Texas, fueled by adversity and last year’s CFP loss, prevails over Clemson in its playoff opener

Texas, fueled by adversity and last year’s CFP loss, prevails over Clemson in its playoff opener

AUSTIN, Texas – On the eve of Texas’ opening game of the College Football Playoff against Clemson, Steve Sarkisian spoke to his team and told the boys about the last few months. From summer meetings where he instructed each player to write about the hardships in their lives, to fall camp when they lost their playmakers to season-ending injuries, to the present where he met starting left tackle Kelvin Banks and Quarterback Quinn Ewers highlighted how he was dealing with his own injuries. He also referred to the two defeats against Georgia.

Sarkisian asked each player to write down a personal challenge they overcame this season and how they responded to it, and then to write a note to a teammate they were proud of for overcoming their own difficulties.

The fourth-year Texas head coach always speaks to his players the night before a game, but this time he didn’t know his words would be so prescient.

The Longhorns played a complete game Saturday afternoon at Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium, dominating the trenches and the running game en route to a 38-24 victory over Clemson. For most of the afternoon, Texas looked like a national title contender, much like Notre Dame, Penn State and later Ohio State appeared in their respective CFP games.

But the end result was not without some difficult moments.

“It’s ironic when some of the things you talk about come true,” Sarkisian said after the game. “In the truest sense of the word, my conversation with the team – after a few “X’s” and “O’s” that were necessary in the game – was all about adversity.

“When we get knocked down, we get back up, and I’m so proud of them for that tonight.”

Clemson immediately posed problems for the Longhorns when quarterback Cade Klubnik, making a triumphant return to his hometown of Austin, engineered a nearly seven-minute touchdown drive on its first possession. Klubnik got the ball quickly, made smart decisions and gave his team an early lead.

Texas responded, scoring 21 unanswered points and taking a 28-10 halftime lead. Ewers was precise in his performance in the first half, finishing the game with 17 of 24 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Earlier this week, Sarkisian was asked why he believes Texas could win the national championship. He mentioned his team’s depth and versatility, saying, “We can lean on different aspects of our team to win any style of play that’s presented to us” and “we can withstand injuries when guys are out of the game.”

So when the Longhorns lost two offensive players in the second half, they didn’t panic. Right tackle Cameron Williams and center Jake Majors went down on consecutive plays and did not return.

Offensive coordinator Kyle Flood trains his linemen to play multiple positions, allowing Texas to continue its dominance in the run game. Additionally, Flood has had to get creative before when it comes to changing up his offensive line. When Banks lost seven plays in the Longhorns’ 17-7 win over Texas A&M on Nov. 30, it was Trevor Goosby who filled in at left tackle and then started the SEC championship against Georgia. Against Clemson, Goosby filled in at right tackle. Starting left guard Hayden Conner moved to center and Cole Hutson, who normally plays right back, moved to the left side.

“We all rely on each other, we all trust each other,” Conner said of all the back and forth. “When Kelvin was out at Texas A&M, Goosby came in and we didn’t miss a beat. That’s just what we practice.”

Entering Saturday’s showdown, the Longhorns had given up just four passing touchdowns all year. Klubnik scored three passing scores alone on Saturday and also became the first quarterback to pass for more than 300 yards against the Texas defense this season. The junior signal-caller finished the game 26 of 43 for 336 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. His final score came on fourth-and-six at the Texas 7-yard line when he hit an open TJ Moore in the end zone, making it a one-score game.

On the next drive, Jaydon Blue broke loose for a 77-yard touchdown run to give Texas more cushion. Blue was out of the starting lineup due to an early-season ankle injury and ball security issues, but the junior was at his best on the biggest stage, rushing for a season-high 146 yards with two touchdowns in the win. Quintrevion Wisner added 110 yards and two scores while the Longhorns collected 292 yards on the ground, their highest rushing total of the season.

“It hurts a defense when you just run, run, run and can’t stop it,” Texas safety Michael Taaffe said.

After Blue’s touchdown run made it 38-24, Matthew McConaughey – the Longhorns’ self-proclaimed “minister of culture” – led the 101,150 fans in attendance in a chant of “Texas Fight.” The stadium lights went out, everyone turned on their cell phone flashlights and McConaughey grabbed the microphone.

The electricity was still pulsing through the stadium when Clemson got the ball back. Klubnik fired some explosive shots downfield and took his offense to the 1-yard line, but the Texas defense put up a goal-line stand and stuffed the Tigers on both third and fourth downs.

“That’s just who they are,” Sarkisian said. “We weren’t perfect and we let up a little bit at the back and they made a few plays. Credit to Clemson and credit to Cade. But at the end of the day, with our backs against the wall, what an accomplishment from our 1-yard line to get that stop.

Sarkisian would have liked a long, sustained drive to tie the game with 7:24 left. But on 4th-and-1, Arch Manning, who came into play in several short-yard situations, fumbled the snap and Texas turned the ball over on downs. In a final comeback attempt, Klubnik brought his offense down the field. Facing fourth-and-six from the Texas 26, he looked up the middle for Moore, who led all receivers with 116 yards. And it was none other than Taaffe – Klubnik’s best friend and former high school teammate – who broke up the pass and ended the game.

“I don’t know if that was our best game defensively, but when we needed it, they made those plays,” Sarkisian said. “And to me that’s a sign of a great defense.”

After the band played “The Eyes of Texas,” the music quickly changed to “Welcome to Atlanta” by Jermaine Dupri as the Longhorns will now play Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day. As the music blared, a drone light show hovered over the stadium, forming the letters “ATL” decorated with a peach.

A year ago, Texas was eliminated in the playoffs and has had a sour taste in their mouth ever since. That loss — to Washington in the four-team semifinals — is an unresolved adversity that has lingered in the background of this season.

“We don’t forget,” Sarkisian said. “Being so close and not having a chance to get into that (national championship) game honestly really spurred us on.”

“We still have a few games left to get there.”

Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of “Strong Like a Woman,” published in spring 2022 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman.

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