By JIM VERTUNO
AUSTIN — Jaydon Blue ran 146 yards and two touchdowns, the final a 77-yard burst within the fourth quarter, and Texas beat Clemson 38-24 on Saturday within the first spherical of the expanded Faculty Soccer Playoff.
Blue’s fourth-quarter landing got here after Clemson rallied from down 31-10 to 31-24 on Cade Klubnik’s third landing cross.
Texas (12-2) superior to the Jan. 1 Peach bowl to play Huge 12 champion Arizona State.
Blue additionally scored on 38-yard cut-and-dash burst within the second quarter. On his second, he dove into the road, shook a tackler, after which outraced three extra to the tip zone with simply 11 minutes left.
Quintrevion Wisner added 110 yards speeding and two first-half touchdowns for Texas. Quinn Ewers handed for 202 yards and a landing.
Klubnik, who grew up in Austin, handed for 336 yards and rallied the Tigers (10-4) within the second half towards a Texas protection that had given up simply 4 passing touchdowns all season.
The runner-up within the Southeastern Convention, Texas is the one one in all final season’s 4 playoff groups to make the brand new 12-team subject. Clemson gained the ACC championship to make the playoff. The Tigers had been the No. 12 seed of their first look since 2020 and seventh total.
TAKEAWAYS
Clemson: The Tigers had three huge fourth-down probabilities within the fourth quarter. They turned the primary one right into a landing when Klubnik threw to T.J. Moore. However they got here up quick on the following two. Keith Adams Jr. was stuffed on the Texas 1 and Klubnik cross on the Texas 26 was incomplete with simply over a minute left.
Texas: The Longhorns had some damage scares that may very well be worrisome with extra video games forward. Wisner, beginning offensive sort out Cam Williams and heart Jake Majors all left the sphere in two performs within the second quarter. Wisner limped off however was in a position to return for a handful of carries within the second half. Williams wanted assist to get off the sphere, and he and Majors didn’t return.
UP NEXT
Clemson will attempt to defend its ACC title subsequent season and earn its eighth playoff berth.
Texas strikes on to face Arizona State within the subsequent spherical. The Longhorns left the Huge 12 earlier than Arizona State joined that league this season.
