Texas struggles to put Clemson away
Not much changed for Texas's offense compared to the past few games in the second half with a lead on the scoreboard. Recurring issues of failed fourth-down conversions, turnovers, and missed opportunities on the plus side of the 50-yard line in the opponents' territory all contributed to Texas letting Clemson get back within one score after having a three-possession lead at halftime.
Klubnik and the Clemson offense took what chances Texas gave them to get the game back within one possession early in the fourth quarter to make this game more interesting than it should've been.
At one point early in the third quarter, Texas had a chance to extend its lead to 35-10 when it had the ball near Clemson's goal line in the red zone. Texas stalled out and kicked the field goal to go up by 18 points instead of 25.
Clemson went on a run scoring 18-straight points in the third quarter and early in the fourth to put the comeback in this Playoff game within reach late in the second half.
Blue gave Texas the juice they needed in the second half with that massive 77-yard rushing touchdown to put the Longhorns' lead back to two scores just after the Clemson touchdown early in the fourth.
Texas's defense came up with a gigantic stop on the goal line on fourth down late in the fourth quarter to force a turnover on downs to give the ball back to the offense.
Texas’s defense stonewalls Clemson on fourth down in the fourth quarter! pic.twitter.com/bxrop3ddNb
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) December 22, 2024
This was an uncharacteristic game from the Texas defense, which struggled to prevent the big plays on the outside from the Clemson passing game in the second half from Klubnik. Texas made some key mistakes on defense when it mattered most in the fourth quarter, including on a roughing the passer flag against Simmons when the Longhorns were backed up in the red zone in the fourth quarter.
The Clemson passing game exposed some flaws in Texas's pass defense, with slicing and dicing the Longhorns' secondary on the outside and the intermediate passing attack. Texas allowed over 300 passing yards for the first time this season.