Texas‘ 38-24 win Clemson in the College Football Playoffs Saturday was personal for the Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe. The junior DB was the Clemson quarterback’s high school teammate Cade Klubnik.

Even though Taaffe and Klubnik love each other off the field, they showed no signs of friendship on Saturday night. Postgame: Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian discussed how Taaffe’s connection to Klubnik motivated the DB.

“I’m sure it meant a lot.” Sarkisian said. “Sometimes the most fun you have is competing against those closest to you and I can say that. I had the opportunity to compete against Pete Carroll after being his assistant for almost eight years and compete against him – I had the opportunity a few times to compete against Nick Saban, who I respect so much.

“The ones that you respect and then get a chance to compete against them and then kind of come out on top, I know that – I’m sure it feels great for him because of the respect he has for Cade and has the great victories.” That’s what they had when they were together in Westlake.”

Taaffe and Klubnik won two state championships together at Westlake before the former advanced to the next level. Klubnik didn’t let Taaffe’s absence slow him down and won the school’s third straight state title in 2021.

Taaffe only recorded two tackles against Clemson on Saturday, but he was the one who put the nail in Clemson’s coffin. With 1:17 left in the game, Clemson trailed Texas 38-24 on 4th-and-6 at the Longhorns’ 26-yard line.

During the play, Klubnik shot a dart to a receiver in the middle, but Taaffe blasted the target and forced an incomplete pass. After the win, Sarkisian praised Michael Taaffe for his courageous performance.

“I’m proud of Michael. I joked with him and said, ‘I think you gave up the interception on 3rd down just so you could play on 4th down,'” Sarkisian said.

“But man, the guy just continues to play at a high level. I’m so glad the media recognized him from a purely American perspective. I know the coaches in the SEC didn’t do that and I think they missed the point of this guy not being an All-SEC player. But you certainly did, and I think he more than deserves the accolades he is receiving.”