The Texas Longhorns are rapidly closing in on their second consecutive appearance in the College Football Playoff, with less than a week remaining before the first round begins. This highly anticipated game will be held at Darrell K Royal Stadium in Austin. Texas, seeded No. 5 after missing out on the SEC Championship title, will face the No. 12-seeded Clemson Tigers in the opening round.
Clemson secured their spot in the Playoff by winning the ACC Championship, edging out the SMU Mustangs 34-31 in a thrilling game. This victory earned them an automatic bid to the Playoff as one of the highest-ranked conference champions. While Texas enters the matchup as a 10.5-point favorite according to DraftKings, a former Longhorn has made a bold prediction: Clemson will not only defeat Texas but will go on to win the national title.
Sam Acho, a former Texas defensive end and current ESPN analyst, made his picks during the “Championship Drive” segment on Saturday. Acho predicted Clemson would emerge as national champions, potentially winning a rematch against Georgia.
“They’ve gotten better. They’ve gotten bigger,” Acho said during the show. “Rookies, freshmen have stepped up. Young players have turned into dominant players. T.J. Moore, receiver, Bryant Wesco Jr., receiver, playing better. Cade Klubnik and this entire team learned from their mistake against Georgia. It was 6-0 at halftime in Week 1, but they ended up getting blown out.”
Clemson’s 2024 season began with a tough loss to Georgia, where the Bulldogs held the Tigers scoreless, denying them a touchdown. However, Clemson has bounced back impressively, led by quarterback Cade Klubnik. Entering the Playoff with a No. 16 ranking and a 10-3 record, the Tigers have averaged 35.5 points per game. Klubnik himself has been exceptional, amassing over 3,300 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and just five interceptions, along with an additional 458 rushing yards.
While the Tigers are on track for a potential third national championship under the leadership of head coach Dabo Swinney, overcoming Texas will not be easy. The Longhorns are renowned for their defense, which has been particularly stingy this season, holding opponents to an average of just 12.36 points per game.
The showdown between Texas and Clemson will take place at 3 p.m. on December 21. The winner will move on to the second round, where they will face Arizona State on January 1 in the Peach Bowl.
This clash between two powerhouse teams promises to be a thrilling contest, with both sides looking to make a deep run in the Playoff and ultimately capture the national title.
