We're just hours away from the first-ever College Football Playoff game at DKR in Austin, between No. 3 Texas football (11-2, 7-1 SEC) and the No. 16 Clemson Tigers (10-3, 7-1 ACC) on Dec. 21.
Texas is hosting a first-round game in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff against the ACC Champion Clemson and head coach Dabo Swinney. The Longhorns are the only team that has made consecutive Playoff appearances since the 2023 postseason.
This will be a fun matchup between two former high school quarterback foes, Cade Klubnik from Westlake in Austin, TX, against Quinn Ewers from Southlake Carroll in the DFW Metroplex.
But Klubnik isn't the only player from Texas on Clemson's roster. Freshman wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr., senior safety RJ Mickens, and freshman defensive back Corian Gipson are just a few of Clemson's key players from the Lone Star State.
Former Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba is also from Texas in the DFW Metroplex for the Longhorns' secondary.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said on ESPN College GameDay that he got pumped up for the Playoff game for the Longhorns today while watching the first 12-team CFP game on Dec. 20.
"I know Longhorn Nation is super excited. I know our team is excited. We’ve had two weeks now to prepare. I know Dabo is going to have Clemson ready to go, so it should be a heck of a ballgame."Steve Sarkisian
The winner of this matchup between the Longhorns and Tigers on Dec. 21 faces the four-seed and Big 12 Champion Arizona State Sun Devils in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1 in the second round of the Playoff in Atlanta.
Texas is the five seed against the 12-seed Clemson in the first round of the 12-team Playoff. The action will kick off at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX, on Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. CT on TNT and MAX.
Game predictions for Texas football vs. Clemson in the College Football Playoff
Andrew Miller: Texas-31, Clemson-20
Tarik LaCour: Texas-33, Clemson-24
Brian Sweet: Texas-42, Clemson-27
Shane Black: Texas-27, Clemson-16