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Clemson reached the playoffs for the first time in four years.

And for a while late in Saturday’s game, a heroic performance from Cade Klubnik gave the feeling that the Tigers could pull off a monumental comeback win and a trip to Atlanta for the quarterfinals against Arizona State.

But Clemson couldn’t hurt Texas’ running backs.

And that’s usually a bit of a problem when you’re trying to win this type of game or any other type of game.

It’s never good when your top cornerback, Avieon Terrellgets his hands on receivers when the ball is in the air more often than any other Longhorn back gets his hands on them when the ball is moving on the ground.

Stopping the run has been a consistent problem for Clemson over the last 13 games.

But it’s been a long time since the Tigers were pushed around as hard as they were by the Longhorns in a 38-24 loss at Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.

Defense used to be the key ingredient in championships and annual trips to the playoffs.

Now it’s the main reason the team is heading home in 2024.

And actually, nothing else is even close.

Texas racked up 292 rushing yards on 48 attempts, and even that total is deceptive because it includes some lost yards by the quarterbacks.

Quintrevion Wisner ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries before getting beaten up.

Backup Jaydon Blue ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, including a 77-yarder for a score early in the fourth quarter after Clemson had cut a three-touchdown deficit to 31-24.

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Average yards per carry for Blue: 10.4.

Average yards per carry for Wisner: 7.3.

Yes, ugly. There is no way around it.

Texas came into the game with arguably the best offensive line in the country. It certainly looked that way, even though two injuries in the second quarter forced them to shuffle the starting lineup.

It was just too easy for the Longhorns – from their first drive, where they traveled 75 yards in 12 plays to answer Clemson’s touchdown drive on the game’s opening drive, to the Blue’s big drive in the fourth quarter.

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The mechanics of this dagger from Blue really told the story: tight end Gunnar Helm Washing TJ Parker from the play; Star left tackle Kelvin Banks to reach Sammy Brown and overpowered him; and security Khalil Barnes He underestimated Blue’s speed and was barely able to match him after taking a bad angle.

Off to the races. Over and over again.

Clemson did a pretty good job of containing Texas’ explosive plays in the passing game.

But there was no real need for the Longhorns to try much of it since they’ve had so much success with big plays down the floor.

They collected 216 of their rushing yards on eight plays of 77, 38, 22, 21, 19, 16, 12 and 11 yards.

Texas had 148 rushing yards at halftime, and 116 of those yards came before contact as Clemson found itself in a 28-10 hole.

Klubnik passed for 336 yards at a 26-of-43 clip and threw three touchdowns against a defense that had allowed just four passing touchdowns all year.

He was clearly the best quarterback on the field going up against his old high school rival Quinn Ewerswho threw for 202 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

But Ewers just had to give the ball away.

Or throw the ball to the receiver who was covered by Terrell.

With eight minutes left, Clemson was just one yard away from getting another point and had two chances.

Klubnik was stuffed right on a quarterback keeper and then gave way Keith Adams was also subdued for a turnover on downs.

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Clemson still had a chance to get off the field when Texas took over at the 2, then pushed back a yard after Blue was brought down for a tackle for loss on first down.

On second down, Ewers threw the ball up Ryan Wingo and Terrell had a handful of jerseys. Simple call. Down first.

Texas converted two more third downs on that drive and only gave the ball away after a fumble on fourth down Arch Manning set up Clemson’s own 43 with 1:43 on the clock.

There were moments in the second half where it seemed like Clemson’s offense couldn’t be stopped. Klubnik dropped pennies and goals like TJ Moore (nine catches, 116 yards), Antonio Williams (4, 66) and Jake Briningstool (4, 69) made the Longhorns’ vaunted pass defense look pretty lethal.

But Clemson’s rush defense was pretty dead, and that dominated the day.

It will also determine the Tigers’ trip home.

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