It seems that Texas Longhorns I got rid of the bitter taste of losing the SEC title game.
The Longhorns dropped the conference championship two weeks ago, while their opponent, Clemson, the 12th seed, was riding high After winning the ACC title.
The fifth-seeded Longhorns came away with a 38-24 win to advance past the first round of the College Football Playoff.
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Quinn Ewers of the Texas Longhorns throws during the first quarter against the Clemson Tigers in a first-round playoff game at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on December 21, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Jack Gorman/Getty Images)
Texas kicked a field goal on its first drive of the second half to take a 31-10 lead over the Longhorns, but Clemson did not go quietly.
The Tigers scored 14 unanswered points during a period that included their defense stopping Texas on fourth-and-2 from the Clemson 36. Suddenly, Texas had a seven-point lead with 11:43 remaining.
Just as Clemson was getting back into the game, Jaydon Bleu rushed for a 77-yard touchdown to put Texas back within two touchdowns.
Clemson drove down the field to continue its comeback attempt, but the Tigers were stuffed on fourth-and-goal from the first.
The Tigers got the ball back with 1:43 left in the game but couldn't keep their drive alive, and the Longhorns ran out the clock.
Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahidi Barron (7) celebrates a play during a CFP first-round game against the Clemson Tigers on December 21, 2024, at Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (David Bono/Sportswire Icon via Getty Images)
Quinn Ewers finished with 202 yards, going 17-for-24 through the air. Blue and Quintrevion Wisner combined for 256 yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries.
Clemson's Cade Klubnik threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns, completing 26 of 43 passes. TJ Moore led all players with nine catches for 116 yards and a touchdown.
The Longhorns will now face Arizona State, which earned a first-round bye by winning the Big 12, on New Year's Day in the Peach Bowl.
The home teams won 3-0 in the first three matches in the new 12-team system. Each winning team covered the spread.
Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (26) celebrates scoring his second touchdown of the game in the second quarter against the Clemson Tigers in the first round of a College Football Playoff game at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, December 21, 2024 . (Sarah Diggins/American-Statesman/USA Today Network via Imagine Images)
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The first final round between Tennessee and… (Ohio State in Columbus). It starts at 8pm ET on Saturday.
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