Texas beats Clemson 38-24 to set up College Football Playoff quarterfinals against Arizona State

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Jaydon Blue ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns, the last a 77-yarder 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 rallied from 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 38-yard burst in the second quarter. On his second, he darted to the line, shook off a tackler and then outran three more to the end zone with just 11 minutes remaining.

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

Klubnik, who grew up in Austin, threw for 336 yards and rallied the Tigers (10-4) in the second half against a Texas defense that had allowed just four touchdown passes 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 to make the playoffs. The Tigers were the 12th seed in their first appearance since 2020 and seventh overall.

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