would indicate. Let’s hope the nightcap between Ohio State and Tennessee has a bit more suspense.
Ohio State enters the playoff on a mission while coming off a painful loss to hated rival Michigan. Can coach Ryan Day get his team back on track? As the over/under indicates, this will not likely be the offensive shootout that many would have predicted before the season began. These two teams have offenses that can hit for a big play at any moment, but both teams have relied on excellent defenses.
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Texas advances to CFP quarterfinals
Next up: Tennessee at Ohio State
For the CFP nightcap we head to Columbus, where Tennessee fans are making their presence known:
Texas wins, advances in CFP!
The Longhorns earn a spot in the quarterfinals, where they’ll face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1.
Clemson stops Texas on 4th down
Arch Manning fumbles the snap and fails to convert what would have been the game-clinching first down for the Longhorns. One last gasp for the Tigers here.
Texas milking the clock
Texas is methodically moving the chains and keeping the clock moving.
We’re at the 2-minute timeout and the Longhorns still have the ball. This one is all but over.
Clemson stuffed on 4th and goal!
The Tigers get stopped on two straight runs at the 1.
Massive stop for Texas, which takes over with 7:24 to play.
Clemson threatening again
Cade Klubnik is throwing it all over the yard and he’s led the Tigers inside the 5-yard line, but Clemson just burned a timeout before facing a 3rd and goal.
Texas RBs ruling
Longhorns RBs today:
Jaydon Blue: 12 carries, 146 yards, 2 TDs
Quintrevion Wisner: 12 carries, 110 yards, 2 TDs
Touchdown Texas!
Jaydon Blue unleashes a 77-yard TD run!
Instant answer for the Longhorns, who are right back to a 2-TD lead.
Touchdown Clemson!
Cade Klubnik finds T.J. Moore in the end zone on a 4th and 6 pass. The clutch play makes it a one-score game. We’ve got a ballgame here in Austin early in the 4th!
Texas 31, Clemson 24
Texas turnover on downs
A Longhorns drive makes it into Clemson territory by Quinn Ewers throws incomplete on 4th and 2.
Clemson takes over with a chance to cut further into the lead.
Touchdown Clemson!
That happened fast. Two big pass plays and the Tigers are in the end zone.
Cade Klubnik fired it to Jarvis Green for a 25-yard score, and Clemson has life!
Texas 31, Clemson 17
Clemson punts again
Cade Klubnik took an ugly sack, fumbling it away before his teammate eventually recovered, and that pretty much killed another drive for the Tigers.
Texas gets it back.
Only so many more chances for Clemson to try to get back into this game.
Texas adds a FG
Bert Auburn hits from 22 yards to extend the Longhorns’ lead.
Texas got near the goal line after a PI call, but unable to get into the end zone.
Arch Manning appearance!
Manning had already entered the game earlier for a handoff, but this time he drops back to pass and ends up scrambling for a first down on a 3rd-and-1 play.
2nd half begins
Texas receives the 2nd-half kickoff and will try to extend its lead here.
Halftime stats
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Halftime: Texas 28, Clemson 10
The Texas offense is putting on a clinic so far. Can Clemson do anything to stop it in the second half or are we looking at a third straight playoff blowout?
Touchdown Texas!
Quinn Ewers fires it to Gunnar Helm for a 19-yard TD toss. Big answer for the Longhorns following the turnover. And they extend their lead right before halftime.
Texas 28, Clemson 10
Clemson kicks FG
Nolan Hauser knocks it in from 32 yards and Clemson cuts into the lead a bit.
Texas 21, Clemson 10 | 1:33 in 2nd
Clemson interception!
Quinn Ewers’ pass is picked off by Clemson’s R.J. Mickens after the ball bounced off a receiver’s hands.
The ball was actually returned to the end zone, but the touchdown was called back on an illegal blindside block.
Either way, a huge play for Clemson, which takes over at its own 46.
