AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Jaydon Blue ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns, the last a 77-yard burst in the fourth quarter, and Texas beat Clemson 38-24 on Saturday in the first round of the expanded College Football Playoff.

Blue’s fourth-quarter touchdown came after Clemson went from trailing 31-10 to 31-24 on Cade Klubnik’s third touchdown pass.

Texas (12-2) advanced to the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1 to play Big 12 champion Arizona State.

Blue also scored on a cut-and-dash burst of 38 yards in the second quarter. On his second attack, he plunged into the line, shook off a tackler and then outran three more to the end zone with just 11 minutes left.

Quintrevion Wisner added 110 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the first half for Texas. Quinn Ewers passed for 202 yards and a touchdown.

Klubnik, who grew up in Austin, passed for 336 yards and led the Tigers to a 10-4 second-half lead against a Texas defense that had allowed just four passing touchdowns all season.

Southeastern Conference runner-up Texas is the only one of last season’s four playoff teams to make the new 12-team field. Clemson won the ACC Championship and made the playoffs. The Tigers were No. 12 and seventh overall in their first appearance since 2020.

Takeaways

Clemson: The Tigers had three big fourth-down chances in the fourth quarter. They turned the first throw into a touchdown when Klubnik threw to TJ Moore. But they failed on the next two. Keith Adams Jr. was stuffed at the Texas 1 and the Klubnik pass at the Texas 26 was incomplete with just under a minute left.

Texas: The Longhorns have had some injury concerns that could be concerning given the upcoming games. Wisner, starting offensive tackle Cam Williams and center Jake Majors all left the field on two plays in the second quarter. Wisner limped off but was able to come back for a couple of runs in the second half. Williams needed help getting off the field, and he and the Majors did not return.

Next

Clemson will look to defend its ACC title next season and secure its eighth playoff berth.

Texas will face Arizona State in the next round. The Longhorns left the Big 12 before Arizona State joined that league this season.

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